There are three main space programs in the United States: NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), the Department of Defense's space program, and private companies like SpaceX. NASA focuses on scientific research and exploration, the Department of Defense's program is more focused on national security, and private companies are involved in launching satellites and developing commercial space travel.
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Generally, individuals must be at least 18 years old to participate in the US space programs as astronauts. However, there is no specific age requirement for other roles within the space industry, such as engineers, scientists, or administrators.
The first three space programs in the US were Project Mercury, Project Gemini, and Apollo program. These programs were instrumental in advancing human space exploration and culminated in the first human landing on the Moon during the Apollo missions.
Germany. After World War II, the US and the USSR both recruited German rocket scientists, led by Wernher von Braun, to jumpstart their own space programs.
The three main space programs developed for human space travel and moon missions are NASA (United States), Soviet space program (USSR), and the Apollo program (United States), which was a part of NASA focused specifically on landing astronauts on the moon.
The two US manned space programs that preceded Apollo were Mercury and Gemini. The Mercury program aimed to put a human in orbit around the Earth, while the Gemini program focused on developing the necessary skills and technologies for space travel to the Moon.