NASA facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Agency overview
Abbreviation	NASA
Formed	July 29, 1958; 66 years ago (1958-07-29)
Preceding agency	National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (1915–1958)
Type	Space agency Aeronautics research agency
Jurisdiction	United States Federal Government
Headquarters	Washington, D.C. 38°52′59″N 77°0′59″W / 38.88306°N 77.01639°W / 38.88306; -77.01639
Administrator	Bill Nelson
Deputy Administrator	Pamela Melroy
Primary spaceports	John F. Kennedy Space Center Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Vandenberg Space Force Base
Employees	17,960 (2022)
Annual budget	US$25.384 billion (2023)

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is a special agency of the U.S. government. It is in charge of the country's space program, research into flight (aeronautics), and understanding space. NASA was created in 1958. It took over from an older group called the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). NASA's main goal was to make sure America's space efforts were peaceful and focused on science.

Since then, NASA has led many of America's space missions. These include early programs like Project Mercury and Project Gemini. It also led the famous Apollo missions that landed humans on the Moon between 1968 and 1972. Other big projects include the Skylab space station and the Space Shuttle program. Today, NASA helps run the International Space Station. It also works on new spacecraft like Orion and the Space Launch System for the Artemis program to return to the Moon.

NASA's science teams work on many things. They use the Earth Observing System to learn more about our planet. They study the Sun and its effects through the Heliophysics Research Program. They explore our Solar System with amazing robots like New Horizons and rovers like Perseverance. NASA also studies topics like the Big Bang using powerful tools like the James Webb Space Telescope. The Launch Services Program helps manage all of NASA's uncrewed rocket launches.

How NASA Began and Grew

From Airplanes to Space

NASA started from a group called the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). In the early 1900s, the U.S. realized it was behind Europe in aviation. So, in 1915, Congress created NACA to boost airplane research. For over 40 years, NACA helped the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, and civil aviation. After World War II, NACA became interested in guided missiles and super-fast planes. They even helped develop the Bell X-1, which was the first plane to fly faster than sound. NACA's interest in space grew from its rocket programs.

Then, in 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first satellite in space. This started the "Space Race." Even though NACA had rocket programs, the U.S. Army launched America's first satellite, Explorer 1, on February 1, 1958.

President Eisenhower decided to separate military and civilian space programs. So, on July 29, 1958, NASA was officially created. It began its work on October 1, 1958. NASA took over NACA's 8,000 employees and three main research labs. It also absorbed other military space projects, like the Army's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This made NASA the main U.S. agency for peaceful space exploration.

Early Flights: First Americans in Space

Before NASA, the U.S. military had plans for human spaceflight. NASA used these plans to create Project Mercury. This program aimed to send humans into space. NASA chose military pilots to be the first astronauts, known as the Mercury 7.

On May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American in space. He flew a short suborbital flight. This was less than a month after the Soviet Union's Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth. NASA's first orbital flight was on February 20, 1962. John Glenn orbited Earth three times in Friendship 7. He even had to fly part of the mission manually! The Mercury program was a big success. It showed that humans could orbit Earth and helped NASA learn about spaceflight.

While focusing on space, NASA also continued its airplane research. They worked on the North American X-15, a joint project with the U.S. Air Force. This plane could fly at incredible speeds, much faster than sound. The X-15 even touched the edge of space and helped test technologies for the Apollo program.

Landing on the Moon

The "Cold War" between the U.S. and the Soviet Union was intense. President John F. Kennedy challenged NASA to land an American on the Moon and bring them back safely by the end of the 1960s. He announced this big goal in 1961, saying it would be "one of the most impressive" and "most important" projects for space exploration.

To prepare for the Moon landing, NASA started Project Gemini. This program used a special capsule that could hold two astronauts for over two weeks. Gemini missions practiced important skills like spacewalks and meeting up with other spacecraft in orbit.

NASA also sent robotic probes to the Moon. The Lunar Orbiter program mapped the Moon's surface to find safe landing spots for Apollo. The Surveyor program landed uncrewed spacecraft on the Moon to study its surface.

Despite a tragic fire on Apollo 1 that killed three astronauts, the program moved forward. Apollo 8 was a huge step. In December 1968, its crew orbited the Moon ten times. They were the first humans to see Earth as a blue marble in space and to witness an "Earthrise."

