The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for the United States' civil space program and for research in aeronautics and space. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., NASA operates ten field centers across the U.S. and is organized into mission directorates for Science, Space Operations, Exploration Systems Development, Space Technology, Aeronautics Research, and Mission Support. Established in 1958, NASA succeeded the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) to give the U.S. space program a distinct civilian orientation focused on peaceful applications. Since then, it has led most American spaceflight programs, including Project Mercury, Project Gemini, the Apollo program, Skylab, the Space Shuttle, the International Space Station (ISS) and the ongoing multi-national Artemis program.
NASA's Kepler space telescope confirms the discovery of the first Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of another star.
On April 17, in the year 2014, NASA's Kepler space telescope confirms the discovery of the first Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of another star. This event is recorded as a Historical Events event in the history of April 17, one of 401 recorded events on this date across all of history.
Key Facts
- This event took place on April 17, 2014 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Historical Events event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 4 Wikipedia articles.
- The event is associated with a specific geographical location (see map below).
- Wikipedia source last updated on 15 April 2026.
On This Date in History 401
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Anneli Jäätteenmäki takes office as the first female prime minister of Finland
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Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-90, the final Spacelab mission
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The Katina P is deliberately run aground off Maputo, Mozambique, and 60,000 tons of crude oil spill into the ocean
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