NASA is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, a federal agency of the United States government responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research.
NASA was established in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
NASA's first mission was to launch the Explorer 1 satellite into orbit in 1958
NASA is responsible for some of the most significant achievements in space exploration, including the Apollo moon landing missions
NASA's space shuttle program began in 1981 and ended in 2011
SpaceX is a private American aerospace manufacturer founded in 2002 by Elon Musk. The company has developed the Falcon 1, Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Dragon spacecrafts. SpaceX is focused on reducing the cost of spaceflight and enabling the colonization of Mars.
Blue Origin is an American privately-funded aerospace manufacturer and spaceflight services company founded in 2000 by Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos. The companyu2019s mission is to develop reusable rockets and spacecraft that will take people to space.
Orion is NASA's spacecraft designed to take astronauts to the Moon, Mars and other deep-space destinations. It is the only spacecraft designed to leave low Earth orbit and support humans for months or years.
SLS is the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built. It will launch astronauts and scientific payloads on missions beyond Earth's orbit.
The Hubble Space Telescope is a large telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990. It has made more than 1.4 million observations and provided astronomers with some of the most detailed images of the universe ever seen.
NASA conducts research in many areas including aeronautics, Earth science, lunar science, Mars exploration, and astrophysics.
NASA is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA's mission is to drive advances in science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration to enhance knowledge, education, innovation, economic vitality, and stewardship of Earth.
Yes, NASA is working on the Artemis program which aims to land humans on the Moon by 2024 and eventually establish a sustainable human presence on and around the Moon by the end of the decade. NASA is also planning missions to Mars in the 2030s.
Yes, NASA employs people in many fields including science, engineering, technology, and management. Visit the NASA careers website for more information.
NASA has a website, social media accounts, and a newsletter that provide updates on the latest news, discoveries and missions. Follow NASA on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube or sign up for their email newsletter on their website.