National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images & Videos

Galileo spacecraft

Why did Kennedy want to go to the Moon?

Johnson Space Center: control room

space shuttle liftoff

Stephen Hawking and his daughter, Lucy

map of the National Mall, Washington, D.C.

How does the Hubble Space Telescope work?

NASA's Parker Solar Probe spacecraft

Explore how the X-15, M2-F1 vehicle, and the LLRV at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center contributed to the U.S. space program

What is the path of the 2024 total solar eclipse?

Read Next

The International Space Station photographed against the Rio Negro, Argentina, from the shuttle orbiter Atlantis, February 16, 2001. Atlantis' primary mission was to deliver the Destiny laboratory module, visible at the leading end of the station.

Everyday Stuff Developed by NASA

The Space Shuttle Columbia soars from Launch Pad 39A on July 1 1997 to begin the 16-day STS-94 Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission.

12 Questions About the History of Space Exploration Answered

After a perfect launch, spectators try to catch a last glimpse of Space Shuttle Columbia, barely visible at the top end of the twisted column of smoke.

7 Accidents and Disasters in Spaceflight History

Apollo 12 astronaut Charles "Pete" Conrad stands beside the U.S. flag after is was unfurled on the lunar surface during the first extravehicular activity (EVA-1) Nov. 19, 1969. Footprints made by the crew can be seen in the photograph.

How Many People Have Been to the Moon?

Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong (center), command pilot, and David R. Scott (right), pilot of the Gemini-8 prime crew, are suited up for water egress training aboard the NASA Motor Vessel Retriever in the Gulf of Mexico. At left is Dr. Kenneth N. Beers, M.D., Flight Medicine Branch, Center Medical Office. Training for Gemini 8, Gemini-titan-8. January 15, 1966

How Gemini 8 Made History and Avoided Disaster

Discover

illustration of the walking titanosaurus, Patagotitan mayorum

Titanosaurs: 8 of the World's Biggest Dinosaurs

Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)

All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained

African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights.

Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement

Portion of the Aleppo Codex, a manuscript of the Hebrew Bible written in the Hebrew language in the 10th century CE; in the Shrine of the Book, Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

Why Do Languages Die?

Close up of praying mantis walking on stone ground against a blurred background in Japan

6 Animals That Eat Their Mates

Cleopatra hieroglyphic carving the Ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Wall of the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Egypt.

What Did Cleopatra Look Like?

airplane in flight (plane, aircraft, flying)

7 Puzzling Plane Disappearances

National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jun 12, 2025

News •

Space station leak concerns will delay visit by astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary • June 12, 2025, 1:21 PM ET (AP)

Musk could lose billions of dollars depending on how spat with Trump unfolds • June 6, 2025, 5:36 PM ET (AP)

Elon Musk pulls back on threat to withdraw Dragon spacecraft • June 6, 2025, 12:53 PM ET (AP)

Goodbye Mr. Nice Guy? Investors dump Tesla on bet Trump may lash out at Musk through his car company • June 6, 2025, 7:24 AM ET (AP)

Private lunar lander from Japan crashes into moon in failed mission • June 5, 2025, 10:05 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	NASA
Date	1958 - present
Areas Of Involvement	space exploration • research and development • space shuttle • Apollo • Earth satellite • Voyager • spacecraft • Landsat • Gemini • Mariner
Related People	Dwight D. Eisenhower • Neil Armstrong • Stephanie Wilson • Michael Griffin • David S. McKay • Nancy Grace Roman • Katherine Johnson • Valerie Thomas • Bill Nelson • Jessica Meir • Sultan ibn Salman Al Saud • Joseph Acaba • Nicole Aunapu Mann • Alan B. Shepard, Jr. • Mary Jackson

Photos and Videos

Galileo spacecraft

Johnson Space Center: control room

space shuttle liftoff

Stephen Hawking and his daughter, Lucy

map of the National Mall, Washington, D.C.

Why did Kennedy want to go to the Moon?

How does the Hubble Space Telescope work?

NASA's Parker Solar Probe spacecraft

Explore how the X-15, M2-F1 vehicle, and the LLRV at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center contributed to the U.S. space program

What is the path of the 2024 total solar eclipse?

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

Central Intelligence Agency KGB Federal Bureau of Investigation National Security Agency MI6 Mossad U.S. Secret Service U.S. Department of Defense Environmental Protection Agency Indian Space Research Organisation

Quiz

Edwin E. Aldrin (Buzz Aldrin) stands on the moon, Apollo 11

Famous Astronauts and Cosmonauts

Yellow transportation sign with ASAP (as soon as possible) on violet color sky background. (acronyms)

Figure Out the Acronyms ASAP Vocabulary Quiz

List

The Space Shuttle Columbia soars from Launch Pad 39A on July 1 1997 to begin the 16-day STS-94 Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission.

12 Questions About the History of Space Exploration Answered

Demystified

Apollo 12 astronaut Charles "Pete" Conrad stands beside the U.S. flag after is was unfurled on the lunar surface during the first extravehicular activity (EVA-1) Nov. 19, 1969. Footprints made by the crew can be seen in the photograph.

How Many People Have Been to the Moon?