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
On this day in space! Aug. 16, 1963: Wingless M2-F1 completes 1st glide flight
On this day in space Aug. 16, 1963: NASA's M2-F1 aircraft prototype makes its first glide flight.
Artemis II pilot thanks NASA for letting him fly Orion by hand: 'I'm still blown away by that trust'
The Artemis II crew thanked NASA and its contractors in front of a crowd of over 8,000 on on Aug. 3, 2026 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado.
'Strap yourself in and feel the Gs': NASA announces 'Max Power' aerospace expo
NASA announced today (Aug. 14) that it will hold a two-day aerospace expo this November — an event whose name should draw a chuckle from "Simpsons" fans.
India-US space ties deepen as NASA invites ISRO to join moon base program
NASA has invited the Indian Space Research Organisation to collaborate on its Moon Base program, which aims to build a permanent human outpost near the lunar south pole.
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke retires after 30 years at the space agency
With four launches and nine spacewalks under his belt, Fincke leaves NASA as the fourth-most-flown astronaut at the space agency.
NASA's canceled lunar space station tech will help build the Artemis moon base
Northrop Grumman plans to take technology built into the HALO module for NASA's canceled lunar space station and repurpose it to help develop the Artemis moon base.
Radiation-shielding vest aced Artemis I lunar test, could protect astronauts on moon and Mars missions
A radiation-shielding vest aced its Artemis I lunar test in 2022, suggesting that it could protect astronauts on long-duration missions to the moon or Mars.
NASA figured out how to keep its 48-year-old Voyager 2 probe running for yet another year
NASA's Voyager 2 probe, which launched in 1977, can keep operating its last science instruments after a power reduction operation performed in interstellar space.
