{"id":38037,"date":"2019-07-24T12:17:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-24T16:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-449352"},"modified":"2023-09-20T07:33:44","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T11:33:44","slug":"apollo-11s-return-to-earth-rooted-in-aeronautics-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/apollo-11s-return-to-earth-rooted-in-aeronautics-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Apollo 11\u2019s Return to Earth Rooted in Aeronautics Research"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"padding-top-5 padding-bottom-3 width-full maxw-full hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-intro\"><div class=\"width-full maxw-full article-header\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2 width-full maxw-full\"><p class=\"label carbon-60 margin-0 margin-bottom-3 padding-0\">5 min read<\/p><h1 class=\"display-48 margin-bottom-2\">Apollo 11\u2019s Return to Earth Rooted in Aeronautics Research<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4x3-2.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1539\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4x3-2.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"The Apollo 11 command module Columbia splashed down.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4x3-2.jpg 2995w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4x3-2.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4x3-2.jpg?resize=768,577 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4x3-2.jpg?resize=1024,769 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4x3-2.jpg?resize=1536,1154 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4x3-2.jpg?resize=2048,1539 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4x3-2.jpg?resize=400,301 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4x3-2.jpg?resize=600,451 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4x3-2.jpg?resize=900,676 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4x3-2.jpg?resize=1200,902 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4x3-2.jpg?resize=2000,1503 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The Apollo 11 command module Columbia with astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin aboard splashed down at 11:49 a.m. CDT, July 24, 1969, about 812 nautical miles southwest of Hawaii and only 12 nautical miles from the USS Hornet.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>A half-century ago, as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/apollo\/apollo-11.html\">Apollo 11<\/a> command module Columbia ripped through Earth\u2019s atmosphere, moments from ending the historic first lunar landing mission, research results from NASA\u2019s aeronautical innovators helped safely bring the crew home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although Columbia was a perfectly symmetrical cone, the distribution of mass within its hull moved the spacecraft\u2019s center of gravity toward the feet of the three astronauts strapped inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This had the effect of turning the command module into a lifting body \u2013 an unusually shaped aircraft without wings that could still generate lift, and therefore make slight changes in its course as it tore through the sky at supersonic speeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consideration of the lifting body idea had begun before NASA was formed in 1958, when the nation\u2019s aviation research was managed by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/naca100\">National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics<\/a> (NACA). Flight tests of various lifting body designs began in 1963.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As flight tests continued \u2013 NASA concluded them in 1975 \u2013 the idea was considered sound enough to incorporate into the command module\u2019s design and the Apollo 11 crew took full advantage of the capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Columbia committed to a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, thunderstorms formed in the primary recovery area, so the crew steered their capsule toward a clear area where the USS Hornet was waiting to welcome them home.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/lifting-bodies-on-lakebed.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1596\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/lifting-bodies-on-lakebed.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Sitting on the dry lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base in 1968 are, from left, the X-24A, M2-F3 and the HL-10.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/lifting-bodies-on-lakebed.jpg 3000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/lifting-bodies-on-lakebed.jpg?resize=300,234 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/lifting-bodies-on-lakebed.jpg?resize=768,599 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/lifting-bodies-on-lakebed.jpg?resize=1024,798 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/lifting-bodies-on-lakebed.jpg?resize=1536,1197 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/lifting-bodies-on-lakebed.jpg?resize=2048,1596 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/lifting-bodies-on-lakebed.jpg?resize=400,312 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/lifting-bodies-on-lakebed.jpg?resize=600,468 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/lifting-bodies-on-lakebed.jpg?resize=900,701 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/lifting-bodies-on-lakebed.jpg?resize=1200,935 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/lifting-bodies-on-lakebed.jpg?resize=2000,1559 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The lifting body aircraft studied the feasibility of maneuvering and landing an aerodynamic craft designed for reentry from space. Sitting on the dry lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base in 1968 are, from left, the X-24A, M2-F3 and the HL-10.