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
Artemis 2 astronauts enter quarantine ahead of historic NASA moon launch
The four astronauts of NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission went into quarantine on Jan. 23, keeping everything on track for a possible launch in early February.
James Webb Space Telescope sees comet-seeding crystals flowing far from newborn star (photo)
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has spotted a young star flinging heat-formed crystals outward on a cosmic conveyor belt, offering a new clue to how comets evolve.
NASA to fly piece of Wright Brothers' plane on Artemis 2 moon mission
The Artemis 2 moon mission will send a swatch from the famous Wright Flyer, along with a number of other aerospace artifacts, when it launches in the coming weeks.
On this day in space: Jan. 26, 1978: International Ultraviolet Explorer launched
On January 26, 1978, the International Ultraviolet Explorer launched into orbit on a mission to study ultraviolet light emitted by stars and other bright objects in the universe.
NASA's Artemis 2 moon rocket is on the launch pad. What's next?
Artemis 2 is at the launch pad, but several big tests must be performed before it launches as soon as Feb. 6.
'For All Mankind' Season 5 shows off Martian motorbiking in Apple TV's 1st teaser trailer (video)
Bikers on Mars, but no mice in sight.
James Webb Space Telescope discovers what remains after two stars collide and explode as a red nova
"Until now, it was unknown what type of star would remain after the merger."
ISS astronaut spots Artemis 2 moon rocket on the launch pad from space (photo)
A NASA astronaut on the ISS captured the Space Launch System rocket for Artemis 2, a mission that aims to bring four astronauts around the moon as soon as Feb. 6.
'We can handle any kind of difficult situation': Crew-11 astronauts say 1st medical evacuation from ISS had a silver lining
The fact that Crew-11 returned to Earth safely despite unprecedented circumstances bodes well for the success of future missions that go farther afield, astronauts said.
