NASA is the space agency run by the United States to oversee American space exploration, research and technology. NASA, or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, was founded in 1958 as a civilian agency for U.S. space exploration. Prior to 1958, the agency's progenitor was known as the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. NASA develops, builds and launches missions to study the Earth, moon and sun, as well as the entire solar system and beyond. The agency has its headquarters in Washington D.C., with major centers in Florida (the Kennedy Space Center for launches) and Houston (the Johnson Space Center, home of the astronaut corps). Other centers are spread across the country for scientific research, test flights and spacecraft manufacturing. NASA's current chief is Administrator Jim Bridenstine, who is leading the agency's mission of returning astronauts to the moon and sending them on to Mars. See the latest NASA news.
Related Topics: Apollo Program, China Space Program, Incredible Space Tech, International Space Station, Interstellar Travel
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Latest about NASA
Scientists capture interstellar invader comet 3I/ATLAS growing a tail: 'This image is both a scientific milestone and a source of wonder' (photo, video)
Astronomers have captured a stunning new image of the interstellar intruder 3I/ATLAS, seeing its growing tail and glowing coma.
SpaceX launches Starlink satellites, lands Falcon rocket for 500th time (video)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 28 Starlink internet satellites from Florida on Friday (Sept. 5), then landed safely at sea. It was the 500th successful Falcon touchdown to date.
NASA Perseverance rover spies a 'turtle' on Mars | Space photo of the day for Sept. 5, 2025
A recent close-up shows a turtle-shaped rock on the surface of Mars, captured by NASA's Perseverance rover.
Moon-to-Mars veteran Amit Kshatriya named NASA associate administrator
Amit Kshatriya, a veteran of NASA's Moon to Mars program, has been named NASA associate administrator, the agency's top civil-service role.
SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule boosts ISS higher above Earth in key test
SpaceX’s Dragon capsule demonstrated its ability to boost the ISS on Sept. 3, pushing the orbiting lab slightly higher above Earth.
US in real danger of losing the moon race to China, experts tell Senate
A Senate Commerce Committee hearing sounded the alarm over the U.S.-China moon race, emphasizing American dominance off Earth as the backdrop for NASA’s next funding authorization.
Watch NASA's Artemis 2 moon astronauts take on the viral 'Bobby and Pete' fitness challenge (video)
The four Artemis 2 moon astronauts passed the "Bobby and Pete" fitness challenge recently, performing 100 pushups and 50 pull-ups in less than 10 minutes.
Asteroid Bennu contains stardust that's older than the solar system
"Bennu is a time capsule of the material that was throughout the solar system."
Interstellar invader comet 3I/ATLAS could be investigated by these spacecraft as it races past the sun: 'This could be literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity'
Excitement is building regarding the interstellar invader 3I/ATLAS, with new research suggesting which spacecraft from Earth could get a close-up view of the comet.
