Largest Known Spiral Galaxy:
The giant barred spiral galaxy NGC 6872 is 522,000 light-years across from the tip of one outstretched arm to the tip of the other, making it about 5 times the size of our home galaxy, the Milky Way.
NASA's Operation IceBridge gave three teachers—one each from the United States, Greenland and Denmark—an inside view of research by hosting a field research experience during the 2013 Arctic campaign.
Balloon Array for Radiation-belt Relativistic Electron Losses (BARREL) project launched 20 balloons from Antarctica to study the Van Allen Belts space weather phenomenon.
Dr. Bertram "Bert" Donn, the first head of NASA Goddard's astrochemistry group, passed away on Friday December 28, 2012 at age 93. Bert helped put Goddard science on the map in the early days, both within and beyond NASA. He also was influential in starting two lab efforts at Goddard and in hiring some of our better-known scientists.
The Sciences and Exploration Directorate is the largest Earth and space science research organization in the world. Its scientists advance understanding of the Earth and its life-sustaining environment, the Sun, the solar system, and the wider universe beyond. The Directorate is part of Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Researchers in the Sciences and Exploration Directorate work with engineers, computer programmers, technologists, and other team members to develop the cutting-edge technology needed for space-based research. Instruments are also deployed on aircraft, balloons, and Earth's surface.
The Directorate's researchers share their findings and data with the scientific community. Education and Public Outreach programs explain the science to students and the general public.
Contact Us
Dr. Michelle Lynn Thaller
301.286.4132
Assistant Director for Science Communication and Higher Education [600]
Barbara B Grofic
301.286.7624
Assistant Director for Program Support [600]
General inquiries about the scientific programs at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center may be directed to the Center Office of Communications at 1.301.286.8955.
