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
Comet 3I/ATLAS could soon shower NASA's Jupiter probe in charged particles. Will it reveal more about the interstellar invader?
At the end of October Europa Clipper will fly in line with 3I/ATLAS’ ion tail — but will any of the charged particles reach the spacecraft, and will the spacecraft be ready to receive them?
NASA'd too hard: The ultimate NASA trivia quiz
Test your knowledge of NASA's triumphs, setbacks, and space-age breakthroughs that define this space agency's legendary history.
NASA stacks Artemis 2 moon mission's Orion capsule atop SLS rocket ahead of 2026 launch
The Artemis 2 SLS rocket that will launch the next astronauts around the moon is all put together inside NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building.
SpaceX could lose contract for Artemis 3 astronaut moon-landing mission, acting NASA chief says: 'The problem is, they're behind'
SpaceX has long held the contract to land NASA's Artemis 3 astronauts on the moon a few years from now. But the agency plans to reopen the bidding, according to acting NASA chief Sean Duffy.
Hubble spies a glowing 'starburst ring' | Space photo of the day for Oct. 20, 2025
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captures the glittering spiral galaxy NGC 6951, where a central bar fuels a spectacular ring of newborn stars.
NASA's Artemis Program: Live updates
NASA's Artemis 2 mission is returning astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972. See live mission updates here.
Watch 2 Russian cosmonauts spacewalk outside the International Space Station today
Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy will conduct a spacewalk outside the ISS today (Oct. 16), and you can watch it live.
Did a NASA exoplanet-hunting balloon really 'crash' in Texas? Not according to the scientist behind the flight
NASA launched an exoplanet-hunting experiment Oct. 1 despite the government shutdown. After the mission's end on Oct. 2, news reports got a little confused.