The first Moon landing happened with Apollo 11. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to step on the Moon. He famously said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." This moment ended the Space Race. NASA completed six Moon landings with the Apollo program, ending in 1972 with Apollo 17.

After Apollo: Space Stations and Teamwork

After the Moon missions, NASA launched its first space station, Skylab, in 1973. Skylab used parts from the Apollo program. It hosted three crews and helped scientists learn about living in space. Skylab was taken out of orbit in 1979.

In 1975, a historic mission called Apollo–Soyuz took place. It was the first time American and Soviet spacecraft docked together in space. This was a big step for cooperation between the two Cold War rivals.

Exploring Other Planets and Deep Space

In the 1960s, NASA began sending robotic probes to other planets. The Mariner program sent probes to Venus, Mars, and Mercury. These missions made important discoveries about the inner planets.

After the Apollo program, NASA sent more probes. They explored Venus, finding it to be a very hot and harsh planet.

Mars has always fascinated NASA, as scientists wondered if it could have supported life. Many missions have gone to Mars. The Viking program landed two spacecraft on Mars in 1976. Later, the Mars Pathfinder mission deployed the first Mars rover, Sojourner. In the 2000s, rovers like Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity explored the Red Planet. Curiosity even found that radiation levels on Mars were similar to those on the International Space Station, making human exploration seem more possible. The Perseverance rover, which landed in 2021, carried the first helicopter to fly on another planet, called Ingenuity.

NASA also sent probes to the outer Solar System. Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 flew past Jupiter and Saturn. Both became the first objects to leave our Solar System. The Voyager program launched two probes in 1977 that flew past Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus. The Galileo spacecraft orbited Jupiter and found signs of oceans under the ice on its moon Europa. The Cassini–Huygens mission explored Saturn and its moon Titan, finding liquid lakes on Titan and water oceans on Enceladus. The New Horizons mission, launched in 2006, was the first to visit Pluto and the distant Kuiper Belt.

Beyond planets, NASA launched space telescopes. The Orbiting Astronomical Observatory in the 1960s were early telescopes that observed in different types of light. The Uhuru satellite was the first X-ray telescope, discovering many black holes.

The Great Observatories program, launched in the 1990s and early 2000s, includes some of NASA's most powerful telescopes. The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, can see galaxies billions of light-years away. The Chandra X-ray Observatory observes black holes and dark matter. The Spitzer Space Telescope is an infrared telescope that discovered brown dwarf stars.

Other telescopes, like the Cosmic Background Explorer, helped prove the Big Bang theory. The James Webb Space Telescope, launched in 2021, is Hubble's successor. It will observe the very first galaxies. The Kepler space telescope (launched in 2009) found many planets orbiting other stars, some of which might be like Earth and could have life.

NASA also launched satellites to study Earth. The Television Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS) in 1960 was the first weather satellite. NASA also launched Landsat in 1972, its first satellite dedicated to observing Earth's land. These satellites helped discover Ozone depletion.

The Space Shuttle Era

NASA wanted to build a reusable spaceplane that could fly to space and back, like an airplane. This would make space travel cheaper and help build a space station. The Space Shuttle program officially began in 1972.

The Space Shuttle allowed NASA to choose different types of astronauts. Before, most astronauts were military test pilots. With the Shuttle, NASA started recruiting scientists and engineers. Sally Ride became the first American woman in space on STS-7.

The first Space Shuttle flight was in 1981 with Columbia. The Shuttle was meant to replace expensive, single-use rockets. It also carried the Spacelab module, which greatly increased the amount of science that could be done in space.

The Space Shuttle could launch satellites and even repair them in orbit. In 1984, Challenger repaired a satellite in space. It could also bring broken satellites back to Earth for repair.

However, the Space Shuttle was not as cheap or reusable as hoped. In 1986, the Challenger exploded shortly after launch, killing all seven astronauts. This stopped the Shuttle program for 36 months. When it returned, it had many safety improvements.

After the Soviet Union broke up, the U.S. and Russia started the Shuttle-Mir program. American Shuttles docked with the Russian Mir space station, transferring supplies and crew. This program lasted until 1998.

In 2003, the Columbia Space Shuttle was lost during reentry, killing all seven astronauts. This led to the decision to retire the Space Shuttle fleet once the International Space Station was finished. The last Space Shuttle mission was in 2011.

