The high failure rate of missions launched from Earth attempting to explore Mars has become informally known as the "Mars Curse". The "Galactic Ghoul" is a fictional space monster that consumes Mars probes, a term coined in 1997 by Time Magazine journalist Donald Neff.

Of 38 launches from Earth in an attempt to reach the planet, only 19 succeeded, a success rate of 50%. Twelve of the missions included attempts to land on the surface, but only seven transmitted data after landing.

Minimum-energy launch windows to Mars occur at intervals of approximately 2.135 years, i.e. 780 days (the planet's synodic period with respect to Earth). This is a consequence of the Hohmann transfer orbit for minimum-energy interplanetary transfer.

The first space flight that utilized the new 'Mission Control Center' was Gemini IV.

"Houston" is the call sign for Mission Control during space missions.

Astronauts train at Johnson Space Center and the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, a 6.2 million gallon pool where astronauts can practice extravehicular activities.

The Johnson Space Center is located on property donated by Rice University. Rice is where President Kennedy said, "We go to the moon ... not because it is easy, but because it is hard!"