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The use of lifting body technology is just one example which underscores the significant contributions of those who conducted aviation research even before NASA existed, and who laid the foundation for Project Apollo and the nation\u2019s space program as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou really can\u2019t understand the space program without understanding aeronautics,\u201d Bill Barry, NASA\u2019s chief historian, said at a recent American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Joining Barry for a discussion about Apollo and aeronautics was James Hansen, who has authored <a href=\"https:\/\/history.nasa.gov\/SP-4305.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">several books<\/a> covering NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/history.nasa.gov\/SP-4308.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">aeronautics research<\/a> and is most well known right now for writing \u201cFirst Man,\u201d the authorized biography of Neil Armstrong upon which the movie by the same name was based.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Hansen, while Apollo technology led to the use of joystick hand controllers and digital fly-by-wire flight controls in aviation \u2013 research pursued when NASA Aeronautics was led by Neil Armstrong after Apollo 11 \u2013 of greater importance was the important role aeronautics had in the birth of the space program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe impact of aeronautics on Apollo really is something that is significant,\u201d Hansen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More than the technology, it was the people who were managing the NACA\u2019s research programs related to hypersonic missiles and high-speed flight of aircraft that provided the core team of specialists who were tapped to organize the nation\u2019s space program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis was a very formative experience for the people who would then become important to putting the original space program together,\u201d Hansen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, Robert Gilruth, who would lead Project Mercury and become the first director of what is now the Johnson Space Center in Houston, began as a NACA researcher who authored one of the most significant technical reports in aviation history entitled \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/ntrs.nasa.gov\/search.jsp?R=19930091834\" rel=\"noopener\">Requirements for Satisfactory Flying Qualities of Airplanes<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Previous to this report, how an airplane handled in the air would be described in general terms by pilots, such as \u201cIt flies great.\u201d With this report, Gilruth used hard data to define set criteria by which to understand and judge how an airplane flies best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is the basis of all the stuff we do today,\u201d Barry said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The names of the NACA aeronautical engineers who became the foundation for the Space Task Group, from which the space program was organized, reads like a who\u2019s who of U.S. space history. Some examples in addition to Gilruth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Merritt Preston \u2013 Director of launch operations at Cape Canaveral for Mercury and Gemini.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Walter Williams \u2013 Directed flight test operations at what is now Armstrong Flight Research Center and early Project Mercury flights at Cape Canaveral.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>John Houbolt \u2013 Champion of the Lunar Orbit Rendezvous method that enabled Apollo to reach the Moon with a single Saturn V and meet the end-of-the-decade goal set by President Kennedy in 1961.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>George Low \u2013 Chief of Manned Space Flight and Manager of the Apollo Spacecraft Program Office.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Max Faget \u2013 Famed engineer who determined or influenced the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle designs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Christopher Kraft \u2013 The first Flight Director who invented Mission Control and how flight operations in space would be conducted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/kennedy-gilruth.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1684\" height=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/kennedy-gilruth.jpg?w=1684\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Dr. Robert R. Gilruth (left) and President John F. Kennedy look at a small model of the Apollo Command Module.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/kennedy-gilruth.jpg 2527w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/kennedy-gilruth.jpg?resize=247,300 247w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/kennedy-gilruth.jpg?resize=768,934 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/kennedy-gilruth.jpg?resize=842,1024 842w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/kennedy-gilruth.jpg?resize=1263,1536 1263w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/kennedy-gilruth.jpg?resize=1684,2048 1684w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/kennedy-gilruth.jpg?resize=329,400 329w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/kennedy-gilruth.jpg?resize=493,600 493w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/kennedy-gilruth.jpg?resize=740,900 740w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/kennedy-gilruth.jpg?resize=986,1200 986w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/kennedy-gilruth.jpg?resize=1644,2000 1644w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1684px) 100vw, 1684px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Dr. Robert R. Gilruth (left), director of what is now NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center, and President John F. Kennedy look at a small model of the Apollo Command Module on September 1, 1962.