 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2020) |
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 Aerial view of Moffett Field and Ames Research Center in 1982 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | December 20, 1939 |
| Jurisdiction | U.S. federal government |
| Headquarters | Moffett Field, California, U.S. |
| Agency executive |
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| Parent agency | NASA |
| Website | nasa |
| Map | |
 Map of NASA Ames Research Center | |
The Ames Research Center (ARC), also known as NASA Ames, is a major NASA research center at Moffett Federal Airfield in California's Silicon Valley. It was founded in 1939[1] as the second National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) laboratory. That agency was dissolved and its assets and personnel transferred to the newly created National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on October 1, 1958. NASA Ames is named in honor of Joseph Sweetman Ames, a physicist and one of the founding members of NACA. At last estimate NASA Ames had over US$3 billion in capital equipment, 2,300 research personnel and a US$860 million annual budget.
Ames was founded to conduct wind-tunnel research on the aerodynamics of propeller-driven aircraft; however, its role has expanded to encompass spaceflight and information technology. Ames plays a role in many NASA missions. It provides leadership in astrobiology; small satellites; robotic lunar exploration; the search for habitable planets; supercomputing; intelligent/adaptive systems; advanced thermal protection; planetary science; and airborne astronomy. Ames also develops tools for a safer, more efficient national airspace. The center's current director is Eugene Tu.[2]
The site was mission center for several key missions (Kepler, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph) and a major contributor to the "new exploration focus"[3] as a participant in the Orion crew exploration vehicle.
- ^ NASA (August 18, 2006). "NASA Ames Research Center History". Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
- ^ Clemens, Jay (May 5, 2015). "Eugene Tu Named Director of NASA Ames Research Center; Charles Bolden Comments". Retrieved March 15, 2016.
- ^ Showstack, Randy (February 3, 2004). "New exploration focus will not diminish Earth science agenda, NASA says". Eos. 85 (5): 46. Bibcode:2004EOSTr..85S..46S. doi:10.1029/2004EO050003.