Excerpt:
Since its inception in 1958, NASA has accomplished many great scientific and technological feats in air and space. NASA technology also has been adapted for many non-aerospace uses by the private sector. NASA remains a leading force in scientific research and in stimulating public interest in aerospace exploration, as well as science and technology in general. Perhaps more importantly, our exploration of space has taught us to view the Earth, ourselves, and the universe in a new way. While the tremendous technical and scientific accomplishments of NASA demonstrate vividly that humans can achieve previously inconceivable feats, we also are humbled by the realization that Earth is just a tiny "blue marble" in the cosmos.
Annotation:
This is the home page for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's History Office. A brief essay introduces NASA and its history, while a fact sheet (with several photographs) provides a longer description of NASA's projects from the 1950s to the present. Deeper in the site are extensive histories of NASA's (and its predecessor NACA's) activities in air flight, satellites, space probes and manned exploration of space. A long list of NASA personnel, with biographies, adds to the detail of the site, and detailed chronology of NASA's history is also available. In addition, there are dozens of technical diagrams and drawings for the various space craft NASA has built, including the Space Shuttle and the original Mercury capsules. An excellent set of search functions, site maps and topical indices allows visitors to find information on virtually any NASA program or person.