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
NASA or the Space Force: Who should protect Earth from dangerous asteroids?
NASA currently leads the nation's planetary defense efforts, but some are calling for the Space Force to take control.
'NASA is under attack.' Space agency employees and lawmakers protest mass layoffs, science cuts amid budget turmoil
They're telling everyone to "jump ship."
These gorgeous new images of the cosmos from NASA's Chandra X-ray telescope took our breath away (video)
NASA has unveiled a dazzling new collection of cosmic images from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, capturing spectacular stars and galaxies in unprecedented detail.
SpaceX launches NASA's TRACERS mission to protect Earth from space weather
NASA's TRACERS mission blasted off July 23 on a Falcon 9 rocket with three other small agency satellites that will act as technology demonstrators to monitor space weather.
Ozzy Osbourne's journey through space, sci-fi and time revealed — A Tribute to the 'Prince of Darkness'
A Space.com obituary for the ‘Prince of Darkness' Ozzy Osbourne.
Sharp-eyed US-Indian satellite set to launch July 30 to monitor Earth's surface, warn of natural disasters
NISAR, a joint mission of NASA and ISRO set to launch on July 30, will be able to see shifts in the landscape smaller than a centimeter to give warning of potential natural disasters.
SpaceX Crew-11 mission to the ISS: Live updates
Read the latest news about SpaceX's Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station.
Makenzie Lystrup stepping down as director of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Makenzie Lystrup will step down as head of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center on Aug. 1. She'll be the second NASA center director to depart in just a two-month span.
NASA scientists sound alarm over threats to science and safety in 'Voyager Declaration'
The signatories warn that political interference and abrupt budget reductions could jeopardize decades of progress in space exploration, aeronautics and climate science.
NASA's Roman Space Telescope could discover 100,000 new cosmic explosions: 'We're definitely expecting the unexpected'
Supernovas, kilonovas, gamma-ray bursts... oh my! The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will uncover 100,000 of these explosions and many more powerful and violent cosmic events.
