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
Lunar New Year fireworks seen from orbit | Space photo of the day for Feb. 19, 2026
Beijing sparkles with Lunar New Year celebrations.
Hubble and Chandra space telescopes hunt for rogue black holes wandering through dwarf galaxies
The investigation could solve the mystery of how supermassive black holes grew so large in the early universe.
NASA hopes to avoid more hydrogen leaks during 2nd Artemis 2 rocket fueling test today: Watch live
Today's (Feb. 19) wet dress rehearsal will determine if SLS is ready to fly.
James Webb Space Telescope spots a stunning 'cosmic jellyfish' that could help solve the mysteries of galactic evolution
"This data provides us with rare insight into how galaxies were transformed in the early universe."
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket plume blossoms over Florida | Space photo of the day for Feb. 18, 2026
The NASA/SpaceX Crew-12 mission launched four astronauts on a journey to the International Space Station.
NASA will fuel up its Artemis 2 moon rocket for the 2nd time on Feb. 19. Will it leak again?
NASA will try again to fuel up its Artemis 2 moon rocket on Feb. 19. If all goes well, the crewed mission could launch as soon as March 6.
The Artemis 1 moon mission had a heat shield issue. Here’s why NASA doesn’t think it will happen again on Artemis 2
The Orion capsule's heat shield had issues during the uncrewed Artemis 1 moon mission in late 2022. Here are the steps NASA has taken to prevent them from recurring on Artemis 2.
SpaceX Dragon astronauts make Valentine's Day docking at space station to boost skeleton crew (video)
SpaceX's Crew-12 astronaut mission docked with the short-staffed International Space Station on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.
Artemis 2 rocket photobombs SpaceX Crew-12 | Space photo of the day for Feb. 13, 2026
One to orbit, one to the moon.
SpaceX launches Crew-12 astronauts to short-staffed International Space Station. 'We have left the Earth, but the Earth has not left us.'
SpaceX launched NASA's Crew-12 mission with a quartet of astronauts aboard Crew Dragon Freedom today (Feb. 13), bound for an eight-month stint on the International Space Station.