Space Stations: Living in Orbit

NASA never gave up on the idea of a space station after Skylab. They wanted a larger station that could be a lab, a repair shop, and a starting point for missions to the Moon and Mars. President Ronald Reagan strongly supported this idea in 1984.

In 1985, NASA proposed Space Station Freedom. It was meant to be an international project. Thirteen countries, including European nations, Canada, and Japan, joined the agreement.

In 1993, the Freedom project became the International Space Station (ISS) when Russia joined. This allowed Russia to keep its space program going. The U.S. built most of the ISS, but Russia, Canada, Japan, and the European Space Agency also built parts. The ISS cost about $150 billion, with the U.S. paying two-thirds.

After the Columbia disaster in 2003, NASA had to rely on Russian Soyuz rockets to send astronauts to the ISS. The Space Shuttle's retirement in 2011 made the ISS's completion even more urgent. The ISS has been continuously occupied since November 2, 2000, and is the largest artificial satellite orbiting Earth. It is expected to continue operating until 2030.

Commercial Space and Returning to the Moon

After the Columbia disaster, President Bush started the Constellation program to replace the Space Shuttle and return astronauts to the Moon. However, this program was later canceled. Former astronauts like Neil Armstrong worried that the U.S. would fall behind in human spaceflight.

For a long time, people suggested that NASA should let private companies do more in space. In the 1990s, NASA worked with Lockheed Martin on a spaceplane called Lockheed Martin X-33. This was one of the first times a private company put a lot of its own money into spacecraft development. The rise of space tourism also showed that not just governments would send people to space.

Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin believed that private companies should handle routine space operations. This would let NASA focus on deep space exploration, like returning to the Moon and going to Mars. NASA adopted this idea with its Commercial Crew Program. This program contracts private companies to deliver cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station.

The first operational mission under this program was SpaceX Crew-1 in 2020. This was a big moment because it meant NASA could once again launch its own astronauts from the U.S. on an American spacecraft, after relying on Russia for a decade.

In 2019, NASA announced the Artemis program. Its goal is to return humans to the Moon and establish a permanent human presence there. This program also includes the Artemis Accords, which are agreements with other countries about how to explore the Moon peacefully.

The Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket are key parts of Artemis. Artemis 1 was an uncrewed test flight of the SLS and Orion in 2022, which was a success. NASA plans to launch Artemis 2 with a crew in September 2025, which will fly around the Moon. Artemis 3 is planned for September 2026, aiming to land astronauts on the Moon's south pole. This mission hopes to land "the first woman and the next man" on the Moon.

NASA also funds private companies to land robotic probes on the Moon through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.

What NASA Does Now

Human Spaceflight Missions

International Space Station (1993–present)

The International Space Station (ISS) is a huge project that combines ideas from several countries. It includes NASA's Space Station Freedom project, Russia's Mir-2 station, Europe's Columbus station, and Japan's Kibō lab. NASA originally planned to build Freedom alone, but budget issues led to these projects merging in 1993.

The ISS is managed by NASA, the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Parts of the station were built worldwide and launched by Russian and American rockets. Assembly in space began in 1998.

Crews on the ISS usually stay for about six months. The station has been continuously occupied since November 2, 2000, setting a record. Astronauts and cosmonauts from 15 different countries have visited it.

The ISS is so big you can see it from Earth with your bare eyes! Russian Soyuz and American Dragon spacecraft carry astronauts to and from the ISS. Uncrewed cargo ships from Russia, Europe, Japan, and the U.S. also deliver supplies. The ISS program is expected to continue until 2030.

Commercial Resupply Services (2008–present)

Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) are contracts NASA uses to get cargo and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA signed its first CRS contracts in 2008 with SpaceX and Orbital Sciences. SpaceX uses its Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket. Orbital Sciences uses its Cygnus spacecraft and Antares rocket.

SpaceX flew its first supply mission in 2012, and Orbital Sciences followed in 2014. These contracts have been extended multiple times. A second phase of contracts, called CRS-2, was awarded in 2016 to Orbital ATK (now Northrop Grumman), Sierra Nevada Corporation (for their Dream Chaser spacecraft), and SpaceX (for their Dragon 2). These flights are expected to continue through 2024 and beyond.

Commercial Crew Program (2011–present)

The Commercial Crew Program (CCP) allows private companies to provide astronaut transportation to and from the International Space Station (ISS). This program helps rotate crews on the station. American company SpaceX began providing this service in 2020 with its Crew Dragon spacecraft. NASA also plans to use Boeing's Boeing Starliner spacecraft when it's ready.

