History of NASA in Timeline

NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is an independent agency of the US federal government established in 1958. It's responsible for the nation's civil space program and aeronautics and space exploration research. Organized into mission directorates and operating ten field centers, NASA has spearheaded numerous significant space exploration programs. These include Project Mercury, Project Gemini, the Apollo program missions (1968-1972), Skylab space station, and the Space Shuttle program. NASA succeeded the NACA, emphasizing peaceful, civilian-oriented space science applications.

1914: Aviation Section of the US Army Signal Corps Created

In 1914, the United States Congress created the Aviation Section of the US Army Signal Corps. This was due to the United States recognizing that it was far behind Europe in aviation capability.

1915: NACA Established

In 1915, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) was established to foster aeronautical research and development.

1956: Air Force's Man in Space Soonest Project Formed

In 1956, the Air Force's Man in Space Soonest project formed, coupled with the Army's Project Adam, which served as the foundation for Project Mercury.

February 1, 1958: Explorer 1 Launched

On February 1, 1958, the Army Ballistic Missile Agency launched Explorer 1, which became America's first satellite.

July 29, 1958: National Aeronautics and Space Act Signed

On July 29, 1958, NASA was established with the signing of the National Aeronautics and Space Act, splitting the United States's military and civil spaceflight programs.

October 1, 1958: NASA Begins Operations

On October 1, 1958, NASA officially began its operations.

1958: NASA Established

In 1958, NASA was established, succeeding the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). This gave the American space development effort a distinct civilian orientation, emphasizing peaceful applications in space science.

1958: NASA's Mission Built on Earth Science Study

In 1958, NASA's mission built into the 1958 National Aeronautics and Space Act included Earth science study.

1959: NASA Sounding Rocket Program (NSRP) in Operation

In 1959, the NASA Sounding Rocket Program (NSRP) began operations at the Wallops Flight Facility, providing launch capability, payload development and integration, and field operations support for suborbital missions.

1960: Launch of Television Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS)

In 1960, NASA launched the Television Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS), the first weather satellite, to study Earth. NASA cooperated with the United States Weather Bureau on future TIROS missions.

May 5, 1961: Alan Shepard's Suborbital Spaceflight

On May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American to enter space, performing a suborbital spaceflight in the Freedom 7 spacecraft.

May 25, 1961: Kennedy's "Urgent National Needs" Speech

On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy declared the goal of landing an American on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth by the end of the 1960s in his "Urgent National Needs" speech to the United States Congress.

February 20, 1962: John Glenn's Orbital Spaceflight

On February 20, 1962, John Glenn conducted NASA's first orbital spaceflight in the Friendship 7 spacecraft, making three full orbits before reentering.

September 12, 1962: Kennedy's "We choose to go to the Moon" Speech

On September 12, 1962, President Kennedy gave his "We choose to go to the Moon" speech at Rice University, reinforcing public support for the Apollo program.

May 1963: Gordon Cooper's Mercury Mission

In May 1963, Gordon Cooper flew the sixth and final Mercury mission in the Faith 7 spacecraft, performing 22 orbits over 34 hours.

1964: Protecting NASA's Budget

Despite attacks from former president Dwight Eisenhower and 1964 presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, President Kennedy protected NASA's growing budget, of which 50% went directly to human spaceflight.

1967: Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) Formation

In 1967, following the Apollo 1 accident, Congress directed NASA to create the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) to advise the NASA Administrator on safety issues.

1968: Apollo program missions

Between 1968 and 1972, NASA led the Apollo program missions. This included the Apollo 8 mission, the first crewed spacecraft to leave low Earth orbit and reach the Moon.

1968: Apollo 8 Reaches the Moon

In 1968, the Apollo 8 mission became the first crewed spacecraft to leave low Earth orbit and the first human spaceflight to reach the Moon. The crew orbited the Moon ten times on December 24 and 25 and then returned safely to Earth.

1969: Apollo 11 Landing on the Moon

In 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the Moon using a mix of United States customary units and metric units.

