NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the United States government agency responsible for civil space exploration, aeronautics research, and scientific discovery. Established on July 29, 1958, in response to the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik, NASA has led American efforts in human spaceflight, planetary science, Earth observation, and astrophysics for over six decades.
NASA's human spaceflight programs progressed from the single-occupant Mercury capsules through the Gemini and Apollo programs, which landed 12 astronauts on the Moon between 1969 and 1972. The Space Shuttle program flew 135 missions from 1981 to 2011, deploying the Hubble Space Telescope, constructing the International Space Station, and launching interplanetary probes. Since the Shuttle's retirement, NASA has developed the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon and establish a permanent lunar base. After Artemis II completed a crewed lunar flyby in April 2026, NASA rolled out the Artemis III rocket core stage and accelerated production cadence, though a Blue Origin rocket explosion in May 2026 damaged the launch pad needed for one of the program's lunar landers.
Beyond human spaceflight, NASA conducts a broad portfolio of scientific research. Robotic missions have explored every planet in the Solar System, from the Voyager spacecraft in interstellar space to the Perseverance rover searching for signs of ancient life on Mars. The Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes have transformed understanding of the universe—Webb recently detected methane on an interstellar comet for the first time. The agency also operates Earth-observing satellites that monitor climate change and natural disasters. In fiscal year 2026, Congress enacted a $24.4 billion budget after rejecting proposed cuts, with supplemental funding bringing the effective total to approximately $27 billion. The agency supports ten field centers across the United States and partnerships with commercial aerospace companies and international space agencies.