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
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke retires after 30 years at the space agency
With four launches and nine spacewalks under his belt, Fincke leaves NASA as the fourth-most-flown astronaut at the space agency.
NASA's canceled lunar space station tech will help build the Artemis moon base
Northrop Grumman plans to take technology built into the HALO module for NASA's canceled lunar space station and repurpose it to help develop the Artemis moon base.
Radiation-shielding vest aced Artemis I lunar test, could protect astronauts on moon and Mars missions
A radiation-shielding vest aced its Artemis I lunar test in 2022, suggesting that it could protect astronauts on long-duration missions to the moon or Mars.
NASA figured out how to keep its 48-year-old Voyager 2 probe running for yet another year
NASA's Voyager 2 probe, which launched in 1977, can keep operating its last science instruments after a power reduction operation performed in interstellar space.
Mission managers and crew: Parts coming together for next SpaceX launch to ISS
NASA and SpaceX officials, together with the four members of Crew-13, spoke to the media on Aug. 3, providing an update on their preparations for launch.
CNN dives into how Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are backing NASA's race to the moon against China (exclusive clip)
"Eclipsing Power" is a new FlashDocs special highlighting how billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are shaping the global space race.
Jupiter's moon Europa may have signs of life in its buried ocean — but can we get to them?
"This helps future missions interpret what they find and better understand where to look for signs of habitability."
NASA is sending 2 probes to the moon to test complex 'three-body orbits'
NASA is planning to send two maneuverable probes to lunar orbit in order to learn how spacecraft are affected by the complex gravity environment near the moon.
NASA fuels its next-gen Roman Space Telescope for August launch
Looks like everything is on track so far for an Aug. 30 launch.
X-ray spacecraft finds supermassive black hole stirring up the 'red potato' galaxy: 'There may be a cook in this cosmic kitchen'
Using the Chandra X-ray spacecraft, astronomers have seen a jet from a feeding supermassive black hole churning gas surrounding a galaxy nicknamed the "red potato."