Facts About America's Space Agency: NASA

Much is known about the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its missions. The agency itself has several fascinating details: n NASA began operations on October 1, 1958. n The Vehicle Assembly Building is so massive that rain clouds can form near the ceiling on humid days; it houses one of the world's largest air-conditioning systems. n NASA has sent roughly 2,200 living creatures into space, including insects, pigs, monkeys, mice, rabbits, and spiders. n NASA's first space shuttle, Columbia, was lost in 2003 during atmospheric reentry on its 28th mission. n A full-scale replica of the International Space Station exists on Earth to train astronauts. n NASA houses a training pool larger than 10 Olympic swimming pools (the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory), where astronauts train underwater. n The Johnson Space Center spans 660 hectares with 100 buildings and advanced security infrastructure. n Three men from Yemen once filed a lawsuit against NASA for trespassing on Mars, claiming their ancestors had owned the planet 3,000 years ago. n NASA has held competitions among elementary school students to choose the names of new space shuttles.