These spacecraft are owned and operated by the companies. NASA buys the service from them. Each mission sends up to four astronauts to the ISS for about six months. Between the Space Shuttle's retirement in 2011 and the first CCP mission in 2020, NASA relied on Russian Soyuz program rockets to transport its astronauts.

A Crew Dragon spacecraft launches on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket and splashes down in the ocean near Florida when it returns. The Starliner will launch on an Atlas V rocket and land on solid ground using airbags in the western U.S.

Artemis Program: Back to the Moon (2017–present)

Since 2017, NASA's main human spaceflight program is Artemis. It involves U.S. private space companies and international partners like ESA, JAXA, and CSA. The goal is to land "the first woman and the next man" on the lunar south pole by 2025. Artemis is the first step toward building a lasting human presence on the Moon. This will also help prepare for sending humans to Mars.

The Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle is a key part of Artemis. Artemis 1 was an uncrewed test launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft in November 2022. It successfully flew around the Moon and returned.

NASA's next big step is to build the Lunar Gateway, a small space station that will orbit the Moon. This station will be used for short stays by astronauts. Artemis 2 is planned for September 2025 and will send a crew of four around the Moon. Artemis 3 is planned for September 2026 and aims to deliver a crew of four to lunar orbit and land them on the Moon. NASA also plans to build larger deep space habitats. The U.S. Congress has asked NASA to get humans to Mars by the 2030s.

NASA also funds private companies to land robotic probes on the Moon through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. In 2021, NASA chose SpaceX Lunar Starship as its Human Landing System for the Moon. The SLS rocket will launch Orion with astronauts to lunar orbit, where they will transfer to Starship for the trip to the Moon's surface.

Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development (2021–present)

NASA has started a program to support the development of commercial space stations. These stations are meant to replace the International Space Station by the end of this decade. Three companies have been chosen to work on these concepts: Blue Origin (with their Orbital Reef station), Nanoracks (with their Starlab Space Station), and Northrop Grumman.

Robotic Exploration Missions

NASA has sent over 1,000 uncrewed and robotic missions to explore Earth and the Solar System.

How Missions Are Chosen

NASA uses a special process to plan and choose its robotic missions. This process looks at cost, schedule, and technical risks. It allows different teams from NASA, other U.S. government groups, and private companies to propose missions. There are four main types of programs for these missions:

Explorer Program

The Explorer program has been around since the early days of the U.S. space program. It offers frequent chances for smaller, less expensive missions in heliophysics (Sun science) and astrophysics (space science). Small Explorer missions cost NASA less than $150 million, and Medium Explorer missions typically cost around $350 million.

Discovery Program

The NASA Discovery program focuses on robotic missions for planetary science. Scientists and engineers can put together a team to propose a mission to meet specific goals. These missions usually have a cost limit of $500 million for NASA. For example, in 2021, NASA chose the DAVINCI+ and VERITAS missions to launch to Venus in the late 2020s.

New Frontiers Program

The New Frontiers program focuses on important Solar System exploration goals identified by scientists. These are medium-sized spacecraft missions that aim for high-science returns. They have higher cost limits (around $1 billion) and longer schedules than Discovery missions, so new opportunities for these missions happen less often. OSIRIS-REx and New Horizons are examples of New Frontiers missions.

Large Strategic Missions

Large strategic missions are big, important missions often developed by large teams across several NASA centers. These missions are so big that they become their own program. The James Webb Space Telescope is an example of a strategic mission that took over 20 years to develop. Other examples include the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Hubble Space Telescope. The Europa Clipper is the next large strategic mission being developed by NASA.

Current Planetary Science Missions

NASA continues to explore our Solar System. Ongoing missions are studying the Moon (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter), Mars (Perseverance rover), Jupiter (Juno), asteroid Bennu (OSIRIS-REx), and distant Kuiper Belt Objects (New Horizons). The Juno mission will even fly close to Jupiter's moon Io in 2023 and 2024. The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes are still sending data back to Earth as they travel into interstellar space, billions of kilometers away.

In 2011, NASA launched the Mars Science Laboratory mission. Its Curiosity successfully landed on Mars in 2012 and began searching for signs of past or present life. The MAVEN spacecraft, launched in 2014, continues to study Mars' atmosphere.

