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 will roll Artemis 2 moon rocket back to the launch pad on March 20
NASA has pushed the rollout of its next moon rocket to March 20, but is still targeting April 1 for the launch of its first crewed mission to the moon in more than half a century.
100 years after Robert Goddard's 1st liquid-fueled rocket launch, NASA is using the technology to send astronauts back to the moon
100 years after Robert Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket, NASA is preparing a return to the moon with the Artemis program to extend humanity's reach into deep space.
Astronomers discover a new type of planet that probably smells like rotten eggs
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered an example of a new class of exoplanet, and it smells like rotten eggs.
Hubble and NASA space telescopes track 'game-changing' gamma-ray burst back to neutron star collision in 'forbidden' region of the universe
Astronomers have tracked a powerful blast of radiation back to its source, finding a neutron star collision within colliding galaxies.
NASA begins building nuclear-powered Dragonfly drone for 2028 launch to Saturn moon Titan
Dragonfly will explore the giant Saturn moon Titan by air, helping scientists learn about the proto-ingredients of life on the satellite's hazy surface.
How risky is the Artemis 2 astronaut launch to the moon? NASA would rather not say
NASA's Artemis 2 mission, which will launch astronauts to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years, comes with undeniable risk. But quantifying that risk is a tall order.
NASA says its Artemis 2 moon rocket is all fixed up. It could launch astronauts to the moon on April 1
NASA has completed the Artemis 2 flight readiness review and plans to launch the historic moon mission as soon as April 1.
NASA project leader blames next-generation X-ray telescope cancellation on agency mismanagement
NASA is canceling the AXIS X-ray space telescope mission concept, saying it failed to meet key requirements. But the project leader thinks there's another reason.