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1969: Johnson Space Center designated lead for Space Shuttle

In 1969, NASA designated the Johnson Space Center as the lead center for the design, development, and manufacturing of the Space Shuttle orbiter, while the Marshall Space Flight Center would lead the development of the launch system.

1969: Influence on American popular culture

Since the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, NASA has maintained an influence on American popular culture, and has been a subject of numerous major films.

1971: Space Program Advisory Council Establishment

By 1971, NASA had established the Space Program Advisory Council to provide the administrator with advisory committee support.

July 23, 1972: Launch of Earth Resources Technology Satellite

On July 23, 1972, the Earth Resources Technology Satellite was launched as part of the Landsat program.

1972: Apollo program missions

Between 1968 and 1972, NASA led the Apollo program missions. This included the Apollo 17 mission that concluded the Apollo program.

1972: Launch of Landsat

In 1972, NASA launched its first dedicated Earth observation satellite, Landsat. This satellite led to NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration jointly developing the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite and discovering Ozone depletion.

1972: Apollo 17 Concludes the Program

In 1972, NASA would conduct six total lunar landings as part of the Apollo program, with Apollo 17 concluding the program.

1972: Official development of the Space Shuttle begins

In 1972, official development of the Space Shuttle began, with Rockwell International contracted to design the orbiter and engines, Martin Marietta for the external fuel tank, and Morton Thiokol for the solid rocket boosters.

1973: Skylab Launched

In 1973, following the end of the Apollo lunar missions, NASA launched its first space station, Skylab, on the final launch of the Saturn V rocket.

1974: Skylab Hosted Nine Missions

In 1974, Skylab hosted nine missions.

1975: Mariner 5 Launched to Mars

In 1975, Mariner 5 was the first NASA spacecraft to flyby Mars.

1975: Apollo-Soyuz Mission

In 1975, the Apollo–Soyuz mission, the first ever international spaceflight and a major diplomatic accomplishment between the Cold War rivals, also marked the last flight of the Apollo capsule.

1975: Earth Resources Technology Satellite Renamed Landsat 1

In 1975, the Earth Resources Technology Satellite was renamed to Landsat 1.

1976: Viking Program Landings on Mars

In 1976, the Viking program consisted of two landings on Mars.

1977: NASA Advisory Council (NAC) Formation

In 1977, the Space Program Advisory Council and the Research and Technology Advisory Council were combined to form the NASA Advisory Council (NAC).

1977: Voyager Program Launched

In 1977, the Voyager program was launched, conducting flybys of Jupiter and Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus on a trajectory to leave the Solar System.

1979: NASA contemplates space station after Skylab

In 1979, after Skylab's reentry, NASA never gave up on the idea of a space station. The agency began lobbying politicians to support building a larger space station.

1979: Skylab Decommissioned

In 1979, the Skylab space station was decommissioned and deorbited.

1981: First Space Shuttle flight

In 1981, the first Space Shuttle flight occurred, with the Columbia launching on the STS-1 mission. It was designed to serve as a flight test for the new spaceplane. NASA intended for the Space Shuttle to replace expendable launch systems like the Air Force's Atlas, Delta, and Titan and the European Space Agency's Ariane.

1984: President Reagan supports building a larger space station

In 1984, NASA found a strong advocate in President Ronald Reagan, who supported the construction of a larger space station, selling it as an orbital laboratory, repair station, and a jumping off point for lunar and Mars missions.

1984: First on-orbit satellite servicing mission

In 1984, during the STS-41-C mission, the Challenger captured and repaired the malfunctioning Solar Maximum Mission satellite. NASA also had the capability to return malfunctioning satellites to Earth, like it did with the Palapa B2 and Westar 6 satellites. Once returned to Earth, the satellites were repaired and relaunched.

1985: NASA proposes Space Station Freedom

In 1985, NASA proposed the Space Station Freedom, which both the agency and President Reagan intended to be an international program. Ultimately, an international agreement to develop the Space Station Freedom program would be signed with thirteen countries.