NASA's Europa Clipper is planned for launch in October 2024. It will study Jupiter's moon Europa to see if it could support life. The Dragonfly mission will send a robotic helicopter to Saturn's largest moon, Titan, in 2027.

Astrophysics Missions

NASA's astrophysics division manages the agency's space telescope projects. These telescopes help us study the universe using different types of light.

The Great Observatories, launched in the 1980s and 1990s, have provided a lot of information for scientists. The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, is still working thanks to past servicing missions by the Space Shuttle. The Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO), launched in 1999, studies X-ray sources that can't be seen from Earth.

The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) launched in December 2021. It helps us understand how X-rays are produced by objects like neutron stars and black holes. The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, launched in 2004, studies gamma-ray bursts. The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (FGST), launched in 2008, also observes gamma rays.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), launched in December 2021, is a powerful infrared telescope. It can see more distant and older objects than Hubble, helping us study the formation of the first galaxies.

Earth Sciences Program (1965–present)

NASA's Earth Science program uses many systems on Earth and in space to understand our planet. These systems help predict weather, climate change, and other environmental changes. Current satellites include Aqua, Aura, and Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite 2 (ICESat-2).

NASA is also designing new Earth Observing Systems to study climate change, natural hazards, and agriculture. The GOES-T satellite (now GOES-18) joined the U.S. weather monitoring fleet in 2022.

NASA also manages the Earth Science Data Systems (ESDS) program. This program makes sure that NASA's Earth science data is collected, processed, and shared with scientists and the public.

Space Operations and Infrastructure

NASA invests in ground and space systems to support its missions. This includes rocket launch capabilities and ground stations to communicate with spacecraft.

Deep Space Network (1963–present)

The NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) is the main system of ground stations for NASA's spacecraft that travel far into space. It has complexes in California (U.S.), Spain, and Australia. These stations are placed about 120 degrees apart around Earth. This allows them to communicate with spacecraft throughout the Solar System as Earth rotates. The DSN is controlled from a 24/7 center in California and manages communications with up to 40 spacecraft.

Near Space Network (1983–present)

The Near Space Network (NSN) provides communication services for satellites in Earth orbit. It combines ground stations from the Near-Earth Network and the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRS). TDRS satellites orbit Earth and provide continuous communication with launch vehicles and low Earth orbit missions.

The NSN has 19 ground stations worldwide. It communicates with 120 to 150 spacecraft every day.

Sounding Rocket Program (1959–present)

The NASA Sounding Rocket Program (NSRP) is located at the Wallops Flight Facility. It launches small rockets called sounding rockets. These rockets fly into space for short periods to collect data. The program has been running since 1959 and launches about 20 missions per year from Wallops and other locations worldwide. These missions help scientists collect data for Earth science, heliophysics, and astrophysics.

In June 2022, NASA launched its first rocket from a commercial spaceport outside the U.S., in Australia.

Launch Services Program (1990–present)

The NASA Launch Services Program (LSP) buys rocket launch services for NASA's uncrewed missions. It also oversees the preparation and launch of these rockets. Since 1990, NASA has bought launch services from commercial companies whenever possible. These rockets can launch satellites into all types of orbits and are great for Earth-orbiting and interplanetary missions. The LSP operates from Kennedy Space Center.

Aeronautics Research: Improving Flight

The Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) is one of NASA's five main divisions. It is responsible for NASA's research into flight, which helps commercial, military, and general aviation. ARMD conducts its research at four NASA centers across the U.S.

NASA X-57 Maxwell Aircraft (2016–present)

The NASA X-57 Maxwell is an experimental aircraft that NASA is developing. Its goal is to show the technologies needed for a very efficient all-electric aircraft. The program aims to create electric flight solutions that can also be certified for air travel. The aircraft is being developed in phases, with ground testing completed and first flights expected soon.

Next Generation Air Transportation System (2007–present)

NASA is working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other groups to modernize the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS). This effort began in 2007 and aims to make air travel safer, more efficient, and more flexible by 2025. It also seeks to reduce the environmental impact of aviation. NASA helps develop advanced tools that give air traffic controllers and pilots better information about air traffic, weather, and routes.

Technology Research

Nuclear Power and Propulsion in Space

NASA uses technologies like the multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) to power spacecraft. These generators use heat from radioactive materials to create electricity. Shortages of the special plutonium needed for these generators have sometimes limited deep space missions.

