# Not the Space Force (DD-259)

> NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is the U.S. civilian space agency, established on July 29, 1958. Its Apollo program landed 12 astronauts on the Moon between 1969 and 1972. It also runs robotic missions such as the Mars rovers, Earth-observing satellites and space telescopes including Hubble and, with partners, the James Webb Space Telescope. Its Artemis program aims to return astronauts to the Moon. The U.S. Space Force, by contrast, is a military branch founded in 2019. The footage shows NASA missions and facilities, with the presenter.

- Department: Space (also History)
- First published: 2024-06-26
- Last updated: 2024-06-26
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/not-the-space-force/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## On the timeline

- **July 29, 1958**: NASA is established
- **1969**: The first Apollo Moon landing
- **2019**: The U.S. Space Force is founded

Full timeline: https://detailenjoyer.com/timeline/?case=not-the-space-force

## Quick facts

- **DD-259-F01**: NASA was established in 1958. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (1958))_
- **DD-259-F02**: Apollo landed 12 astronauts on the Moon. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Apollo))_

## Write-up

NASA was established in 1958. Its Apollo missions landed 12 astronauts on the Moon.

1. **1958**: NASA was established in 1958.
2. **Apollo**: Apollo landed 12 astronauts on the Moon.
3. **Robots**: NASA runs Mars rovers and satellites.
4. **Artemis**: Artemis aims to return to the Moon.
5. **Civilian**: NASA is civilian; the Space Force is military.

## Related case files

- [Lunar Roving (DD-609)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/lunar-roving/): I linked driving on the Moon
- [Eyes in the Sky (DD-255)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/eyes-in-the-sky/): I linked more spaceflight, on satellites
- [Look Up, Can You See It? (DD-258)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/look-up-can-you-see-it/): I linked more spaceflight, on NASA
- [One Small Fall for Man... (DD-541)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/one-small-fall-for-man/): I linked more on NASA

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: None needed.

## Video: Not the Space Force: NASA Was Established in 1958

- Duration: 35.0 s · Published: 2024-06-26
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/C8rimlpOJGM.mp4

### Transcript

NASA, also known as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is at the forefront of space exploration and scientific discovery. Established in 1958, NASA has achieved monumental milestones, including landing humans on the moon during the Apollo missions and launching the Hubble Space Telescope. NASA's work extends beyond manned missions. It includes robotic explorers on Mars, satellites studying Earth's climate and telescopes, peering into the distant universe. The agency continues to push the boundaries with projects like the Artemis Program, aiming to return humans to the moon and eventually reach Mars. NASA's innovations have not only expanded our understanding of space, but also led to advancements benefiting life on Earth. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: When was NASA established?**  
A: July 29. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (1958) · Wikipedia: NASA)_

**Q: How many astronauts walked on the Moon?**  
A: 1969 to 1972. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Apollo) · Wikipedia: NASA)_

**Q: Which program aims to return to the Moon?**  
A: In progress. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Robots) · Wikipedia: NASA)_

**Q: Which telescope did NASA launch in 1990?**  
A: Low orbit. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Artemis) · Wikipedia: Artemis program)_

**Q: What is the Space Force?**  
A: Founded 2019. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Civilian) · Wikipedia: NASA)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: NASA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA)
- [Wikipedia: Artemis program](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_program)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Not the Space Force." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-259, last updated Jun 26, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/not-the-space-force/