1986: Challenger disaster

In 1986, the Challenger disaster on the STS-51L mission resulted in the loss of the spacecraft and all seven astronauts on launch, grounding the entire space shuttle fleet for 36 months and forced the 44 commercial companies that contracted with NASA to deploy their satellites to return to expendable launch vehicles.

1990: Hubble Space Telescope Launched

In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched on STS-31 from the Discovery spacecraft.

1990: NASA's Launch Services Program (LSP) Implemented

Since 1990, NASA's Launch Services Program (LSP) has purchased expendable launch vehicle launch services directly from commercial providers for its scientific and applications missions, operating from Kennedy Space Center.

1991: Compton Gamma Ray Observatory Launched

In 1991, the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory was launched from the Atlantis spacecraft on STS-37, discovering a possible source of antimatter at the center of the Milky Way.

1992: Cancellation of the Rockwell X-30 National Aerospace Plane

In 1992, the Rockwell X-30 National Aerospace Plane program was canceled before reaching flight status due to the end of the Cold War.

1992: Redesigns of Space Station Freedom to reduce cost

In the early 1990s, including 1992, several redesigns of the Space Station Freedom were conducted to reduce cost, stripping away much of its functions.

September 1993: Cooperation on the International Space Station

NASA and Roscosmos have cooperated on the development and operation of the International Space Station since September 1993.

1993: President Clinton directs Space Station Freedom costs be significantly reduced

In 1993, President Bill Clinton attempted to significantly reduce NASA's budget and directed costs be significantly reduced for Space Station Freedom.

1993: Merger of space station projects into ISS

In 1993, US budget constraints led to the merger of NASA's Space Station Freedom project with the Russian Mir-2 station, the European Columbus station, and the Japanese Kibō laboratory module into a single multi-national program known as the International Space Station (ISS).

1993: Space Station Freedom becomes International Space Station

In 1993, the Clinton Administration announced that the Space Station Freedom would become the International Space Station in an agreement with the Russian Federation, allowing the Russians to maintain their space program.

1994: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC) Founded

In 1994, the Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC) was founded in Palisades, NY, focusing on archiving and distributing data related to human interactions in the environment.

1994: First Russian cosmonaut flies on STS-60 mission

In 1994, the first Russian cosmonaut flew on the STS-60 mission, marking a significant step in international cooperation following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

1996: Return to Mars Exploration

In 1996, NASA returned to Mars exploration with the launch of the Mars Global Surveyor orbiter and Mars Pathfinder, which deployed the first Mars rover, Sojourner.

1998: Spaceguard Initiated

In 1998, cooperative actions between the United States, the European Union, and other nations to scan the sky for NEOs began as part of an effort called Spaceguard.

1998: US Congress Mandates NASA to Detect Near-Earth Asteroids

In 1998, the United States Congress gave NASA a mandate to detect 90% of near-Earth asteroids over 1 km in diameter by 2008.

1998: On-orbit assembly of the ISS begins

In 1998, the on-orbit assembly of the International Space Station began, with components manufactured in various factories around the world and launched by Russian Proton and Soyuz rockets, and the American Space Shuttle.

1998: End of Shuttle-Mir program

The Shuttle-Mir program came to an end in 1998, following a series of orbital accidents on the space station. This concluded a period of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the United States in space.

September 23, 1999: Loss of Mars Climate Orbiter Due to Unit Mixup

On September 23, 1999, a mixup between NASA's use of SI units and Lockheed Martin Space's use of US units resulted in the loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter.

1999: NASA Visits 433 Eros with NEAR Shoemaker Spacecraft

In 1999, NASA visited 433 Eros with the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft, which entered its orbit in 2000 to closely image the asteroid with various instruments.

1999: Chandra X-ray Observatory Launched

In 1999, the Chandra X-ray Observatory was launched from the Columbia spacecraft on STS-93, observing black holes, quasars, supernova, and dark matter.

