The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (abbreviated NASA) was a space exploration agency of the United States, a nation of Earth, in the 20th and 21st centuries.
NASA was formed in 1958, shortly after the start of the so-called "Space Race". The race was a competition between the two superpowers of Earth at that time: The Soviet Union, which had launched the first artificial satellite, and the United States. It culminated in a crewed landing by the U.S. on the surface of Earth's moon Luna, in July 1969.
By 1976, NASA was testing a reusable orbital vehicle, the prototype of which was named Enterprise. Later, at the beginning of the 21st century, the agency was one of the partners in the International Space Station program. (Star Trek: Enterprise opening credits)
Future USS Lexington-A commanding officer Alexander McKnight considered joining NASA after completing training at the United States Air Force Academy. (The Lexington Adventures)
In the late 20th century, the agency had begun launching the Voyager series of probes, one of which went missing in what was thought to be a black hole. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)
The spacecraft Charybdis was an attempt by NASA to explore beyond the Sol system. Launched in 2037, it went missing a year later. (TNG: "The Royale")
NASA created the Aphrodite-class mission spacecraft in the early to mid-21st century, which held a crew of 2 and up to 8 residents. These ships helped redevelop "deep space" infrastructure in the Sol system after the Eugenics Wars. (Delta Dynamics: Star Fleet Starship Recognition Manual: Report: Aphrodite Mission Spacecraft)
In cooperation with the ESA (and operating as a part of the Western Alliance Space Agency), NASA also created the Aventeur-class mission spacecraft in the early to mid-21st century. These craft held a crew of 15, consisting of 3 crew members and 12 scientific mission members. (Delta Dynamics: Star Fleet Starship Recognition Manual: Report: Aventeur Mission Spacecraft)
NASA also used various DY class ships as a part of their fleet. (Delta Dynamics: Star Fleet Starship Recognition Manual: Report: DY Sublight Transports)
One NASA surveyor ship in operation in the mid-21st century was the John Kelly. In May 2053, the John Kelly, under the command of Captain David Carter, accompanied two colony ships leaving a World War III-ravaged Earth, bound for Titan. (ST novel: Federation; Star Trek: Paragon; Starfleet: The First Era; Star Trek: Pendragon: "That Solemn Starlight")
External links[]
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.