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>A remarkable generation of aeronautical engineers and managers, Hansen noted that the average age of this group at the time of Sputnik in 1957 was 35.5 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, many of NASA\u2019s researchers, both within aeronautics and space, were inspired to pursue their careers thanks to the influence of space programs like Apollo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s more, NASA aeronautics continues to find ways to apply its expertise to help with space exploration, such as with the upcoming Mars 2020 mission that will include a helicopter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what sets apart the engineers who helped begin the space program from today\u2019s researchers is that they never had a space program to inspire them, or the benefit of knowledge gained from years of spaceflight experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those early space pioneers took what they had learned conducting aeronautical research during the post-World War II era \u2013 itself not even a half-century removed from the Wright Brother\u2019s first flight in 1903 \u2013 and crafted a space program from scratch that took us to the Moon, assuring themselves their unique place in history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNever again will a program of space exploration be as influenced by a group of individuals whose original technological passion and formative professional development lay in the field of aeronautics,\u201d Hansen said.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align- nasa-button-link padding-y-1 padding-x-0 hds-module align wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"button-primary button-primary-md link-external-false\" aria-label=\"More from NASA Aeronautics\">\n\t\t<span class=\"line-height-alt-1\">More from NASA Aeronautics<\/span>\n\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"button-primary-circle\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-about-the-author nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-6 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-about-the-author\"><div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-x-0 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black padding-top-3\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h3 class=\"heading-14\">About the Author<\/h3><\/div><\/div><div class=\"grid-row grid-container padding-x-0 maxw-widescreen\"><div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-9\"><div class=\"grid-row\"><div class=\"hds-author-thumbnail mobile:circle-6 mobile:maxw-6 circle-card maxw-card thumbnail margin-right-2 desktop:margin-right-5\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"10rem\" height=\"10rem\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" class=\"avatar avatar-300 photo medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/cropped-banke-press-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Jim Banke\"><\/div><div class=\"grid-col\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-29 line-height-sm\">Jim Banke<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"heading-12 p-md\">Managing Editor\/Senior Writer<\/div><div class=\"padding-y-2\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-9\"><p class=\"margin-top-0\">Jim Banke is a veteran aviation and aerospace communicator with more than 35 years of experience as a writer, producer, consultant, and project manager based at Cape Canaveral, Florida. He is part of NASA Aeronautics' Strategic Communications Team and is Managing Editor for the Aeronautics topic on the NASA website.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-social-media grid-container grid-container-block nasa-gb-align- width-full maxw-full margin-y-0 padding-y-5 padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-0 font-weight-bold hds-module wp-block-nasa-blocks-social-media-links\">\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center padding-y-1\" id=\"social-facebook\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"circle-4 minw-4 display-flex flex-align-center flex-justify-center\" style=\"background-color: #4267B2;\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-labelledby=\"facebookIconTitle\"><title id=\"facebookIconTitle\">Facebook logo<\/title><path d=\"M9 8h-3v4h3v12h5v-12h3.642l.358-4h-4v-1.667c0-.955.192-1.333 1.115-1.333h2.885v-5h-3.808c-3.596 0-5.192 1.583-5.192 4.615v3.385z\"\/><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div 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xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"169.063px\" height=\"169.063px\" viewBox=\"0 0 169.063 169.063\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 169.063 169.063;\" xml:space=\"preserve\" aria-labelledby=\"instagramIconTitle\"><title id=\"instagramIconTitle\">Instagram logo<\/title><g> <path d=\"M122.406,0H46.654C20.929,0,0,20.93,0,46.655v75.752c0,25.726,20.929,46.655,46.654,46.655h75.752 c25.727,0,46.656-20.93,46.656-46.655V46.655C169.063,20.93,148.133,0,122.406,0z M154.063,122.407 c0,17.455-14.201,31.655-31.656,31.655H46.654C29.2,154.063,15,139.862,15,122.407V46.655C15,29.201,29.2,15,46.654,15h75.752 c17.455,0,31.656,14.201,31.656,31.655V122.407z\"\/> <path d=\"M84.531,40.97c-24.021,0-43.563,19.542-43.563,43.563c0,24.02,19.542,43.561,43.563,43.561s43.563-19.541,43.563-43.561 C128.094,60.512,108.552,40.97,84.531,40.97z M84.531,113.093c-15.749,0-28.563-12.812-28.563-28.561 c0-15.75,12.813-28.563,28.563-28.563s28.563,12.813,28.563,28.563C113.094,100.281,100.28,113.093,84.531,113.093z\"\/> <path d=\"M129.921,28.251c-2.89,0-5.729,1.17-7.77,3.22c-2.051,2.04-3.23,4.88-3.23,7.78c0,2.891,1.18,5.73,3.23,7.78 c2.04,2.04,4.88,3.22,7.77,3.22c2.9,0,5.73-1.18,7.78-3.22c2.05-2.05,3.22-4.89,3.22-7.78c0-2.9-1.17-5.74-3.22-7.78 C135.661,29.421,132.821,28.251,129.921,28.251z\"\/><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-social-media-items padding-left-2\">\n\t\t\t\t<a