When did the National Space Science Data Center open its doors at Goddard Space Flight Center?
The National Space Science Data Center opened its doors in 1966. The facility began as a physical repository for raw data from early space missions.
Questions about NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How did researchers access data from the National Space Science Data Center before the mid-1980s?
All dissemination of information relied on media replication and mailing through the postal service. A researcher in 1980 might wait weeks to receive a reel of tape through the mail.
What tools does the NSSDC Master Catalog offer for querying archived information?
Users can search orbital, suborbital, and interplanetary spacecraft through the Spacecraft Query interface. Another tool allows queries for scientific experiments that flew aboard various space missions.
Which NASA divisions support the operations of the National Space Science Data Center?
NSSDCA operates as part of the Solar System Exploration Data Services Office within the Solar System Exploration Division. The Heliophysics Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate sponsors the archive.
What types of science fields are covered by the permanent archive maintained by NSSDCA?
Space science encompasses astronomy, astrophysics, solar physics, and planetary science. NSSDCA serves as the permanent archive for all mission data from these fields.