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
On this day in space! Aug. 13, 2014: WorldView-3 Earth-observing satellite launches into orbit
WorldView-3 is a high-resolution imaging satellite that can resolve features as small as 1 foot (31 centimeters) across.
Hubble spots star-forming area of Tarantula nebula | Space photo of the day for Aug. 12, 2025
The Tarantula nebula was recently captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, where the Scylla program helped create the colored image of this star-forming area.
NASA's Roman Space Telescope gets its 'extremely strong sunblock' installed
Scientists are making milestones on NASA's Roman Space Telescope as Trump continues to threaten the agency's science budget.
SpaceX's Crew-10 astronauts return to Earth after nearly 5 months in space (video)
SpaceX's Crew-10 astronauts returned to Earth on Saturday (Aug. 9) after living on the International Space Station for nearly five months.
SpaceX's Crew-10 astronauts undock from ISS, head home to Earth (video)
SpaceX's Crew-10 astronauts left the International Space Station on Friday afternoon (Aug. 8) ahead of a planned splashdown on Saturday (Aug. 9).
Jim Lovell, commander of NASA's Apollo 13 moon mission, dies at 97
NASA astronaut Jim Lovell — a veteran of four spaceflights, including Apollo 8 and the near-disastrous Apollo 13 — passed away on Aug. 7, 2025 at the age of 97.
Spacecraft headed to DART asteroid crash site images 2 faint space rocks to boost planetary defense tactics
The techniques used to target the asteroids could also be employed in tracking hazardous asteroids and interstellar objects.
A mysterious substance on Mars might be an undiscovered mineral
Scientists have spotted a mysterious mineral on Mars that may be new to science — and could help reveal some Red Planet mysteries.
