NASA, the latest news from the US space agency

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

'Star Trek' icon lives on with new Nichelle Nichols Space Camp to inspire young women to aim for the stars
By Jeff Spry published
"Together, we can inspire a spirit of discovery to change lives and change the world for the better through a passion for exploration."

NASA still mulling options for Boeing's troubled Starliner astronaut capsule
By Mike Wall published
NASA and Boeing are still working on the problems that cropped up during Starliner's first crewed flight, which launched more than nine months ago.

Best preteen space books 2025
By Space.com Staff last updated
Feed and inspire a kid's thirst for space with these best book picks.

SpaceX Crew-9 astronauts return to Earth: Live updates
By Mike Wall last updated
Read the latest news about SpaceX's Crew-9 and Crew-10 missions to the International Space Station for NASA.

Watch the sun set over the moon in epic video from private Blue Ghost lunar lander
By Mike Wall published
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost moon lander captured amazing views of the lunar sunset shortly before shutting down on Sunday (March 16).

How NASA's Starliner mission went from 10 days to 9 months: A timeline
By Julian Dossett last updated
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are on their way home from a nine-month space mission that was supposed to last just 10 days. Here's a rundown of their eventful time off Earth.

Starliner astronauts head back to Earth with SpaceX Crew-9 duo to make long-awaited landing (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Nick Hague, Aleksandr Gorbunov, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are heading back to Earth, and you can watch their Tuesday (March 18) homecoming live.

Farewell, Blue Ghost! Private moon lander goes dark to end record-breaking commercial lunar mission
By Mike Wall published
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost moon lander went dark in the lunar night on Sunday (March 16) as expected, bringing an end to its historic mission.

The 1st private mission to Venus comes together ahead of possible 2026 launch (photos)
By Leonard David published
The first private spacecraft mission to Venus, Rocket Lab's Photon Spacecraft, will take on the planet's hellish conditions with the aid of a novel woven heat shield called "HEEET."
Get the Space.com Newsletter
Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!