2000: NEAR Shoemaker Enters Orbit Around 433 Eros

In 2000, the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft entered its orbit around the asteroid 433 Eros and became the first spacecraft to successfully orbit and land on an asteroid.

2001: Cancellation of the VentureStar spaceplane

Due to technical challenges, the VentureStar spaceplane was cancelled in 2001. Despite this, it was the first time a commercial space company directly expended a significant amount of its resources into spacecraft development.

2001: Mars Odyssey Orbiter Reaches Mars

In 2001, the 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter reached the planet Mars.

May 8, 2003: NASA Recognized for Landfill Gas Use

On May 8, 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency recognized NASA as the first federal agency to directly use landfill gas to produce energy at one of its facilities - the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.

2003: NASA relies on Russian Soyuz launches

Following the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003, NASA was forced to rely on Russian Soyuz launches for its astronauts.

2003: Start of Constellation program

Following the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003, President Bush started the Constellation program to replace the Space Shuttle and expand space exploration beyond low Earth orbit.

2003: Columbia disaster

In 2003, the Columbia space shuttle was destroyed upon reentry during the STS-107 mission, resulting in the loss of the spacecraft and all seven astronauts. This accident marked the beginning of the end for the Space Shuttle program.

2003: Spitzer Space Telescope Launched

In 2003, the Spitzer Space Telescope was launched from a Delta II rocket. It discovered the existence of brown dwarf stars.

November 2004: Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory Launch

In November 2004, the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a gamma-ray burst observatory, was launched. The mission is a joint partnership between Goddard Space Flight Center and an international consortium, operated by Pennsylvania State University as part of NASA's Medium Explorer program.

2004: MESSENGER Probe to Mercury

In 2004, NASA also launched missions to Mercury, with the MESSENGER probe demonstrating as the first use of a solar sail.

2004: Spirit and Opportunity Rovers Land on Mars

In 2004, the Spirit and Opportunity rovers landed on the planet Mars.

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2005: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Launched

In 2005, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was launched.

2005: George E. Brown, Jr. Near-Earth Object Survey Act

In 2005, the original USA Spaceguard mandate was extended by the George E. Brown, Jr. Near-Earth Object Survey Act, which calls for NASA to detect 90% of NEOs with diameters of 140 m or greater by 2020.

2005: NASAcast Created

NASAcast, the official audio and video podcast of the NASA website, was created in late 2005.

2006: NASA and Air Force Space Command sign agreement

In 2006, NASA and Air Force Space Command signed a similar document that was later replaced by the agreement signed in September 2020.

2006: New Horizons Mission Launched

In 2006, the New Horizons mission was launched to visit Pluto and the Kuiper belt.

2006: Space Shuttle returns to flight

In 2006, the Space Shuttle returned to flight after the Columbia disaster, conducting several missions to service the Hubble Space Telescope.

March 18, 2007: NASA EDGE Video Podcast Release

On March 18, 2007, NASA released the NASA EDGE video podcast, which explores various NASA missions, technologies, and projects.

August 2007: NASA to Use SI System for Moon Missions

In August 2007, NASA stated that all future missions and explorations of the Moon would be done entirely using the SI system.

2007: Modernization of the United States National Airspace System (NAS) Begins

In 2007, collaborative efforts began between NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration, and industry stakeholders to modernize the United States National Airspace System (NAS), aiming for major improvements by 2025.

2007: Phoenix Mars Lander

In 2007, the Phoenix Mars lander was launched.

June 2008: Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope Launch

In June 2008, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (FGST) was launched into low Earth orbit for gamma-ray astronomy observations. The mission involves NASA, the United States Department of Energy, and government agencies from several other countries.

2008: Original Deadline for Detecting 90% of Large Near-Earth Asteroids

The original deadline set by Congress in 1998 for NASA to detect 90% of near-Earth asteroids over 1 km in diameter was 2008.

