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
On this day in space! Dec. 12, 1967: Pioneer 8 launches on mission to study the sun
On Dec. 12, 1967, NASA launched the Pioneer 8 spacecraft on a mission to study the sun.
NASA's Chandra telescope uses 'X-arithmetic' to reveal how black holes shape galaxy clusters (images)
A novel "X-arithmetic" technique reveals how black holes shape the universe's largest structures.
James Webb Space Telescope discovers a hot Jupiter exoplanet leaking twin gas tails that defy explanation
"We are only beginning to discover the true complexity of these worlds."
Hear dust devils on Mars crackle with electricity in new NASA Perseverance rover video
For the first time, we can see and hear lightning-like discharges in Mars' thin atmosphere.
1st human missions to Mars should hunt for signs of life, report says
Humanity's exploration of Mars should be organized around the search for signs of past or present Red Planet life, according to a new report from the U.S. National Academies.
ISS astronauts watch Earth's atmosphere glow green | Space photo of the day for Dec. 8, 2025
The image shows a good example of the phenomenon called airglow.
Russian Soyuz capsule lands on Earth to return crew of 3 home after months on International Space Station (video)
NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky landed on Russia's Soyuz MS-27 on Dec. 9, 2025, after 245 days on the International Space Station.
US Senate committee advances renomination of Jared Isaacman as head of NASA
A U.S. Senate committee advanced the renomination of billionaire tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator on Monday (Dec. 8).
