Ames Research Center NASA Lunar Science Research Center Missions Research Center Technologies

NASA Exploration Center Mountain View, California

Located just three miles from the Comfort Inn Mountain View, the NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, CA is a leader in information technology research.

One of 10 NASA field installations, Ames’ claim to fame is developing the technologies that help make NASA missions possible.

NASA Ames Research Center Technologies.

Ames is well-respected around the world as a leader in a wide variety of fields that range from nanotechnology and biotechnology to thermal protection systems and aerospace. Research is focused on astrobiology, which encompasses a wealth of areas, such as the way stars and planets are arranged in the universe and how gravity affects plants, animals, and humans. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/about/index.html. [Top]

NASA Lunar Science Institute.

Managed by the NASA Ames Research Center, this important organization supplements and extends existing NASA lunar science programs. Teams of experts across the nation work together in an effort to lead the agency's research activities regarding lunar exploration goals. Activities include investigations of the moon (such as taking lunar samples), from the moon, and/or on the Moon. For more information, visit http://lunarscience.arc.nasa.gov/about/. [Top]

NASA Ames Research Center Missions.

NASA Ames Research is engaged in a variety of missions that cover a multitude of scientific subjects. Currently, there are several missions being prepared, including:

Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite. Seeking water on the moon will be the job of the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite. The trip is scheduled to take place on the same rocket as the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which has been assigned an entirely different moon-related mission.

Kepler. This is NASA's first mission where Earth-size and smaller planets can be detected. The goal of Kepler is to examine the brightness of stars to observe planets that make their way in front of them while each planet is in its orbit. At those times, the planets will be responsible for slightly decreasing the star's brightness.

Phoenix Mars Scout. In the never-ending search for water on Mars, the Phoenix high-latitude lander will be sent to the red planet. Once there, the Phoenix Mars Scout will use a robotic arm for the purpose of digging trenches into the many levels of water ice that are concentrated at the poles.

For more information on current, future and past NASA Ames Research Center missions, visit http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/missions/index.html. [Top]