NASA

We are the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, though you probably know us by our acronym, NASA. As an independent agency of the United States government, we are responsible for the nation’s civilian space program and for conducting vital research in both aeronautics—the science of flight—and space. Our story began during a tense period of global history known as the Cold War. On July 29th, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the act that created us. Our formation was a direct response to a startling technological achievement by the Soviet Union: the launch of Sputnik 1, the world’s first artificial satellite, in 1957. This event kicked off an intense period of competition that became known as the Space Race. In this new arena, our mission was clearly defined. We were tasked with leading American efforts in scientific discovery and the peaceful exploration of space, demonstrating the nation’s technological strength for the benefit of all.

Just a few years after our founding, we received one of the most famous and ambitious challenges in history. In a 1961 speech, President John F. Kennedy declared that America should commit itself to landing a human on the Moon and returning them safely to Earth before the end of the decade. This audacious goal became the central focus of our Apollo Program. To accomplish this feat, we had to overcome monumental challenges that pushed the boundaries of science and engineering. It required the invention of entirely new technologies, from the colossal Saturn V rocket to the delicate Lunar Module that would land on the Moon’s surface. More than anything, it demanded immense and coordinated teamwork from hundreds of thousands of scientists, engineers, and technicians across the country. On July 20th, 1969, the world held its breath as our Apollo 11 mission fulfilled that promise. Astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on another world, followed moments later by his crewmate, Buzz Aldrin. Their historic walk on the Moon was not just a victory in the Space Race; it was a defining moment for our agency and a powerful symbol of human potential.

While the Apollo Program captured the world's imagination, sending humans into space is only one part of our multifaceted mission. We have also dispatched a fleet of robotic explorers to investigate the mysteries of our solar system and the universe beyond. These uncrewed missions allow us to gather priceless scientific data from environments far too dangerous, distant, or extreme for humans to visit. In the 1970s, for instance, our two Viking landers became the first spacecraft to successfully land and operate on the surface of Mars. They sent back the first detailed images from the red planet’s surface, forever changing our view of it. In 1977, we launched the twin Voyager probes on a grand tour of the solar system’s outer planets. After flying past Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, they continued their journey and are now in interstellar space—the vast region between the stars. They are currently the most distant human-made objects from Earth. Closer to home, we placed the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit, which has revolutionized astronomy by providing breathtakingly clear and deep views of distant galaxies, nebulae, and stars.

For thirty years, from 1981 until 2011, our primary vehicle for human spaceflight was the Space Shuttle. This fleet of reusable spacecraft was designed to function like an airplane in space, carrying astronauts and large payloads to and from low-Earth orbit. One of the shuttles' most significant achievements was helping to construct the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS is a massive, orbiting laboratory and habitat, assembled piece by piece in space. It is a place where astronauts from many different countries can live and conduct collaborative scientific research. The shuttle era, however, also brought profound challenges and sorrow. We experienced the terrible tragedies of the Challenger and Columbia accidents, which resulted in the loss of their brave crews. These events served as a painful and public reminder of the inherent dangers of pushing the frontiers of exploration. From these immense losses, we learned critical and difficult lessons about engineering, organizational culture, and safety protocols that continue to guide all of our work today. The ISS itself stands as a powerful symbol of this resilience and of the power of international cooperation in space.

Our mission to explore, discover, and learn continues to expand in new and exciting directions. Today, we operate a vast network of satellites that constantly study our home planet, providing crucial data on Earth's changing climate, weather patterns, and oceans. Looking deep into the cosmos is the James Webb Space Telescope, our powerful successor to Hubble. It is designed to peer back across billions of years to see the universe's first galaxies as they formed. Looking forward, our Artemis program is preparing to return astronauts to the lunar surface. This time, our goal is not simply to visit, but to build a sustainable, long-term presence there. The technologies and experience we gain on the Moon will help us prepare for humanity’s next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars. To achieve these goals, we are also fostering a new era of space activity by partnering with commercial companies. These partnerships are helping to build a robust economy in low-Earth orbit. Through all these diverse efforts, our fundamental mission remains the same: to pioneer the future and use our discoveries to benefit all of humanity.