space history preserved

“We embarked on our cosmic voyage with a question first framed in the childhood of our species and in each generation asked anew with undiminished wonder:

What are the stars?”

- Carl Sagan

Welcome to the NIU.

The Neat Information Update (NIU) is a collection of space history & information surrounding both current and past NASA programs. It includes historical records, newspaper, videos, images, and personal anecdotes from prior NASA employees. All information can be accessed through the links and pages below on this main page.  Many documents are stored through google drive.

ISS LIVE

Most Recent NIU

This is where you can find the most recent copy of the NIU that was pushed out to readers.

NIU Archive

The Archive contains all past NIU’s as well as some supplemental information.

Collections

This library contains other neat information from others involved in the space industry.

Neat Links

These links contain information ranging from the earliest NASA days up until our modern space exploration.

Neat Documents

Found documents that have unique information that’s too neat not to share.

Photos and Videos

Additional photos and videos that add to the NIU.

MOST RECENT NIU

Neat Information Update - July 19, 2020

NIU Archive

This library contains all of the past Neat Information Updates dating back to 2010.

Collections

  • The Gold Mine

    The compilation of all the files in the database is a direct result of two compulsory habits of a KSC employee: 1) gathering and archiving any historical document, and 2) organization.  Many of the same decisions, trade studies, and challenges have been made before, so extracting the lessons and context from history is very important.  Consider the quote from philosopher George Santayana, who said in The Life of Reason (5 volumes, 1905-6): "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

    THE GOLD MINE

  • The Treasure Chest

    The data in "The Treasure Chest" was compiled by Chris Knear after participating in a Systems Engineering Advancement & Leadership program at KSC.  There are some 350 files in "The Treasure Chest" covering spacecraft, aircraft, other mishaps and related files.  In his "How to Study Failures" presentation, Chris states:

    - "Learn from other's mistakes...there won't be time to make them all yourself."

    - "...We study failures to avoid them."

    THE TREASURE CHEST

  • CCSFS

    These are a few fun facts from the CCSFS Museum website.

    CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION FUN FACTS

Neat links

mercury

NASA’s first manned spaceflight program. It set the stage for future endeavors and was the United State’s beginnings of reaching out beyond our atmosphere.

Gemini

NASA’s second manned spaceflight program. It built upon the lessons learned in Mercury, and extended our presence in Low Earth Orbit. Hence its name, the capsule contained two astronauts, a change from Mercury’s one.

Apollo

NASA’s lunar manned spaceflight program. From learning to live, and perform in space to leaving our planetary harbor to walk on the surface of another world.

Soyuz

Roscosmos’ manned spaceflight program that has continued since the 60’s.

apollo-soyuz

A joint collaboration project between the United States and the Soviet Union to showcase diplomacy and technological innovation in space.

shuttle

NASA’s long-term manned orbital transfer vehicle program.

artemis

NASA’s return to the Moon using the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.

other neat links

Miscellaneous links from past programs up to modern-day spaceflight, and other neat oddities.

photos & Videos

contact us

We are happy to receive any feedback, ideas, or general comments you may have regarding the NIU. If you have additional neat information that you believe this website could benefit from having, please let us know too!

thank you for visiting the niu!

Over the years many space enthusiasts have worked on both the NIU, and this website. This includes the champion and creator of the NIU, Malcolm Glenn. Having worked at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for nearly 40 years, he knows all of the “ins and outs” of the center, and remains strongly involved in sharing space history to this day.

Kate Cryderman, and most recently Alex Plant have worked to continue this legacy and continue to manage the NIU website. It is a work in progress with constant additions as more space history is being found everyday scattered across the internet. This is not the only website that collects and shares this information, but it is the neatest! In Malcolm’s words,

An honor, a privilege, and a very great pleasure!