In 2010: NASA Sets New Course for Human Spaceflight, Marks Other Milestones

Satellitwe Spotlight: In 2010: NASA Sets New Course for Human Spaceflight, Marks Other Milestones

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 2010 set a new course in human spaceflight, rewrote science textbooks, redefined our viewpoint about the moon, made major contributions toward life on Earth, and completed various other objectives in its quest toward the next era in exploration.

NASA and its international partners celebrated 10 years of permanent human habitation on the International Space Station on Nov. 2. More than 600 different research and technology development experiments were been conducted aboard the orbiting lab.

The recently passed NASA Authorization Act of 2010, in addition to extending station operations until at least 2020, directed NASA to select an independent, nonprofit research management organization to develop and manage a portion of the U.S. share of the station as a national laboratory. Companies did crucial contributions in 2010 such as SpaceX's (News - Alert) successful Dec. 8 launch of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule. The flight was the first for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, which is developing commercial supply services to the International Space Station.

NASA and the National Science Foundation team announced the discovery of a planet with three times the mass of Earth orbiting a nearby star in a zone that might allow the planet to support life. The research placed the planet in an orbit where liquid water could exist on the planet's surface. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) returned initial images that confirmed an unprecedented new capability for scientists to better understand our own sun's dynamic processes. Images from the spacecraft showed never-before-seen detail of material streaming outward and away from sunspots.

In a press release, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said this year that NASA's work made headlines around the world. More importantly, it enlarged our understanding of the universe and Earth, inspired people, and opened new frontiers for their dreams and aspirations.

NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver added that NASA achievements this year across the spectrum from science, to aeronautics, education and human spaceflight provided incredible value to their nation. They continue to build upon their rich history, taking on new challenges and doing the things that no one else can do, all for the benefit of humanity.

This year also saw the President of the United States of America Barack Obama visit the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 15, to discuss details of his plans for space exploration. The President committed NASA to a series of developmental goals leading to a new spacecraft for reaching low Earth orbit and new technology for potential missions beyond the moon.