Johnson Space Center was established in 1961, and from the early Gemini, Apollo and Skylab projects to today’s Space Shuttle and International Space Station Programs, the Center continues to lead NASA’s efforts in human space exploration. Located in Houston, Texas, JSC is the training base and home for the United States’ astronauts and the site of Mission Control, where a talented cadre of flight controllers monitors the work of U.S. women and men in space.

Johnson Space Center. Image Credit: NASA

The operations as JSC included the development, production and delivery of the Space Shuttle orbiters; the testing of spacecraft associated systems; the development and integration of experiments for human space flight activities; supporting scientific engineering and medical research; the selection and training of astronauts and the operation of human space flights.

Johnson Space Center also serves as an important museum featuring more than 400 space artifacts, permanent and traveling exhibits, attractions and theaters related to the exciting future and remarkable past of America’s human space-flight program.

Image Credit: JSC/NASA

But in addition to these roles, JSC also serves as an important educational institution. Educational emphasis is placed on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in a fun and engaging way. It uses space exploration to inspire wonder and interest in science and math. Specifically for CosmoQuest, Johnson Space Center’s staff and scientists will be assisting earth scientists in a new Earth imaging project using ISS astronaut images to study our changing planet, using citizen science initiatives.

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