Happy 65 Years: NASA's Johnson Space Center Then and Now

Sixty-five years ago, a bold vision took root in Houston: a NASA center dedicated to human spaceflight. Since its founding, NASA’s Johnson Space Center has helped lead the nation’s human spaceflight program, supporting missions from Project Mercury through Artemis. Today, Johnson serves as NASA’s Center of Excellence for Human Spaceflight, and its workforce is helping […].

Happy 65 Years: NASA’s Johnson Space Center Then and Now. 6 Min Read Happy 65 Years: NASA’s Johnson Space Center Then and Now View of the Manned Spacecraft Center during construction in 1963. John Uri Johnson Space Center Sumer Loggins Nov 02, 2026 Article Contents Manned Spacecraft Center to Johnson Space Center Project Management Building Neutral buoyancy spacewalk training Lunar Receiving Laboratory (Building 37) Spacecraft mockup training facilities (Building 9) Mission Simulation and Training Facility (Building 5) Mission Control Center Sixty-five years ago, a bold vision took root in Houston: a NASA center dedicated to human spaceflight.

Johnson is home to America’s astronaut corps, the Mission Control Center, and the teams behind some of humanity’s greatest achievements in space. As NASA’s human spaceflight programs evolve, Johnson remains at the forefront of these efforts. Houston is home to NASA’s Low Earth Orbit Program, comprising International Space Station operations and commercial partnerships and destinations in low Earth orbit.

For missions beyond low Earth orbit, Johnson houses the Moon Base Program⁠ and Orion Program⁠, while NASA’s Human Health and Performance Directorate⁠ and Human Research Program ⁠ work to protect crew health and performance as missions extend farther from Earth.