In 2021, NASA announced contracts to develop nuclear thermal propulsion reactors. These rockets could make travel to Mars much faster. In 2023, NASA partnered with DARPA to demonstrate a nuclear thermal rocket engine in space by 2027.

Other New Ideas

• Free Space Optics: NASA is studying using lasers to communicate with satellites from ground stations.
• Water Extraction from Lunar Soil: In 2020, NASA asked universities to propose new ways to extract water from the Moon's soil. This will help with sustainable exploration of the Moon.
• Coordinated Lunar Time: In 2024, the U.S. government asked NASA to create a time standard for the Moon, expected to be ready by 2026.

Human Spaceflight Research (2005–present)

NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) studies how space affects human health. It also develops ways to protect astronauts and technologies for space exploration. While short trips to Earth orbit or the Moon have limited effects, long trips to Mars can cause serious health issues. These include bone loss, radiation exposure, vision changes, and heart problems. To study these, HRP develops small, portable tools to monitor astronauts' health. In 2022, astronauts on the ISS successfully tested a device called rHEALTH ONE to analyze health markers in space.

Planetary Defense (2016–present)

NASA created the Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) in 2016. Its job is to find and track potentially dangerous near-Earth objects (NEOs), like asteroids and comets. It also works on ways to protect Earth from these threats. The PDCO provides information to the government and public about close approaches by these objects.

Finding Near-Earth Objects (1998–present)

Since the 1990s, NASA has run many programs to detect NEOs from Earth-based observatories. This has greatly increased the number of objects found. Many asteroids are very dark and hard to see, especially those near the Sun.

In 1998, the U.S. Congress asked NASA to find 90% of near-Earth asteroids larger than 1 kilometer (which could cause global damage) by 2008. This goal was met by 2011. In 2005, the goal was expanded to find 90% of NEOs larger than 140 meters by 2020. As of 2020, less than half of these have been found, but objects of this size hit Earth only about once every 2,000 years.

In 2020, NASA estimated it would take 30 years to find all 140-meter objects. To speed this up, in 2021, NASA approved the development of the NEO Surveyor spacecraft, which aims to reduce that time to 10 years.

Robotic Missions for Planetary Defense

NASA has included planetary defense goals in several missions:

• The NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft visited 433 Eros in 2000. It was the first spacecraft to orbit and land on an asteroid, helping us understand them better.
• The OSIRIS-REx mission studied Bennu. Its precise measurements will help scientists predict Bennu's future path, as it could come close to Earth in the next 100-200 years.
• The WISE/NEOWISE mission, launched in 2009, was repurposed in 2013 to find potentially hazardous asteroids and comets.
• The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was the first satellite built specifically for planetary defense. Launched in 2021, DART successfully hit the Dimorphos asteroid on September 26, 2022. This impact changed the asteroid's orbit by about 32 minutes, proving that we could potentially deflect a dangerous asteroid in the future.
• NEO Surveyor is a space-based infrared telescope being developed to survey the Solar System for potentially hazardous asteroids. It is scheduled to launch in 2026.

Studying Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (2022–present)

In June 2022, NASA announced it would start its own scientific study of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), also known as UFOs. NASA wants to use a scientific approach to understand these sightings, even though it's a controversial topic.

Working with Others

NASA Advisory Council

After the Apollo 1 accident in 1967, Congress told NASA to create an Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP). This group advises NASA on safety issues. After the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, Congress required ASAP to send yearly reports to NASA and Congress. NASA also has the NASA Advisory Council (NAC) to provide advice.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

NASA and NOAA have worked together for decades on weather satellites. NASA usually develops the satellites, rockets, and ground control technology. NOAA then operates the systems and provides weather forecasts. They work together on satellites that orbit Earth and those that stay in a fixed position above Earth to provide real-time weather updates.

United States Space Force

The United States Space Force (USSF) is the military branch for space, while NASA is the civilian space agency. They have a long history of working together. The Space Force helps NASA launches from various spaceports, providing support and rescue operations. They also partner on things like defending Earth from asteroids. Space Force members can even be NASA astronauts. In 2020, NASA and the Space Force signed an agreement to formally recognize their joint roles.

