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
Best moon movies: 12 lunar adventures to watch ahead of NASA's Artemis 2 launch
From 'Destination Moon' to 'Apollo 13,' here’s a full spectrum of lunar-set films to count down.
'The sasquatch is honesty': Inside Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen's Artemis 2 mission patch
Jeremy Hansen, the Canadian flying to the moon on board NASA's Artemis 2 mission, included Indigenous perspectives on his personal mission patch.
Could bad space weather endanger the Artemis 2 moon astronauts?
Space weather experts have been working overtime to hone their forecasts ahead of the Artemis 2 launch, which will send four astronauts around the moon and back to Earth.
Kristen Stewart will play Sally Ride, the 1st American woman in space, as Amazon finally greenlights mini-series 'The Challenger'
In her TV series debut, 'The Twilight Saga' star will portray the first American woman in space.
NASA's Artemis 2 moon astronauts are 'fortunate' to have a private space toilet — Apollo crews pooped in plastic bags
The Apollo astronauts peed into roll-on cuffs and pooped into plastic bags in the presence of their crewmates, but the Artemis 2 spaceflyers will have access to a bona fide bathroom.
'We're all on this journey together:' Who are the Artemis 2 astronauts launching to the moon?
Four astronauts. Two countries. One destination: the moon.
'An incredible privilege and responsibility': Artemis 2's Christina Koch is ready to become the 1st woman to fly around the moon
"We are firing on all cylinders."
'It's all I think about': Artemis 2 commander Reid Wiseman is zeroed in on historic moon mission
NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, commander Artemis 2, the first moon mission in more than 50 years, says his crew will do his best to get the job done well.
