Johnson Space Center

Following its opening in 1963, the Manned Spaceflight Center (now called the Johnson Space Center) has been the heart of the agency’s operations.

Not just throughout the missions but also through much of the technology expansion and astronaut training programs.

NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston

For over 50 years, NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston has led our nation and the world on an ongoing adventure of human exploration, discovery, and achievement. 

An aerial view of the complete Johnson Space Center facility in Houston, Texas.
An aerial view of the complete Johnson Space Center facility in Houston, Texas.

The Manned Spacecraft Center, with its 30 controllers in Houston, Texas, was in overall charge of Apollo 11 and its crew. It was inside windowless mission control.

From the moment Saturn V with its crew cleared the tower until it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.

The average age of the controllers was only 32, and most had degrees in mathematics, engineering, or physics.

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Johnson Space Center is engaged in new innovations

The center has engaged in an essential role in powering our country into the 21st century through technological discoveries and scientific innovations.

Mission Operations Control Room in the Mission Control Center, Building 30, during Apollo 9. Credit: NASA
Mission Operations Control Room in the Mission Control Center, Building 30, during Apollo 9. Credit: NASA.

The specialists who work at JSC have made progress in science, engineering, technology, and medicine, which allows us to explore our world and universe as never before and obtain unique benefits from that journey.

The Johnson Space Center was established in 1961 as the Manned Spaceflight Center.

It became the headquarters and Mission Control Center for the U.S. human space flight program. 

The Johnson Center was involved in Apollo´s missions

The Johnson Center’s $1.5 billion complexes occupy 1,620 acres southeast of downtown Houston in the Clear Lake area.

In the year of 1973, it was renamed in honor of the late President and Texas native Lyndon B. Johnson. 

In its first days, the center led the Gemini and the Apollo missions and Skylab projects. 

Mission control at Johnson Space Centre, as it looks today. 
Credit: NASA
Mission control at Johnson Space Centre, as it looks today.
Credit: NASA.

JSC at present

The Johnson Space Center presently serves as the home of mission control.

JSC also functions as NASA’s lead for International Space Station operations and missions.

It is also home to the Orion Multi-purpose crew vehicle and various advanced human exploration projects. 

The Johnson Space Center also plays an essential role in NASA’s Commercial Crew programs.

As JSC has grown into one of NASA’s most extensive research and development plants, the greater Houston area has extended into an aerospace hub with the identification of incredible achievements, hard work, and innovation.

I hope you enjoyed this short article. Find out more about the famous Flight Director Gene Kranz.

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