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
Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.
Latest about NASA
NASA aircraft uncovers site of secret Cold War nuclear missile tunnels under Greenland ice sheet
NASA scientists conducting surveys of arctic ice sheets in Greenland got an unprecedented view of an abandoned "city under the ice" built by the U.S. military during the Cold War.
NASA tests cellphone-sized underwater robots for potential ocean world missions (video)
Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory recently tested prototypes of miniature, self-propelled robots designed to explore the hidden oceans of distant moons like Europa, Jupiter's icy moon.
NASA awards $11.5 million to help design the aircraft of tomorrow
NASA has awarded $11.5 million to five organizations that will contribute to the study of new design concepts for more sustainable aircraft.
NASA begins stacking SLS rocket for Artemis 2 moon mission (photos)
The solid rocket boosters are coming together.
Unusual black hole light bursts puzzle astronomers: 'We are finding a lot of weird stuff'
"This is very different from anything I have seen before."
SpaceX's Starship will fly Lunar Outpost's rover to the moon
Lunar Outpost has picked SpaceX's Starship vehicle to launch its new moon rover and land the wheeled vehicle on the moon.
Space pictures! See our space image of the day
Space.com's image of the day rounds up the most awe-inspiring space photos right here, with a new image everyday.
SpaceX and NASA show off how Starship will help astronauts land on the moon (images)
NASA and SpaceX released a new set of illustrations showing off how Starship might look as it lands astronauts on the moon during the Artemis 3 mission.
