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
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).
5 key takeaways from Jared Isaacman's 2nd NASA chief nomination hearing
Private billionaire SpaceX astronaut Jared Isaacman appeared before a Senate committee Dec. 3 for consideration as NASA administrator. Here are 5 big takeaways from the hearing.
On this day in space! Dec. 8, 1990: Jupiter-bound Galileo probe flies by Earth
On Dec. 8, 1990, NASA's Galileo spacecraft flew by Earth on its way to Jupiter.
Watch 3 astronauts land on Earth aboard Russian spacecraft early Dec. 9
NASA's Jonny Kim and two cosmonauts are scheduled to come back to Earth early Tuesday (Dec. 9), and you can watch their homecoming live.
NASA's next-gen Roman Space Telescope is fully built. Could it launch earlier than expected?
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is now fully assembled and ready to begin launch preparations this summer.
NASA spacecraft tracks comet SWAN in incredible 40-day timelapse — and even glimpses interstellar invader 3I/ATLAS (video)
NASA imaged Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) every four minutes for nearly 40 days, marking the longest any comet has been tracked with such frequency.
Was Elon Musk in the room where it happened? This senator still wants to know
As he did eight months ago, Sen. Ed Markey asked Jared Isaacman if Elon Musk was in the room when President Trump first offered him the job of NASA chief. And, once again, Isaacman demurred.
The US must beat China to moon, Trump pick for NASA chief Jared Isaacman tells Senate: 'If we make a mistake, we may never catch up'
Billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman didn't mince words Wednesday (Dec. 3) during his second hearing before the Senate committee considering his nomination for NASA administrator.
