posted 09-17-2011 05:38 PM               

Johnson Space Center 50th anniversary

After half a century leading America's human spaceflight program, NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) "goes golden." JSC is marking its first 50 years on Monday, Sept. 19, 2011.

On Sept. 19, 1961, NASA announced that its new facility, the Manned Spacecraft Center, would be located in Houston, Texas.

More than 20 sites competed to host the center. NASA established criteria for the proposed site, which included: transportation in ice-free water by barge, a mild climate, all-weather commercial jet service, a Department of Defense air base that could handle military aircraft, a nearby university and property that fell within certain cost parameters.

In 1973, the center was renamed in honor of the late president and Texas native, Lyndon B. Johnson. From the early Gemini, Apollo and Skylab projects to the Space Shuttle and International Space Station Programs and beyond, the center continues to lead NASA's efforts in human space exploration.

The Johnson Space Center 50th anniversary logo was designed by NASA graphics artist Logan Goodson.

posted 09-19-2011 01:02 PM               

Johnson Space Center (JSC) 50th anniversary cake cutting ceremony

Johnson Space Center director Michael Coats marked the center's 50th anniversary on Monday, Sept. 19, participating in a cake-cutting ceremony with Apollo 16 moonwalker Charlie Duke.

Above: Duke (foreground) and Coats slice into the two anniversary cakes.

Above: Coats, who first reported to Johnson Space Center 33 years ago as a member of the first class of space shuttle astronauts, helps serve the cake to center employees.

Above: "Cake anyone?" asked Duke, who first came to JSC (then the Manned Spacecraft Center) in 1966, five years after Houston was selected to host the center.