May 2009: ISS Expedition crew size increased to six

Between May 2009 and until the retirement of the Space Shuttle, the International Space Station (ISS) expedition crew size was six crew members.

2009: Kepler Space Telescope Launched

In 2009, the Kepler space telescope was launched to identify planets orbiting extrasolar stars that may be Terran and possibly harbor life.

2009: WISE Mission Launched by NASA JPL

In 2009, the WISE mission was launched by NASA JPL as an infrared-wavelength astronomical space telescope.

2009: Completion of the US Orbital Segment of ISS

In 2009, the completion of the US Orbital Segment of the International Space Station occurred.

2010: Exploration Sciences Building Awarded LEED Gold Rating

In 2010, the Exploration Sciences Building was awarded the LEED Gold rating.

2010: Completion of the Russian Orbital Segment of ISS

In 2010, the completion of the Russian Orbital Segment of the International Space Station occurred.

2011: NASA Meets Initial Asteroid Detection Mandate

By 2011, NASA had met the initial mandate given by the United States Congress in 1998 to detect 90% of near-Earth asteroids over 1 km in diameter.

2011: NASA Addresses Environmental Concerns with Constellation Program

In 2011, NASA addressed environmental concerns with its canceled Constellation program in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

2011: Russia Becomes Sole Provider for ISS Delivery

In 2011, Russia's unique role as the sole provider of delivery of crew and cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) upon retirement of the space shuttle prior to commencement of NASA COTS and crew flights.

2011: Retirement of the Space Shuttle program

In 2011, the Space Shuttle program was retired following the STS-135 resupply mission to the International Space Station.

2011: Wolf Amendment Passed

In 2011, the Wolf Amendment was passed by the US Congress into law. It prevents NASA from engaging in direct, bilateral cooperation with the Chinese government and China-affiliated organizations.

2011: Retirement of Space Shuttle accelerates ISS completion

In 2011, the retirement of the Space Shuttle accelerated the completion of the International Space Station.

2011: Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) Program Started

Since 2011, the ELaNa program has provided opportunities for NASA to work with university teams to test emerging technologies and commercial-off-the-shelf solutions.

2012: Curiosity Discovers Radiation Levels and Chemical Ingredients on Mars

In 2012, the landing of Curiosity discovered that the radiation levels on Mars were equal to those on the International Space Station and observed the key chemical ingredients for life to occur.

2013: WISE Repurposed as NEOWISE Mission

In 2013, NASA repurposed the WISE mission as the NEOWISE mission to find potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids and comets.

2013: Chelyabinsk meteor

In 2013, The 20-meter Chelyabinsk meteor hit Russia.

2013: MAVEN Mission Observes Martian Atmosphere

In 2013, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission observed the Martian upper atmosphere and space environment.

September 2014: NASA and ISRO Sign Partnership for NISAR Mission

In September 2014, NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed a partnership to collaborate on and launch a joint radar mission, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperature Radar (NISAR) mission.

2014: Cubes in Space Competition Started

In 2014, NASA started an annual competition named "Cubes in Space". It is jointly organized by NASA and the global education company I Doodle Learning.

2014: Launch of the NASA-JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement mission

In 2014, the NASA-JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement mission was launched. The mission provides the frequent, accurate measurements of rainfall over the entire globe for use by scientists and weather forecasters.

2014: US Liquid Fuel Consumption

In 2014, the United States consumed 803 million US gallons of liquid fuels per day.

2014: Importance of ASAP Reaffirmed

The NASA Authorization Act of 2014 reaffirmed the importance of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP).

2016: Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) Established

In 2016, NASA established the Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) to catalog and track potentially hazardous near-Earth objects and develop defenses against these threats.

June 21, 2017: Launch of the World's Smallest Satellite, KalamSAT

On June 21, 2017, the world's smallest satellite, KalamSAT, was launched.

