Dale GardnerStatus: Deceased 11/8/1948 – 2/19/2014 Nationality: American Type: Government First Flight: 8/30/1983 Last Flight: 11/8/1984Dale Allan Gardner was a NASA astronaut who flew two Space Shuttle missions during the early 1980s.LaunchesSpace Shuttle Challenger / OV-099 | STS-8Space Shuttle Discovery / OV-103 | STS-51-ANational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationType: Government Abbreviation: NASA Administration: Administrator: Jim Bridenstine Founded: 1958 Launchers: Space Shuttle | SLS Spacecraft: Orion Country: USAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA have many launch facilities but most are inactive. The most commonly used pad will be LC-39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.