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Orion Spacecraft

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 Updates

Artist's conception of a Space Launch System (SLS) launch.

Space Launch System: NASA's Next Generation Rocket

By Nola Taylor Redd

NASA's Space Launch System aims to carry humans far beyond Earth.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said at a town hall meeting April 1 that there "is nothing sacred here that is off the table" about how to achieve the goal of landing humans on the moon by 2024.

NASA Chief Says 'Nothing Off the Table' as Agency Develops New Moon Plan

By Jeff Foust

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said April 1 that he hopes to develop an initial plan within the next couple of weeks for getting astronauts to the surface of the moon by 2024.

Lockheed Martin embraced Vice President Pence's call to accelerate a human return to the moon, saying it could use technology it's developed for the Orion spacecraft for a lunar lander.

Mixed Reactions to NASA's Accelerated Moon Plan

By Jeff Foust

Shortly after Vice President Mike Pence directed NASA to return humans to the moon by 2024, reactions from space companies and organizations ranged from excitement to bewilderment.

The attitude control motor fires during a test at Northrop Grumman's facility in Elkton, Maryland.

NASA's Orion Capsule Emergency Abort System Checks Its Attitude in Test

By Doris Elin Salazar

The Orion crew capsule needs a backup plan if, during the start of a trip to the moon or to deep space, there's a launch malfunction.

Artist's illustration of NASA's Space Launch System megarocket launching the Orion crew capsule.

NASA Aims to Accelerate SLS Megarocket for 2024 Moon Push

By Sarah Lewin

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said that speeding up production of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket is absolutely essential to getting humans to the moon by 2024.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence calls on NASA to return astronauts to the moon in five years, by 2024, during the fifth National Space Council meeting on March 26, 2019 held at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

US to Return Astronauts to the Moon by 2024, VP Pence Says

By Mike Wall

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence called on NASA to return American astronauts to the moon by 2024 — just five years from now — during the National Space Council meeting on Tuesday (March 26).

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket launches NASA's Orion crew capsule on Exploration Flight Test-1, an uncrewed mission to Earth orbit, on Dec. 5, 2014.

NASA's Orion Crew Capsule Has Flown on a Commercial Rocket Before (Video)

By Mike Wall

NASA wouldn't be breaking new ground if the agency did go with a private rocket for the upcoming test flight of its Orion crew capsule.

An artist's illustration of NASA's Space Launch System megarocket in flight.

Space Industry and Lawmakers Go to Defense of NASA's SLS Megarocket

By Jeff Foust

An artist impression of NASA's Space Launch System megarocket launching with the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle.

NASA May Skip Its Megarocket and Use Private Booster for Orion Moon Trip

By Hanneke Weitering

NASA is considering launching its Orion crew capsule on a commercial rocket rather than the Space Launch System, the agency's own megarocket that is currently under development.

The first launch of the SLS would now take place in the "early 2020s," according to the administration's fiscal year 2020 budget request, while deferring work on the Block 1B version.

NASA 2020 Budget Proposal Targets SLS Megarocket

By Jeff Foust

Jody Singer, director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, said NASA is "reassessing" the 2020 launch date for the first SLS mission, EM-1, as work on the rocket's core stage continues.

NASA Reassessing Date for First SLS Megarocket Launch

By Jeff Foust

The director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center said March 5 that the agency is "reassessing" the 2020 launch date for the first flight of its Space Launch System.

launch pad 39b renovations

In Photos: NASA's Kennedy Space Center Renovates Launch Pad 39B for Orion

By Christine Lunsford

An artist's illustration of NASA's Orion space capsule's Ascent Abort-2 test launch.

NASA Sets Launch Date for Orion Spacecraft Abort System Test

By Tariq Malik

NASA will test the launch abort system of its new crewed Orion capsule on June 12.

This artist's concept shows NASA's Space Launch System atop its Florida launch pad.

The World's Tallest Rockets: How They Stack Up

By Tariq Malik

From the mighty Saturn 5 to NASA's new Space Launch System, see how the biggest rockets on Earth compare.

Orion Spacecraft Ready for Mating

Orion Spacecraft: Taking Astronauts Beyond Earth Orbit

By Elizabeth Howell

european service module esm

The 1st Powerhouse for NASA's Orion Space Capsule Just Arrived at Its Launch Site

By Meghan Bartels

NASA is powering ahead with assembly of its Orion crew capsule for the first full-scale test flight of the new system, thanks to a special delivery from the European Space Agency (ESA).

orion-sunset-test

NASA's Orion Space Capsule Sails at Sunset in This Awesome Video

By Meghan Bartels

Need a virtual vacation? NASA has you covered, thanks to a well-timed test procedure for their Orion crew capsule.

As the sun sets on the horizon, NASA's Recovery Team and the U.S. Navy practice recovering a test version of the Orion space capsule as part of Underway Recovery Test-7 (URT-7) in the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 1, 2018.

Spectacular Photos: NASA Practices Orion Space Capsule Recovery at Sea

By Meghan Bartels

NASA set off for the Pacific Ocean to test recovery procedures for the agency's Orion capsule, which is destined to carry humans to the moon and beyond.

Water-deluge system test

H2-Whoa! NASA Swamps Launch Pad with Water in Awesome Deluge Test (Video)

By Mike Wall

On Oct. 15, NASA tested the water-deluge system at Launch Complex 39B at Florida's Kennedy Space Center, and it was a sight to behold.

Block 1 SLS

Boeing Plans Changes for Upper Stages NASA's Space Launch System Megarocket

By Jeff Foust

With NASA's decision to continue using an interim upper stage for additional flights of the Space Launch System, Boeing is working on changes to both that stage and a more powerful upper stage.