Fun and surprising NASA trivia

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was founded in 1958, and since then it has become an admired institution, one which is responsible for numerous advances in modern society.

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After more than 60 years of operating, NASA has generated some fascinating stories. Why don't we take a look at some of the best ones?

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To study the effects of prolonged weightlessness, NASA paid several people $9,000 a month. Their job was simply to lie down on a bed and sleep (as well as shower and eat while horizontal) for 70 days.

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NASA has a special department dedicated to the protection of life on other planets, should there be any. What will they do with the inhabitants, if they find them? That's classified information.

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In August 2012, Curiosity (pictured) reached Mars, something that did not sit well with three Yemeni gentlemen who claimed that Mars was theirs, since they had inherited it from their ancestors. They sued NASA, but they didn't get a single penny.

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If the 'owners' of Mars already felt bad that NASA sent a rover to Mars, how will they feel about NASA's big goal of having humans set foot on the Red Planet by 2030?

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Do you want to know when the International Space Station is passing over you? NASA can notify you by SMS, though you will need a powerful telescope to see it.

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The film 'Armageddon' (1998) is used by NASA to train future astronomers. After viewing the film, they are asked to indicate the scientific inaccuracies that can be found in it.

NASA's advances are not only applied to aeronautics, but also to everyday life, thanks to the spectacular R&D team they have. Anti-scratch glasses, the joystick and baby formula have their origin in NASA... and these are just three examples!

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In 2008, NASA collaborated with Speedo to create a swimsuit that would offer less resistance to water and help speed up movement. It was so successful, that it was subsequently prohibited in numerous competitions.

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Bill Nye is famous for making science popular and more accessible. But not a lot of people know that NASA rejected him when he tried to be an astronaut.

The space shuttle is so out of date that NASA had to buy replacement parts on eBay.

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The Vehicle Assembly Building is so large that it has its own climate. A massive air conditioning system prevents the Florida humidity from forming rain clouds near the roof.

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In 2006, NASA acknowledged that it mistakenly recorded over the original tapes of the Moon landing. Luckily, CBS also recorded them and they could be duplicated.

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One of the most famous water guns in history was invented by Lonnie Johnson, who had previously been a NASA scientist.

NASA's budget for 2022 is $24.4 billion, and roughly 50% of this will be spent on human spaceflight activities.

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The ZIP code for the Kennedy Space Center and surrounding areas is 321, simulating a countdown.

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In 1979, Skylab re-entered Earth and ended up crashing in Australia. Australian authorities fined NASA $400 for dumping garbage in the country. It took more than 30 years to pay off.

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In order to apply to be an astronaut with NASA, prospective candidates must first meet one requirement, which is showing that they have travelled a minimum of 80km over the surface of the planet.

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In 1999, the Mars Climate Orbiter crashed on Mars because NASA technicians forgot to convert navigation data from the metric system to imperial. That is, from kilometers to miles.

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If the expedition is short, the astronauts use diapers called MAG. If it is longer, they have special bathrooms that work in zero gravity and are like vacuum cleaners that suck up everything that is floating in the environment.

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