NASA, the latest news from the US space agency

Famous NASA Logo
NASA's famous emblem. (Image credit: NASA)

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

A time lapse panorama of the Martian landscape, showing blue/gray dirt with a sunset to the left and a close up of Curiosity in the bottom right of the image

NASA's Curiosity rover sends stunning new panorama from high on Mars' Mount Sharp

By Samantha Mathewson published

The image was captured in November 2025, showing how lighting changes throughout the day on Mars.

Mars Rovers
The location of Cloud 9, a "failed galaxy" packed with gas and dark matter but absent of stars

Hubble telescope discovers a new type of cosmic object and astronomers are on 'Cloud 9'

By Robert Lea published

"This is a tale of a failed galaxy."

Stars
NASA's famous "meatball" logo.

Congress rejects President Trump's deep NASA budget cuts, proposes $24.4 billion for the agency

By Mike Wall published

Congress plans to allocate $24.4 billion to NASA for fiscal year 2026, nearly $6 billion more than President Trump had proposed.

Space Exploration
U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) speaks at a news conference in the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 1, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Kelly held the event to address what he described as intimidating actions by President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, following a video in which Kelly and several other lawmakers urged U.S. troops to refuse “illegal orders.”

Trump administration censures former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly over 'illegal orders' video

By Mike Wall published

The Department of Defense is taking administrative action against former NASA astronaut and current U.S. Senator Mark Kelly over remarks he made in a 90-second video in November.

Human Spaceflight
A glowing cloud of red gas and dust mixed in with bright dots for stars in deep space

The 2026 'Super Bowl of Astronomy' starts today — here's what's happening

By Samantha Mathewson published

The 247th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS 247) is being held Jan. 4 to Jan. 8 and will feature remarkable findings in exoplanet research and discussions shaping the future of astronomy.

Astronomy
An illustration showing two boxy satellites with solar panels floating in front of the red planet Mars

Live long and loiter: Why NASA's ESCAPADE probes will wait a year in space before heading to Mars

By Leonard David published

NASA's ESCAPADE Mars probes embarked on a 'loiter' trajectory after launch, and scientists say that extra time in space could have some consequences for the twin spacecraft.

Launches & Spacecraft
The four astronauts set to fly around the moon during NASA’s Artemis 2 test flight depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, during a dress rehearsal for launch day on Dec. 20, 2025. From left are Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen and NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch.

Artemis 2 moon astronauts rehearse for launch day (photos)

By Andrew Jones published

The four astronauts who will fly around the moon on NASA's Artemis 2 mission suited up, walked out and climbed aboard their spacecraft during a key prelaunch test at Kennedy Space Center.

Artemis
a man in a suit speaks into a microphone in front of a nasa emblem

How NASA changed in 2025 — possibly forever

By Leonard David published

"The damage is real, but it doesn't have to be permanent."

Space Exploration
An illustration showing two boxy satellites with solar panels floating in front of the red planet Mars

Lower-cost space missions like NASA's ESCAPADE are starting to deliver exciting science – but at a price in risk and trade‑offs

By Ari Koeppel published

This low-cost mission is still only getting started, and it's taking bigger risks than typical big-ticket NASA missions.

Missions
Four images next to each other with the top left being a black and white image of a satellite with green circles, the top right being a black and white image of a man in front of a red background, the bottom left showing cutouts of protestors on an orange background and the bottom right a deep space image showing a circled dot.

Our favorite Space.com stories of 2025

By Space.com Staff published

We asked our staff to choose their favorite Space.com stories of 2025. Here's what we got.

Space Exploration
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