The National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationMost people recognize NASA as the agency responsible for taking Americans to the Moon and returning them safely home, to fly in space with the Space Shuttle programs, sending magnificent images of the planets and stars to Earth via the Hubble Telescope and of the surface of Mars via the Mars Rover cameras. While all of these descriptions are true, NASA is responsible for many familiar objects that Americans use in our daily lives. NASA's vision statement reads: "To reach new heights and reveal the unknown so that what we do and learn benefits all humanity" (What), and indeed, all humanity benefits daily work of NASA. Thanks to research by NASA, we are now able to filter our water, use cordless power tools and cell phones, keep our homes safe with smoke detectors, straighten our teeth with invisible braces and see clearly with scratch-resistant eyeglass lenses. We can even take our baby's temperature with an ear thermometer, then fall asleep comfortably on a memory foam mattress (Conger). The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent government agency, so it is not grouped under any other cabinet. , agencies or ministries. Major General Charles Frank Bolden, Jr., NASA Administrator, was appointed by and reports directly to the President of the United States. “NASA headquarters is in Washington, DC. The agency has ten field centers and seven testing and research facilities located in several states across the country. More than 18,000 people work for NASA” (Dunbar1) and many others work with the agency as contractors. Besides the benefits we as private citizens reap... middle of paper ......itedConger, Cristin. “10 NASA Inventions You Could Use Every Day.” Discovery channel. Discovery Communications, and Web. April 8, 2014. Dunbar, Brian. “What is NASA?” NASA. NASA, January 23, 2008. Web. April 8, 2014. .Dunbar, Brian. "What's next for NASA.gov?" NASAgov behind the page. Np, November 19, 2012. Web. April 8, 2014. .Lober, Rick. “Defense One.” Defense One. National Journal Group, September 25, 2013. Web. April 8, 2014. “What is NASA doing?” » NASA. NASA, September 2013. Web. April 8. 2014. .