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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Latest about NASA
New laser drill could help scientists explore ice-covered worlds like Jupiter's ocean moon Europa
Scientists have developed a laser-based ice drill concept that could enable deeper, low-power exploration of ice on moons and planets in our solar system.
SpaceX looking into 'simplified' Starship Artemis 3 mission to get astronauts to the moon faster
On Oct. 30, SpaceX posted an update about its Starship moon-landing plans, which includes a reference to a possible "simplified mission architecture and concept of operations" for NASA's Artemis 3.
On this day in space! Oct. 30, 1964: 1st Flight of the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle
On October 30, 1964, NASA's Lunar Landing Research Vehicle, or LLRV, took to the skies for the first time.
NASA's X-59 'quiet' supersonic jet makes historic 1st flight (photos)
NASA's X-59 "quiet" supersonic jet took off on its first-ever flight on Oct. 28, flying from Palmdale, California to its new home at Edwards Air Force Base.
12-year-old discovers 2 possible new asteroids
Siddharth Patel has been watching the sky since the age of five. Fresh off two possible asteroid discoveries, he's taking a big step toward his astronaut dream.
Watch 2 Russian cosmonauts spacewalk outside the ISS today
Cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky will conduct a spacewalk outside the International Space Station today (Oct. 28), and you can watch the action live.
Scientists discover 3 Earth-size exoplanets that may have double sunsets — like Tatooine in Star Wars
Using NASA's TESS exoplanet hunter, astronomers have discovered a strange arrangement of exoplanets around tight binary stars that shouldn't be.
Here's where the James Webb Space Telescope and 4 other legendary spacecraft are in October's night sky
Here's where 5 of NASA's most famous spacecraft can be found in the October sky.
