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Aerial view of Johnson Space Center
Flight controllers in NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston rehearse launch operations ahead of the Artemis I mission.

Johnson Space Center

For more than half a century, NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston has led our nation and the world on a continuing adventure of human exploration, discovery and achievement. The center has played a vital role in powering our country into the 21st century through technological innovations and scientific discoveries.

Learn More About Johnson Space Center about Johnson Space Center

Location

Houston, Texas

Founded

November 1, 1961

People

11,000+

Director

Vanessa Wyche

Johnson Leadership

Vanessa Wyche poses in front of the United States and NASA flags wearing a blue suit and white top.

Vanessa E. Wyche, Director

Vanessa E. Wyche is the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, home to America’s astronaut corps, Mission Control Center, International Space Station, Orion and Gateway programs and its more than 11,000 civil service and contractor employees.

Photo of Steve Koerner

Stephen A. Koerner, Deputy Director

Stephen A. Koerner assists in overseeing a broad range of human spaceflight activities, including development and operation of human spacecraft, commercialization of low-Earth orbit and Johnson’s role in landing the first woman and first person of color on the surface of the Moon.

Photo of Donna Shafer

Donna M. Shafer, Associate Center Director

Donna M. Shafer assists in leading a workforce of more than 10,000 civil servant and contractor employees at one of NASA’s largest installations in Houston and the White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She also assists with a broad range of human spaceflight activities.

Photo of Douglas Terrier

Douglas Terrier, Associate Director for Vision and Strategy

Douglas Terrier is responsible for leading the strategy, creation, integration, and overall execution of JSC’s ongoing transformation initiatives revolutionizing the center’s policies, plans, and processes around workforce, facilities, and products to advance human spaceflight. 

A bearded, bald man in a suit and tie poses in front of the American and NASA flags

Victor Herod, Assistant to the Center Director for Technical Integration

Victor Herod is on a one-year detail as the Assistant to the Center Director for Technical Integration.  In this role he supports the JSC Center Director’s staff, specifically helping with strategic planning and management of technical integration, mission support and communication activities.

A woman with red hair wearing a white shirt and Khaki blazer poses in front of the United States and NASA flags.

Kate Kubicek, Technical Assistant to Deputy Center Director

Kate Kubicek is on a six-month detail as Technical Assistant to NASA Johnson Space Center Deputy Director.  Kate has been serving in a dual role as Gateway Program Deputy Chief Health and Performance Officer and JSC Human Health and Performance (HHP) Directorate Deputy Manager for Gateway. 

Focus Areas and Capabilities

Image of an astronaut performing a spacewalk

Humans in Space

Human space exploration helps to address fundamental questions about our place in the universe and the history of our solar system. We go to space to answer humanity's most fundamental questions, to create new economic opportunities, and to improve life on Earth.

Image of an astronaut performing a Veggie Ponds Reservoir Fill

Research

Johnson Space Center research efforts span biology and biotechnology, Earth science, human research, physical science, technology, and more.

image of VIPER on the Moon

Commercial Space

The first foray into economic development off Earth, the low-Earth orbit economy is a new and growing market of private companies providing access to, and services in, space. Customers in space include NASA and other international space agencies, academic institutions, and other research-based organizations.

Labs and Facilities

Explore NASA Johnson's labs and facilities to learn more about their capabilities.

Image of a scientist in the space food laboratory

Food Laboratory

The Space Food Systems Laboratory supports the production and development of flight food, menus, packaging, and food-related hardware for all NASA programs. 

Apollo 17 postflight 13 lunar sample 50035 6385 S72-56385

Lunar Sample Laboratory

Geologic samples returned from the Moon by the Apollo lunar surface exploration missions (1969-1972), along with associated data records, are physically protected, environmentally preserved, and scientifically processed in a special building dedicated for that purpose.

A female scientist is working in a laboratory

Microbiology Lab

The Johnson Space Center Microbiology laboratory, a Biosafety Level 2 facility, is a critical component of the Human Health and Performance Directorate and is responsible for addressing crew health and environmental issues related to microbial infection, allergens, and contamination.

newly remodeled mission control

Mission Control Center

The mission operations team enables the men and women living and working aboard the space station to achieve their mission goals and to fly safely.  The next generation of mission operations will include deep space travel beyond Low Earth Orbit, into Cislunar space, and onto Mars. 

Image of an astronaut at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab

Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory

The NBL is one of the world’s largest indoor pools and can support multiple large scale operations utilizing both underwater and topside assets simultaneously. The NBL is utilized for mission planning, procedure development, hardware verification, astronaut training, and refinement of time-critical operations necessary to ensure mission success during spacewalks.

Image of the Dream Chaser vehicle at the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility

Space Vehicle Mockup Facility

The mission of the SVMF is to provide world class training for space flight crews and their support personnel and high-fidelity hardware for real-time mission support. A major task of the SVMF is to support engineering and mission operations evaluations for the International Space Station and Orion Programs.

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