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 about NASA
SpaceX Dragon astronauts make Valentine's Day docking at space station to boost skeleton crew (video)
SpaceX's Crew-12 astronaut mission docked with the short-staffed International Space Station on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.
Artemis 2 rocket photobombs SpaceX Crew-12 | Space photo of the day for Feb. 13, 2026
One to orbit, one to the moon.
SpaceX launches Crew-12 astronauts to short-staffed International Space Station. 'We have left the Earth, but the Earth has not left us.'
SpaceX launched NASA's Crew-12 mission with a quartet of astronauts aboard Crew Dragon Freedom today (Feb. 13), bound for an eight-month stint on the International Space Station.
Watch SpaceX launch Crew-12 astronaut mission to the International Space Station this morning
SpaceX will launch the latest batch of astronauts to the International Space Station early Friday morning (Feb. 13), and you can watch the action live.
Why are the launch windows for NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission so short?
NASA's Artemis 2 mission, which will send four astronauts on a journey around the moon, can launch on just 11 days in March and April combined. Why are there so few opportunities to fly?
Who are the astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-12 mission to the ISS?
NASA and SpaceX are proceeding ahead of schedule with their next astronaut launch to the International Space Station, which is currently operating with a skeleton crew.
Did the Viking missions discover life on Mars 50 years ago? These scientists think so
The key to solving the mystery of the Viking results is the discovery of perchlorate on the Martian surface in 2008.
How long will the ISS operate with a skeleton crew? SpaceX’s Crew-12 astronaut mission delayed to Feb. 13
NASA and SpaceX mission managers have delayed the Falcon 9 launch of the next crew to the International Space Station as they await improved weather conditions.
