NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research. Established in 1958, NASA was formed to give U.S. space efforts a distinctly civilian orientation, emphasizing peaceful applications in space science. It has led major American space exploration efforts, including the Apollo Moon landing missions, the Skylab space station, and the Space Shuttle program. NASA currently supports the International Space Station, oversees the development of the Orion spacecraft, the Space Launch System, and manages numerous scientific research projects and uncrewed space missions. NASA's focus encompasses understanding Earth, exploring the Solar System, and researching astrophysics topics such as the Big Bang.

NASA

U.S. federal agency for space exploration and aeronautics, aerospace research.

The Atlas LV-3B, Atlas D Mercury Launch Vehicle or Mercury-Atlas Launch Vehicle, was a human-rated expendable launch system used as part of the United States Project Mercury to send astronauts into low Earth orbit. Manufactured by American aircraft manufacturing company Convair, it was derived from the SM-65D Atlas missile, and was a member of the Atlas family of rockets.

Atlas LV-3B Launch Schedule