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
China reached out to NASA to avoid a potential satellite collision in 1st-of-its-kind space cooperation
A NASA official said that China contacted the U.S. space agency recently to coordinate a satellite maneuver, marking the first time the Chinese side had reached out to its American counterpart.
This Apollo-era radio telescope in the NC mountains once spied on Soviet satellites. Now it's for sale
Presented by Space.com
The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute in North Carolina is home to a NASA radio telescope that once spied on Soviet satellites. It's now for sale.
How AI fixed the James Webb Space Telescope's blurry vision
An ultra-high-resolution instrument on board NASA's $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope has been suffering from blurry vision. AI helped fix the problem.
Trump renominates billionaire Jared Isaacman for NASA chief in major reversal
President Donald Trump has tapped billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman to be NASA chief, five months after pulling his nomination for the same post.
Latvia will become 60th nation to sign Artemis Accords for peaceful space exploration
The list of nations signing the Artemis Accords is growing, continuing NASA's efforts to establish internationally cooperative space exploration.
Space exploration in the backyard, on a budget – how NASA simulates conditions in space without blasting off
You may have heard about the extensive testing facilities for spacecraft and equipment, but how do scientists prepare for the human aspect of space exploration?
NASA is sinking its flagship science center during the government shutdown — and may be breaking the law in the process, critics say
"There is just a general acknowledgement that a lot of what is happening is illegal…"
What's happening on the International Space Station while the government is shut down?
NASA's astronauts living in space are still going to work during the government shutdown.
