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
There was nearly 1 rocket launch attempt every 34 hours in 2024 — this year will be even busier
2024 set spaceflight records for the fourth consecutive year with 259 launches worldwide and one launch attempt roughly every 34 hours, according to a recent analysis of the global space economy.
Risks with current Artemis 3 moon landing plan 'may be too high,' NASA safety group says
An annual safety report to NASA has both praise and also underscores a number of cautionary woes, including the space agency's Artemis undertaking to return astronauts to the moon.
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.
Firefly's Blue Ghost lunar lander leaves Earth orbit to head for the moon
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander is now headed for the moon after firing its engines to send it out of Earth orbit.
How to watch NASA's 1st Twitch stream from the ISS this week
NASA's first-ever Twitch stream premieres at 11:45 a.m. EST on Wednesday, Feb. 12 on NASA's Twitch channel.
Who is Janet Petro, Trump's pick for acting NASA administrator?
Janet Petro became the first woman to lead NASA on Jan. 20. Here's what we know about U.S. President Donald Trump's pick for head of the space agency.
NASA and General Atomics test nuclear fuel for future moon and Mars missions
General Atomics and NASA achieved an important milestone on the road to using nuclear-powered rockets by testing a new fuel and finding it can withstand extreme conditions.
Private FLIP moon rover replaces NASA's cancelled VIPER on 2025 lunar south pole mission
Astrolab's FLIP moon rover has replaced NASA's VIPER vehicle on the first-ever mission of Astrobotic's Griffin lunar lander, which is scheduled to launch in late 2025.