U.S. Geological Survey

The Landsat program is a joint NASA / USGS program that has been taking satellite images of Earth for a long time. The first satellite, Landsat 1, launched in 1972. The most recent, Landsat 9, launched in 2021.

The Landsat satellites have collected millions of images. These images are used for research on global change, agriculture, mapping, geology, and education. NASA designs and launches the satellites, and USGS operates them once they are in orbit.

European Space Agency (ESA)

NASA works with the European Space Agency (ESA) on many science and exploration projects. ESA helped with the Space Shuttle's Spacelab missions and plays a big role in the Artemis program, providing parts for the Orion spacecraft and the Lunar Gateway. They also work together on missions to study the Sun and astronomy, like the Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope. NASA and ESA also cooperate on Earth science, including climate change.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) work together on many space projects. JAXA is a direct partner in the Artemis program, including the Lunar Gateway. JAXA will provide important systems for the Gateway, like environmental control and batteries.

JAXA and NASA have also collaborated on many satellite programs, especially for Earth science. They have shared instruments on each other's satellites. For example, the NASA-JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement mission, launched in 2014, provides accurate rainfall measurements worldwide.

Roscosmos

NASA and Roscosmos (the Russian space agency) have worked together on the International Space Station since 1993. They have used rockets from both countries to build the station. Astronauts and Cosmonauts from both countries work together to maintain the station. After the Space Shuttle retired in 2011, Russia was the only country that could transport crews and cargo to the ISS until NASA's commercial crew flights began. In 2022, NASA and Roscosmos signed a deal to continue sharing space station flights.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

In 2014, NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) agreed to work together on a joint radar mission called NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR). This mission is planned to launch in 2024. NASA will provide some of the radar equipment and communication systems, while ISRO provides the spacecraft and the launch rocket.

Artemis Accords

The Artemis Accords are a set of agreements that define how countries will cooperate in the peaceful exploration of the Moon, Mars, asteroids, and comets. NASA and the U.S. State Department wrote these agreements. As of September 2022, 21 countries have signed the accords, including Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

China National Space Administration

A U.S. law called the Wolf Amendment, passed in 2011, prevents NASA from directly working with the Chinese government and its space organizations, like the China National Space Administration. This is unless Congress and the FBI specifically approve it. This law has been renewed every year.

How NASA is Managed

Leadership

NASA's main office is in Washington, D.C. It provides overall guidance for the agency. Most NASA employees must be U.S. citizens.

The President of the United States chooses NASA's administrator, and the U.S. Senate must approve the choice. The administrator is a senior advisor on space science. The current administrator is Bill Nelson, appointed in May 2021.

Goals for the Future

NASA has four main goals for 2022:

• Learn more about the universe through new scientific discoveries.
• Send humans to the Moon and then to Mars for long-term exploration.
• Help the economy grow and create new ideas to solve national problems.
• Improve its abilities and operations to make current and future missions successful.

Budget

NASA's budget requests are created by NASA and approved by the U.S. government before being sent to the U.S. Congress. The authorized budgets are what Congress approves and the President signs into law.

Organization

NASA's funding and priorities are managed through its six main divisions, called Mission Directorates.

Mission Directorate	Associate Administrator	% of NASA Budget (FY22)
Aeronautics Research (ARMD)	Catherine A. Koerner	4%
Exploration Systems Development (ESDMD)	James Free	28%
Space Operations (SOMD)	Kenneth Bowersox	17%
Science (SMD)	Nicola Fox	32%
Space Technology (STMD)	Kurt Vogel	5%
Mission Support (MSD)	Robert Gibbs	14%

NASA also has 10 major field centers across the country, each led by a Center Director.

Field Center	Primary Location	Center Director
Ames Research Center	Mountain View, California	Eugene L. Tu
Armstrong Flight Research Center	Palmdale, California	Brad Flick (acting)
Glenn Research Center	Cleveland, Ohio	James A. Kenyon (acting)
Goddard Space Flight Center	Greenbelt, Maryland	Makenzie Lystrup
Jet Propulsion Laboratory	La Canada-Flintridge, California	Laurie Leshin
Johnson Space Center	Houston, Texas	Vanessa E. Wyche
Kennedy Space Center	Merritt Island, Florida	Janet Petro
Langley Research Center	Hampton, Virginia	Clayton Turner
Marshall Space Flight Center	Huntsville, Alabama	Jody Singer
Stennis Space Center	Hancock County, Mississippi	Richard J. Gilbrech

Caring for Our Planet

Environmental Impact of Rockets

Rocket exhaust can affect Earth's environment. Some rocket fuels are toxic before burning. Rockets using hydrocarbon fuels release carbon dioxide and soot. However, these emissions are very small compared to other sources. For example, a single Falcon 9 rocket burns about 25,000 gallons of kerosene, but the U.S. uses 803 million gallons of liquid fuels daily. So, even if a Falcon 9 launched every day, it would be a tiny fraction of daily fuel use. Rockets using liquid oxygen and hydrogen produce mostly water vapor.

