Goddard Space Flight Center
On the 1st of May 1959, the center was renamed the Goddard Space Flight Center. This renaming honored Robert H. Goddard, an American rocket propulsion pioneer. The facility began as Beltsville Space Center and served as NASA's first space flight center. Its original charter required five major functions including technology development and project management. The center's first 157 employees transferred from the United States Navy's Project Vanguard missile program. These workers continued their duties at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. while construction proceeded on the new site. The center contributed to Project Mercury during its early days. It managed the first 250 employees involved in that effort who were stationed at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. However, the scope of Project Mercury soon prompted NASA to build a new Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas. Personnel and activities for Project Mercury moved there in 1961.
Goddard has been involved in designing spacecraft since the days of Explorer 1. That mission became the nation's first artificial satellite. The Landsat series of spacecraft has studied Earth's resources since the launch of the first mission in 1972. TIROS-1 launched in 1960 as the first success in a long series of weather satellites. The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory operated for nine years before re-entering the atmosphere in 2000. Another observatory called the Cosmic Background Explorer provided unique data about the early universe. The Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990 remains in service today. Its modular design allowed multiple servicing missions by the Space Shuttle. The James Webb Space Telescope launched in 2022 enables investigations across many fields of astronomy. OSIRIS-REx returned a sample from asteroid 101955 Bennu in 2023. This mission is now headed to asteroid 99942 Apophis in 2029 under the name OSIRIS-APEX. Goddard currently supports dozens of spacecraft collecting scientific data including Terra, Aqua, and Aura.
Goddard scientists achieved major recognition with the 2006 Nobel Physics Prize awarded to John Mather. This honor recognized his work on the COBE mission which studied cosmic background radiation. The center also studies how the universe formed and what it is made of. It investigates how stars and planetary systems evolve over time. Scientists at Goddard develop instruments to observe phenomena never measured before. The Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter measures landing site slopes to generate a three-dimensional map of the Moon. MAVEN carries eight instruments to measure characteristics of Mars's atmospheric gases. These tools help understand solar wind and ionosphere interactions. The Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission uses four spacecraft flying in a tetrahedral formation to capture data about magnetic reconnection. Each spacecraft carries identical instrument suites for this complex process. Goddard manages large collections of scientific data resulting from past and ongoing missions through the GES DISC archive.
The High Bay Cleanroom located in building 29 holds the world's largest ISO 7 cleanroom space. Vacuum chambers in adjacent buildings 10 and 7 can be chilled or heated to plus or minus degrees. Adjacent building 15 houses the High Capacity Centrifuge capable of generating 30G on up to a load. Parsons Corporation assisted in constructing the Class 10,000 cleanroom to support Hubble Space Telescope operations. The Near Space Operations Control Center provides critical mission support for various launch efforts including JWST. This facility was renovated floor-up to become NSOCC in 2023. It supports SpaceX Crew and Cargo launches as well as Science missions. The center also operates Wallops Flight Facility established in 1945 which is one of the oldest launch sites globally. Wallops manages NASA's sounding rocket program supporting approximately 35 missions each year. The Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation Facility in Fairmont, West Virginia improves software safety for all missions.
Section 102(d) of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 mandated long-range studies of potential benefits from space activities. The Technology Utilization Program was established in 1962 to commercialize technologies for economic growth. Documentation of these spun-off technologies began with Spinoff 1976 published in 1977. Weather balloon technology has helped firefighters with its short-range radios. Aluminized Mylar used in satellites now makes sports equipment more insulated. Laser optics systems have transformed the camera industry significantly. Life detection missions on other planets help scientists find bacteria in contaminated food. These innovations demonstrate how space research directly benefits Earth industries. The center continues to produce yearly publications through the Innovative Partnerships Program Office. This work ensures that aerospace advancements translate into practical applications for daily life and commerce across the United States.
Goddard employs over 3,000 civil servant employees with 60 percent being engineers and scientists. Approximately 7,000 supporting contractors work on site every day. It is one of the largest concentrations of premier space scientists globally. Co-op students from universities in all 50 states participate in the Cooperative Education Program. During summers programs like SIECA provide internship opportunities to students from Puerto Rico. The center hosts regular colloquiums open to the general public requiring advance sign-up for access passes. Employees take part in mentoring programs and speak at area schools regularly. NASA DEVELOP offers additional internship opportunities for community engagement. The Goddard Visitor Center opened the 18th of May 1976 featuring displays of spacecraft developed there. Queen Elizabeth II visited the facility on Tuesday, the 8th of May 2007 during her tour of the United States. She spoke with crew aboard the International Space Station from the Network Integration Center located in Building 13.
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Common questions
When was the Goddard Space Flight Center renamed from Beltsville Space Center?
The center was renamed the Goddard Space Flight Center on the 1st of May 1959. This renaming honored Robert H. Goddard, an American rocket propulsion pioneer.
What spacecraft missions has the Goddard Space Flight Center designed or managed since Explorer 1?
Goddard has been involved in designing spacecraft including Landsat series, TIROS-1, Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb Space Telescope, and OSIRIS-REx. The center currently supports dozens of spacecraft collecting scientific data including Terra, Aqua, and Aura.
Who won the Nobel Physics Prize for work done at the Goddard Space Flight Center?
John Mather received the 2006 Nobel Physics Prize for his work on the COBE mission which studied cosmic background radiation. The center also studies how the universe formed and what it is made of through various instruments like the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter and MAVEN.
Where is the High Bay Cleanroom located within the Goddard Space Flight Center facility?
The High Bay Cleanroom is located in building 29 and holds the world's largest ISO 7 cleanroom space. Vacuum chambers in adjacent buildings 10 and 7 can be chilled or heated to plus or minus degrees while building 15 houses the High Capacity Centrifuge.
When did the Goddard Visitor Center open to the public with displays of spacecraft developed there?
The Goddard Visitor Center opened on the 18th of May 1976 featuring displays of spacecraft developed there. Queen Elizabeth II visited the facility on Tuesday, the 8th of May 2007 during her tour of the United States.