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's Roman Space Telescope is ready for launch aboard SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket is poised to lift off with the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Aug. 30. This observatory is on a mission to usher in a new wave of astronomical discovery.
Nancy Grace Roman Telescope live updates: Roman and Falcon Heavy delivered to launch pad
Follow NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and its launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket to begin its mission to explore the universe.
Who was Nancy Grace Roman? NASA's next big space telescope is named after the 'Mother of Hubble'
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is about to launch on an incredible adventure to help scientists explore the great mysteries of the universe. But who was Nancy Grace Roman?
President Trump gives Artemis II moon astronauts the Congressional Space Medal of Honor
The astronauts of NASA's Artemis II mission, who flew around the moon this past April, just received the United States' highest space honor.
Astronaut Jonny Kim leaves NASA, will return to active military duty
NASA astronaut Jonny Kim is leaving the space agency to continue his military career. Kim, who's also a medical doctor, completed one spaceflight during his NASA career.
'You just saved the video dish': Two astronauts complete spacewalk to replace ISS antenna
Astronauts Anil Menon and Sophie Adenot completed a 6.5-hour spacewalk on Tuesday, (Aug. 25), installing a replacement Space-to-Ground antenna on the outside of the International Space Station.
Watch 2 astronauts replace failed ISS antenna during spacewalk today
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and France's Sophie Adenot will conduct a spacewalk today (Aug. 25) to replace a space-to-ground-antenna on the International Space Station. Here's how to watch live.
Launching 10,000 tiny 'femtosats' to Saturn? NASA funds 18 futuristic spaceflight ideas
NASA has chosen 18 technology proposals for its Innovative Advanced Concepts awards to help turn some out-of-the-box ideas into out-of-this-world research.
Trump signs new national space policy to enable 1,000 US rocket launches per year
The United States is updating its approach to managing spaceflights and reentries, with the goal of expanding the nation's capabilities to support more than 1,000 rocket launches per year by 2030.