target=\"_blank\" class=\"margin-right-2\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/NASA\" aria-label=\"Go to @NASA on instagram\" rel=\"noopener\">@NASA<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"margin-right-2\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/NASAaero\" aria-label=\"Go to @NASAaero on instagram\" rel=\"noopener\">@NASAaero<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"margin-right-2\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/NASA_es\" aria-label=\"Go to @NASA_es on instagram\" rel=\"noopener\">@NASA_es<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center padding-y-1\" id=\"social-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"circle-4 minw-4 display-flex flex-align-center flex-justify-center\" style=\"background-color: #0072b1;\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-labelledby=\"linkedinIconTitle\"><title id=\"linkedinIconTitle\">Linkedin logo<\/title><path d=\"M4.98 3.5c0 1.381-1.11 2.5-2.48 2.5s-2.48-1.119-2.48-2.5c0-1.38 1.11-2.5 2.48-2.5s2.48 1.12 2.48 2.5zm.02 4.5h-5v16h5v-16zm7.982 0h-4.968v16h4.969v-8.399c0-4.67 6.029-5.052 6.029 0v8.399h4.988v-10.131c0-7.88-8.922-7.593-11.018-3.714v-2.155z\"\/><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-social-media-items padding-left-2\">\n\t\t\t\t<a target=\"_blank\" class=\"margin-right-2\" href=\"https:\/\/linkedin.com\/company\/NASA\" aria-label=\"Go to @NASA on linkedin\" rel=\"noopener\">@NASA<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\t\t<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h2 style=\"max-width: 100%;\" class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/earth\/nasa-led-mission-to-map-air-pollution-over-both-u-s-coasts\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/8p1a5473.jpeg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/8p1a5473.jpeg 4246w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/8p1a5473.jpeg?resize=300,157 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/8p1a5473.jpeg?resize=768,401 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/8p1a5473.jpeg?resize=1024,535 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/8p1a5473.jpeg?resize=1536,802 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/8p1a5473.jpeg?resize=2048,1070 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/8p1a5473.jpeg?resize=400,209 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/8p1a5473.jpeg?resize=600,313 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/8p1a5473.jpeg?resize=900,470 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/8p1a5473.jpeg?resize=1200,627 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/8p1a5473.jpeg?resize=2000,1045 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">2 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">NASA-Led Mission to Map Air Pollution Over Both U.S. Coasts<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t10 hours ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/wallops\/nasas-wallops-flight-facility-to-launch-student-experiments\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/wff-2023-068-004.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/wff-2023-068-004.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/wff-2023-068-004.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/wff-2023-068-004.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/wff-2023-068-004.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/wff-2023-068-004.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/wff-2023-068-004.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/wff-2023-068-004.jpg?resize=900,600 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">4 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">NASA\u2019s Wallops Flight Facility to Launch Student Experiments<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t10 hours ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/hubble\/nasas-hubble-restarts-science-in-new-pointing-mode\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/hubble-space-telescope-hst-7.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">3 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">NASA\u2019s Hubble Restarts Science in New Pointing Mode<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-md color-carbon-60\">NASA successfully transitioned operations for the agency\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope to an alternate operating mode…<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t11 hours ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/nasa-missions\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Missions<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg 3840w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jsc2022e046413_orig.jpg?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Humans In Space<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"368\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/topic-humans-in-space.jpg?w=368\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/topic-humans-in-space.jpg 368w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/topic-humans-in-space.jpg?resize=197,300 197w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/topic-humans-in-space.jpg?resize=263,400 263w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 368px) 100vw, 368px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/solar-system\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Solar System Exploration<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Why Oceans Matter The story of oceans is the story of life. Life as we know it requires three ingredients:…<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/pia06890-our-solar-system-banner-1920x640-1.