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
'Best. Mars. Mission. Ever.' Scientists hail MAVEN's legacy as NASA retires Red Planet orbiter
NASA's MAVEN Mars mission ended after 11 years, having revealed how the planet lost its atmosphere and served as a key communications relay for surface missions.
NASA discussing bold mission to boost Swift space telescope today: Listen live
NASA will discuss an ambitious mission to boost the orbit of its Swift space telescope during a press conference today (June 17), and you can listen to it live.
NASA X-ray spacecraft catches jet erupting from 1st supermassive black hole imaged by humanity
"We could already see changes in the jet, but never with this level of detail in X-rays."
NASA X-ray spacecraft discovers supernova wreckage at the heart of the Milky Way
NASA's Chandra X-ray spacecraft has detected the supernova wreckage of a dead star that erupted 1,700 years ago and ejected debris at 2 million miles per hour.
Live from the moon! How lasers connected us all to NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts on their epic lunar trip
A laser system, previously tested on board the International Space Station, helped to stream video directly from the Artemis 2 mission on its way around the moon.
The critical robot arm on the ISS isn't working properly, but NASA has a plan to fix it
A part of Canadarm2 robotic arm on the ISS broke in May, requiring repairs by spacewalking astronauts no earlier than June 30. A spare is already on the station.
James Webb Space Telescope discovers 'galaxy-killing' wind that may explain why some early galaxies lived fast and died young
Powerful outflows of gas may explain why so many massive galaxies shut down star formation soon after the Big Bang.
NASA chief defends all-male Artemis 3 astronaut crew amid backlash: 'I don't think anyone should be reading into this'
The four astronauts named to the Artemis 3 crew are all male, but NASA officials emphasized they were selected based on their qualifications and experience.
