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
Latest about NASA
Record-setting astronaut Suni Williams retires from NASA after 27 years
Astronaut Suni Williams left NASA late last month after 27 years of service. She spent a total of 608 days in space, more than all but one other American astronaut.
NASA rolls Artemis 2 moon rocket to launch pad | Space photo of the day for Jan. 19, 2025
America's next mission to the moon is happening in only a few weeks.
Hubble Telescope watches star blast out jet of hot gas 32 light-years long
The protostar is launching the longest outburst ever seen at 32 light-years long.
NASA rolls Artemis 2 rocket to the pad ahead of historic moon launch
On Saturday (Jan. 17), the rocket that will launch the Artemis 2 astronauts around the moon rolled to the pad for its historic mission, which could lift off just a few weeks from now.
Watch NASA roll huge Artemis 2 moon rocket out to the launch pad today
NASA will roll its Artemis 2 moon rocket out to the launch pad on Saturday (Jan. 17), and you can watch the slow-moving action live.
Congress passes $24.4 billion NASA budget, rejecting Trump's deep cuts
Congress just approved a $24.4 billion budget for NASA for this year, rejecting the deep cuts that President Trump had proposed last spring.
NASA hopes to launch Artemis 2 astronauts to the moon next month, but it's going to be tight: 'This is not a rush'
NASA hopes to launch its crewed Artemis 2 moon mission in early February, but everything will have to go right to hit that ambitious target.
Watch SpaceX Crew-11 spacecraft blaze a fiery trail through the sky during medical evacuation from ISS (video)
Four ISS crewmembers were brought home a month early due to an undisclosed but non-emergency "medical concern".