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/explore-nasas-history\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Explore NASA’s History<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1919\" height=\"1878\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=1919&h=1878&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=1919&h=1878&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1919w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=300&h=294&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=768&h=752&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=1024&h=1002&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=1536&h=1503&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=50&h=49&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 50w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=400&h=391&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=600&h=587&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=900&h=881&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/as17-134-20476\/as17-134-20476~large.jpg?w=1200&h=1174&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1919px) 100vw, 1919px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 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LinkedIn.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M4.98 3.5c0 1.381-1.11 2.5-2.48 2.5s-2.48-1.119-2.48-2.5c0-1.38 1.11-2.5 2.48-2.5s2.48 1.12 2.48 2.5zm.02 4.5h-5v16h5v-16zm7.982 0h-4.968v16h4.969v-8.399c0-4.67 6.029-5.052 6.029 0v8.399h4.988v-10.131c0-7.88-8.922-7.593-11.018-3.714v-2.155z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-rss\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/feed\/\" aria-label=\"Subscribe to RSS feed.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 800 800\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M493 652H392c0-134-111-244-244-244V307c189 0 345 156 345 345zm71 0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"\/><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Sep 20, 2023<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\"><div class=\"grid-col-4\"><div class=\"subheading\">Editor<\/div><\/div><div class=\"grid-col-8\">Jim Banke<\/div><\/div><div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\"><div class=\"grid-col-4\"><div class=\"subheading\">Contact<\/div><\/div><div class=\"grid-col-8\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-3\"><div>Jim Banke<\/div><div><a href=\"mailto:jim.banke@nasa.gov\">jim.banke@nasa.gov<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\"><div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2><\/div><ul class=\"article-tags\"><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/\">Aeronautics<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/technology\/\">Aeronautics Technology<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/the-apollo-program\/\">Apollo<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/apollo-11\/\">Apollo 11<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/nasa-missions\/\">Missions<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/\">NASA History<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A half-century ago, as the Apollo 11 command module Columbia ripped through Earth\u2019s atmosphere, moments from ending the historic first lunar landing mission, research results from NASA\u2019s aeronautical innovators helped safely bring the crew home. Although Columbia was a perfectly symmetrical cone, the distribution of mass within its hull moved the spacecraft\u2019s center of gravity […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":45730,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"47","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":["47"],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2660,10843,2713,2931,2655,2671],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[10618,10924,10831],"coauthors":[8588],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Apollo 11\u2019s Return to Earth Rooted in Aeronautics Research","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/apollo-11s-return-to-earth-rooted-in-aeronautics-research\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/apollo-11s-return-to-earth-rooted-in-aeronautics-research\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4x3-2.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4x3-2.jpg"},"articleSection":"Aeronautics","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jim Banke"}],"creator":["Jim Banke"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA History","Aeronautics","Aeronautics Technology","Apollo","Apollo 11","Missions"],"dateCreated":"2019-07-24T16:17:00Z","datePublished":"2019-07-24T16:17:00Z","dateModified":"2023-09-20T11:33:44Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Apollo 11\u2019s Return to Earth Rooted in Aeronautics Research\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/apollo-11s-return-to-earth-rooted-in-aeronautics-research\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4x3-2.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2019-07-24T16:17:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Aeronautics\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA History,Aeronautics,Aeronautics Technology,Apollo,Apollo 11,Missions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Jim Banke\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":5,"time_ago":"5 years","featured_image":{"id":45730,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4x3-2.jpg","title":"apollo11-command-module-gpn-2000-001212-4×3","alt":"The Apollo 11 command module Columbia splashed down.","caption":"The Apollo 11 command module Columbia with astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin aboard splashed down at 11:49 a.m. CDT, July 24, 1969, about 812 nautical miles southwest of Hawaii and only 12 nautical miles from the USS Hornet."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38037"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38037"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38037\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":512697,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38037\/revisions\/512697"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38037"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=38037"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=38037"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=38037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}