United States Space Administration

The United States Space Administration or USSA was the agency of the United States responsible for the administration of the nation's space program.

Background
Captain Richard Wade, Captain Mark Garris, and Captain Michael Hagen were the crew of the Virgo II lunar lander, the first to make contact with the lunar surface on July 16, 1969. The astronauts became the first humans to walk on a celestial body other than Earth. Captain Bell also piloted the space capsule Defiance 7, lasting twelve minutes and seven seconds as it made a full revolution around the Earth. Bell died when the capsule crashed on its return to Earth. The USSA sponsored the Museum of Technology's Spaceflight Gallery.

On November 14, 1969, Virgo III also landed on the Moon. In 2020, the Delta IX rocket was commissioned by the USSA. The Delta IX rocket was the last of the manned rockets to the Moon, wherein 2052, the crew recovered the Virgo II flag from its surface. The longest recorded spaceflight in a rocket of this type was the 17-day Zeus 12 Mission.

Colonel Hartigan, his ship Clarabella 7, and Holly Barrisford, a linguistics specialist for the USSA, were abducted by Zetan aliens. In 2277, Colonel Hartigan is found dead in a cryogenics pod by the Lone Wanderer and an alien captive recorded log detailing Holly Barrisford's interactions with the aliens is found onboard Mothership Zeta. Mr. Pebbles was the first animal launched into space.

The USSA Research and Development Department division worked on the Deep Sleep project, which launched in 2070. The project's aim was to test the viability of hibernation pods in outer space, with the project comprising four individuals, including Commander Sofia Daguerre.

In the 2070s, the USSA planned the Mars Shot Project; an attempt to launch a manned mission to Mars by July of 2078. ArcJet Systems was contracted by USSA to produce the XMB booster engine and deep range transmitter for the Mars Shot Project. In early 2076, problems arose over the XMB's weight, however, these problems were eventually fixed shortly after the project went public. In September 2077, the USSA raised concerns over rising political tensions, estimating that the Mars Shot Project may be delayed for a year or more.

Naval Radio Station Sugar Grove in Western Virginia served as one of many USSA installations. A.T.H.E.N.A., the Deep Sleep project AI, was located in the facility's data center. Sugar Grove also functioned as a USSA beacon, which is why commander Sofia Daguerre crashed in the region, her pod's safety measures landing her near an available USSA facility. This resulted in many USSA killer robots, including Assaultrons, Robobrains and Protectrons re-activating.

Valiant space station
USSA logos on spacesuits can be found aboard the remains of the station.