News COBE Satellite Marks 20th Anniversary NASA's Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite rocketed into Earth orbit on Nov. 18, 1989, and quickly revolutionized our understanding of the early cosmos. Developed and built at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., COBE precisely measured and mapped the oldest light in the universe -- the cosmic microwave background. Full Story More News: Fermi Telescope Caps Its First Year With A Glimpse of Space-Time First Black Holes Kept to a Strict Diet, Study Shows News Archive Special Feature Featured Scientist: Dr. Duilia de Mello You don't have to have a telescope as a child to develop an interest in astronomy. Dr. Duilia de Mello grew up without one in Brazil, but she was inspired by the moon just the same. Read more. Featured Scientist Archive Special Exhibit Satellite Showcase: Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is the latest high energy gamma-ray observatory launched by NASA. It is designed to study energetic phenomena from a variety of celestial sources. Read more.