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
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Live long and loiter: Why NASA's ESCAPADE probes will wait a year in space before heading to Mars
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Artemis 2 moon astronauts rehearse for launch day (photos)
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.
How NASA changed in 2025 — possibly forever
"The damage is real, but it doesn't have to be permanent."
Lower-cost space missions like NASA's ESCAPADE are starting to deliver exciting science – but at a price in risk and trade‑offs
This low-cost mission is still only getting started, and it's taking bigger risks than typical big-ticket NASA missions.
Our favorite Space.com stories of 2025
We asked our staff to choose their favorite Space.com stories of 2025. Here's what we got.
The 12 biggest space stories of 2025 — according to you
It's the 12 days of Spacemas, fa la la la la la la la la (sorry).
Roman around the Christmas tree | Space photo of the day for Dec. 25, 2025
All the NASA engineers and scientists need is a star on top of the telescope in the cleanroom.