NASA has worked to reduce its environmental impact. The NASA Sustainability Base is an example of a green building. The Goddard Space Flight Center was the first federal agency facility to use landfill gas for energy.

Climate Change Research

NASA also studies and publishes information on climate change. Its findings agree with most scientists that the Earth's climate is getting warmer. Some people have suggested that NASA should only focus on space exploration and let other agencies handle climate studies. However, studying Earth science has been part of NASA's mission since it was created in 1958.

STEM Initiatives

NASA has programs to encourage students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

• Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa): Since 2011, this program gives universities chances to test new technologies by launching small satellites called CubeSats on NASA-provided rockets.
• Cubes in Space: Since 2014, NASA and I Doodle Learning have run an annual competition for students aged 11–18. Students design science experiments to be launched into space on a NASA rocket or balloon. In 2017, the world's smallest satellite, KalamSAT, was launched through this program.

Using the Metric System

U.S. law requires the International System of Units (metric system) to be used in all U.S. government programs, unless it's not practical.

In 1969, the Apollo 11 mission used a mix of U.S. customary units and metric units. In the 1980s, NASA started to switch to the metric system. However, in 1999, a mix-up between NASA's metric units and a contractor's U.S. units led to the loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter.

In 2007, NASA decided that all future Moon missions would use only the metric system. This helps with cooperation with other countries' space agencies that already use metric. Today, NASA mostly uses metric units, but some projects, including the International Space Station, still use a mix of both.

NASA in the Media

NASA TV

NASA TV has been broadcasting for almost 40 years. It shows live coverage of human space missions, important moments for robotic spacecraft (like rover landings), and rocket launches. The channel started to record important space events for NASA staff, but it grew as public interest increased. The Apollo 8 Christmas Eve broadcast from lunar orbit was watched by over a billion people. NASA's video of the Apollo 11 Moon landing won an Emmy award. NASA TV is free and available on many TV and internet platforms.

NASAcast

NASAcast is the official audio and video podcast from the NASA website. Started in 2005, it includes the latest videos and audio from NASA, like "This Week at NASA" and educational materials. Other NASA podcasts, like Science@NASA, offer deeper dives into specific topics.

NASA EDGE

NASA EDGE is a video podcast that explores different NASA missions, technologies, and projects. It started in 2007 and has produced over 200 episodes. The NASA EDGE team gives an inside look at current projects from NASA facilities across the U.S. They do this through interviews, on-site broadcasts, and computer animations with top scientists and engineers.

The show highlights NASA's contributions to society and the progress of current projects in materials and space exploration. NASA EDGE videos can be downloaded from the NASA website and iTunes. In its first year, the show was downloaded over 450,000 times. By 2010, it averaged over 420,000 downloads per month.

NASA and NASA EDGE have also created interactive programs. For example, the Lunar Electric Rover App lets users drive a simulated Lunar Electric Rover. The NASA EDGE Widget provides easy access to their videos, image galleries, and news.

Astronomy Picture of the Day

The Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) is a website provided by NASA and Michigan Technological University. Each day, a different image or photograph of our universe is featured, along with a short explanation written by a professional astronomer. The images are often from NASA missions or telescopes.

NASA+ Streaming Service

In July 2023, NASA announced a new streaming service called NASA+. It launched on November 8, 2023. It offers live coverage of launches, documentaries, and original programs. NASA says it will be free of ads and subscription fees. It is available through the NASA app on phones and smart TVs, and on the web.

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See also

In Spanish: NASA para niños

• List of crewed spacecraft
• List of NASA aircraft
• List of space disasters
• List of United States rockets
• Category: NASA people
• NASA Advanced Space Transportation Program
• NASA Art Program
• NASA Clean Air Study
• NASA Research Park
• TechPort (NASA)
• NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts