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

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three cone-shaped spacecraft beside each other in a big white hanger. the american flag and the logo for lockheed martin are on the wall

These 3 Orion spacecraft will carry Artemis astronauts to the moon (photo)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Three NASA Orion spacecraft for the agency's Artemis moon program are coming together at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

illustration of the orion spacecraft above the moon

Artemis 4 and Artemis 5 moon missions will include European astronauts (exclusive interview)

By Elizabeth Howell published

The head of the European Space Agency says its astronauts will fly on Artemis 4 and 5, two moon-landing missions slated to launch in the late 2020s.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson (right) and Jeannie Schulz, widow of Peanuts gang creator Charles M. Schulz, holding the Artemis I Snoopy zero gravity indicator pose with Schulz's NASA Exceptional Public Achievement Medal plaque on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC.

Jean Schulz awarded NASA achievement medal for sending Snoopy to the moon

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Jean Schulz, the widow of Peanuts' creator Charles M. Schulz, has been recognized for being a "huge champion" of NASA and inspiring millions of people around the world by sending Snoopy to the moon.

test stand showing a lot of smoke and a fiery interior during an engine test

NASA test fires upgraded rocket engines for future Artemis moon missions (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

The agency wants to send huge payloads towards the moon starting with Artemis 5. Getting there requires more power from recycled RS-25 space shuttle engines.

NASA's Artemis 1 mission launches toward the moon atop a Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 16, 2022.

Artemis 1 moon rocket looks ready for astronaut missions, NASA says

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Space Launch System megarocket aced its first-ever liftoff late last year and appears ready to take the next big step — launching astronauts.

moon with spacecraft in foreground

NASA Artemis 2 moon-bound astronaut rumors name American, Canadian candidates: report

By Elizabeth Howell published

While two names are cited repeatedly as top candidates for Artemis 2, a four-person moon mission, no official confirmation will come until at least late spring.

mannequin in a spacesuit and helmet lying in packing tape

Artemis 1 moon mannequins unpacked from Orion spacecraft (photos)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Moonikin Campos, Helga and Zohar flew around the moon in December 2022 to help NASA get its Orion spacecraft ready to carry Artemis astronauts to lunar realms a few years from now.

Technicians at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida inspect the interior of NASA's Artemis 1 Orion capsule. Photo released Jan. 10, 2023.

NASA opens hatch of Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft (photo)

By Mike Wall published

Technicians have opened the hatch of NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft, which aced its epic moon mission late last year.

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion capsule arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec. 30, 2022 after a nine-day trek from San Diego.

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft arrives in Florida (photos)

By Mike Wall published

The Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft reached NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec. 30, ending a nine-day cross-country trek.

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft with the crescent Earth in the background on Dec. 10, 2022.

The best spaceflight stories of 2022 brought us across the solar system

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft made an epic flight to the moon, Russia invaded Ukraine and SpaceX set a few records.

three technicians working alongside the orion spacecraft on a ship. the spacecraft has three inflatable devices on top

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion space capsule begins cross-country trip home to Florida

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's Orion spacecraft is making another long journey after reaching the moon: a trek by truck from San Diego to the Space Coast in Florida.

At 12:40 p.m. EST, Dec. 11, 2022, NASA’s Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after a 25.5 day mission to the Moon. Orion will be recovered by NASA’s Landing and Recovery team, U.S. Navy and Department of Defense partners aboard the USS Portland ship.

NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission: Mission updates archive

By Tariq Malik, Elizabeth Howell published

See the archive about NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission here.

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft was successfully recovered inside the well deck of the USS Portland on Dec. 11, 2022 off the coast of Baja California. The Portland made it to port in San Diego two days later.

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft reaches port in San Diego

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion capsule made it to port in San Diego on Tuesday (Dec. 13), two days after wrapping up its historic moon mission.

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft with the crescent Earth in the background on Dec. 10, 2022.

NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission was epic and you can relive it in this highlight video

By Elizabeth Howell published

Ride to space and back again in the Artemis 1 footage, which showcases views of Earth, the moon and NASA's new Space Launch System rocket.

The Earth and moon as seen from the Orion spacecraft during its Artemis 1 mission.

After Artemis 1, it will take NASA 2 years to send astronauts to the moon. Why so long?

By Josh Dinner published

With Artemis 1 now in the books, the focus is quickly shifting to the Artemis program's next phase: crewed flight. But that can't happen until several pieces fall into place.

A view of Earth from NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft as it approached its home planet on Dec. 11, 2022.

NASA is over the moon with success of Artemis 1 Orion test flight

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission wrapped up with a Pacific Ocean splashdown on Sunday (Dec. 11), and NASA couldn't be happier with how everything went.

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft floats in the Pacific Ocean after a successful splashdown on Dec. 11, 2022.

VP Kamala Harris hails NASA Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft's splashdown success

By Elizabeth Howell published

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who also chairs the National Space Council, congratulated NASA for completing the Artemis 1 uncrewed mission around the moon Sunday (Dec. 11).

earth as a crescent disk with orion in the foreground

Behold! This is the last view of Earth from space from NASA's Artemis 1 Orion (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft captured gorgeous views of our home planet in the last hours before splashdown Sunday (Dec. 11).

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft floats in the Pacific Ocean after a successful splashdown on Dec. 11, 2022.

Watch live as NASA recovers the Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft after smooth splashdown today

By Mike Wall last updated

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft will return to Earth on Sunday (Dec. 11) after nearly a month in space, and you can watch the homecoming live.

At 12:40 p.m. EST, Dec. 11, 2022, NASA’s Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after a 25.5 day mission to the Moon. Orion will be recovered by NASA’s Landing and Recovery team, U.S. Navy and Department of Defense partners aboard the USS Portland ship.

Splashdown! NASA's Artemis 1 Orion capsule lands in Pacific to end epic moon mission

By Mike Wall published

An uncrewed Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean this afternoon (Dec. 11), bringing a successful end to NASA's historic Artemis 1 moon mission.