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
Watch NASA's Artemis Orion moon spacecraft blow its top during testing (video)
NASA's Orion spacecraft recently completed an 11-month test campaign, during which it was subjected to extreme conditions of a launch abort scenario and electromagnetic effects of lightning strikes.
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.
NASA space telescopes give Christmas Tree Cluster a festive makeover (photos)
The James Webb Space Telescope used a galaxy as a cosmic magnifying glass to find transient objects in the "Christmas Tree" cluster, a Winter Wonderland of even more galaxies.
SpaceX will launch Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander to the moon in mid-January with these 10 NASA payloads
NASA and SpaceX are targeting mid-January for the launch of Firefly Aerospace's Ghost Riders in the Sky mission to the lunar surface.
Boeing Starliner astronauts will return to Earth in March 2025 after new NASA, SpaceX delay
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will stay in space an extra month, until March 2025, giving SpaceX more time to complete a new Crew Dragon capsule.
SpaceX’s 31st Dragon cargo capsule returns to Earth with splashdown off Florida coast
SpaceX's 31st robotic Dragon cargo capsule splashed down off the Florida coast today (Dec. 17), a day after undocking from the International Space Station.
'Edge of Space': Ambitious short film chronicles daring flight of X-15 rocket plane test pilot (video)
A new trailer for "Edge of Space," a short film about a daring X-15 pilot flying the rocket-powered experimental plane higher than any other piloted winged vehicle other than the space shuttle.
NASA astronaut Suni Williams poses with adorable tentacle-armed Astrobee robot on ISS (photo)
An Astrobee robotic free-flyer with tentacle-like arms was tested in a demonstration experiment aboard the space station.
