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News | July 29, 2021

What Do NSA and NASA Have in Common?

Surprisingly, the acronyms for the National Security Agency (NSA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) can sometimes get mixed up. Though often an inadvertent mix-up on the initials, the truth is both organizations share a common passion for boundary breaking science and technology.

Both NSA and NASA are guided by the search for solutions, top talent, and innovation, driving the two organizations ever forward in support of our (different) core missions. In this respect, there is very little daylight between the two.

NASA turns 63 on 29 July. In addition to wishing the agency a hearty happy birthday, NSA also offers thanks to Astronaut Sunita Williams for spending time recently with both the NSA and NASA workforces in a joint virtual presentation.

Employees gained a unique insight into Williams’ life, where she shared her adventures and successes.

Williams has over 20 years of experience as a NASA Astronaut. She is a veteran of two space missions, in 2006 and 2012, and is currently training for the first mission aboard a new spacecraft that is due to launch in late 2021 / early 2022.

“We are doing things that are much bigger than ourselves. There is no way I would fly to the international space station on a shuttle flight without the help of literally thousands,” she said, emphasizing the importance of teamwork.

Williams added that it takes a diverse set of people and their experiences, all working together to execute a space endeavor.

Just like NASA, NSA leverages diverse perspectives across the Agency to achieve mission outcomes. NSA recruits people of all different skill levels, cultures, backgrounds, and expertise, all with a common goal of using their talents to make a positive impact on our nation. No mission is accomplished with just one individual. It takes a team of experts, bringing their skills to the table to accomplish the mission.