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
Lower-cost space missions like NASA's ESCAPADE are starting to deliver exciting science – but at a price in risk and trade‑offs
This low-cost mission is still only getting started, and it's taking bigger risks than typical big-ticket NASA missions.
Our favorite Space.com stories of 2025
We asked our staff to choose their favorite Space.com stories of 2025. Here's what we got.
The 12 biggest space stories of 2025 — according to you
It's the 12 days of Spacemas, fa la la la la la la la la (sorry).
Roman around the Christmas tree | Space photo of the day for Dec. 25, 2025
All the NASA engineers and scientists need is a star on top of the telescope in the cleanroom.
60,000 feet above Earth, NASA is hunting for the minerals that power phones, EVs and clean energy
The microwave-sized sensor detects 'spectral fingerprints' of important minerals.
'Dracula's Chivito' looks stunning in this tasty Christmas photo from the Hubble Telescope
Using the Hubble space telescope, astronomers have imaged "'Dracula’s Chivito" the largest site of planetary birth ever seen.
Rocket Lab launches final mission of 2025, sends Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit (video)
Rocket Lab launched its 21st and final mission of the year over the weekend, sending a private Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit.
NASA's SPHEREx telescope completes its 1st cosmic map of the entire sky and it's stunning!
"I think every astronomer is going to find something of value here, as NASA's missions enable the world to answer fundamental questions about how the universe got its start, and how it changed to eventually create a home for us in it."
Starship success, a private moon landing and more: The top 10 spaceflight stories of 2025
Over the past 12 months, we saw multiple spaceflight records broken, the debut of a powerful new rocket and the first-ever fully successful private moon landing.
James Webb Space Telescope watches 'Jekyll and Hyde' galaxy shapeshift into a cosmic monster
"Virgil has two personalities, its 'good' side – a typical young galaxy quietly forming stars. But Virgil transforms into the host of a heavily obscured supermassive black hole, pouring out immense quantities of energy."
