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
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At the Kennedy Space Center, a new robot shovels up manufactured lunar dust as part of a larger test.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope mission — Live updates
Read the latest news about NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.
European Space Agency reveals 3 key space missions threatened by Trump's NASA budget cuts
At least three ESA space missions are under threat as a result of Trump's budget cuts. The gravitational wave observatory LISA, Venus orbiter EnVision, and NewAthena may require "recovery actions."
NASA begins push to slash workforce with more staff buyouts, early retirements as budget cuts loom
NASA employees have until July 25 to decide if they'll stay or go.
SpaceX Axiom-4 mission to the ISS: Live updates
Read the latest news about SpaceX's Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station.
'I was a good, visible target': Jared Isaacman on why Trump pulled his NASA chief nomination
Jared Isaacman has opened up on why he believes his nomination to be NASA administrator was abruptly withdrawn by the White House.
NASA raises the odds that an asteroid could hit the moon in 2032
Asteroid 2024 YR4, once the highest impact risk ever recorded, now poses no threat to Earth but has a slightly increased chance of striking the moon in 2032.
'In our spacesuit collection for movies, we have replicas of pretty much every historic spacesuit that's been into space.' How the son of an aerospace machinist built some of Hollywood's most iconic astronaut looks (exclusive)
"I've had a number of NASA personnel come up and think that the one that was theirs was ours, and they're shocked."