2018: CAUTION Project Launched

In 2018, NASA along with other companies including Sensor Coating Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Monitor Coating and UTRC launched the project CAUTION (CoAtings for Ultra High Temperature detectION).

2018: InSight Studies Martian Interior

In 2018, the Interior exploration using Seismic Investigations Geodesy, and Heat Transport (InSight) studied the Martian interior.

2019: NASA announces the Artemis program

In 2019, NASA announced the Artemis program, intending to return to the Moon and establish a permanent human presence. This was paired with the Artemis Accords with partner nations to establish rules of behavior and norms of space commercialization on the Moon.

January 2020: NASA Estimates 30 Years to Find All NEOs

In January 2020, NASA officials estimated it would take 30 years to find all NEOs meeting the 140 m size criteria, more than twice the timeframe that was built into the 2005 mandate.

January 2020: Less Than Half of NEOs Detected

As of January 2020, it was estimated that less than half of NEOs with diameters of 140 m or greater have been found, according to the George E. Brown, Jr. Near-Earth Object Survey Act.

July 29, 2020: NASA Requests Proposals for Lunar Water Extraction Technologies

On July 29, 2020, NASA requested American universities to propose new technologies for extracting water from the lunar soil and developing power systems to support sustainable exploration of the Moon.

September 2020: NASA and Space Force Sign MOU

In September 2020, NASA and the Space Force signed a memorandum of understanding formally acknowledging the joint role of both agencies.

December 18, 2020: Space Force Member Commissioned on ISS

On December 18, 2020, Colonel Michael S. Hopkins, the commander of SpaceX Crew-1, commissioned into the Space Force from the International Space Station.

2020: NASA Wins Webby People's Voice Award for Green

NASA won the 2020 Webby People's Voice Award for Green in the category Web.

June 2021: NASA Authorizes Development of NEO Surveyor Spacecraft

In June 2021, NASA authorized the development of the NEO Surveyor spacecraft to reduce the projected duration to achieve the mandate down to 10 years.

July 2021: Contract Awards for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Reactors

In July 2021, NASA announced contract awards for development of nuclear thermal propulsion reactors. Three contractors will develop individual designs over 12 months for later evaluation by NASA and the US Department of Energy.

September 27, 2021: Launch of Landsat 9

On September 27, 2021, Landsat 9, the most recent satellite in the Landsat series, was launched.

November 2021: DART Mission Launched by SpaceX Falcon 9

In November 2021, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission was launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 from California to test planetary defense concepts.

December 2021: James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Launch

In December 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was launched on an Ariane 5 rocket, operating in a halo orbit circling the Sun-Earth L2 point. Its high sensitivity and imaging resolution allow it to view more distant objects than its predecessors.

2021: James Webb Space Telescope Launched

In 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope, named after the NASA administrator who lead the Apollo program, was launched.

2021: Perseverance Rover Carries Ingenuity

In 2021, the Perseverance rover carried the first extraplanetary aircraft, a helicopter named Ingenuity.

March 2022: GOES-T Satellite Joins Weather Monitoring Fleet

In March 2022, the GOES-T satellite (designated GOES-18 after launch) joined the US geostationary weather monitoring satellites, contributing to NASA's Earth Observing Systems for studying climate change, natural hazards, forest fires, and agricultural processes.

May 13, 2022: rHEALTH ONE Tested in Space by NASA and SpaceX Crew-4

On May 13, 2022, NASA and SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts successfully tested the rHEALTH ONE universal biomedical analyzer in space to identify biomarkers, cells, microorganisms, and proteins, supporting the Human Research Program's efforts to monitor astronaut health.

June 2022: First Commercial Spaceport Rocket Launch Outside the US

In June 2022, NASA conducted its first rocket launch from a commercial spaceport outside the US. A Black Brant IX rocket was launched from the Arnhem Space Centre in Australia.

June 2022: NASA to Study UAPs

In June 2022, Thomas Zurbuchen, head of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, announced the formation of NASA's UAP independent study team to bring a scientific perspective to understanding dozens of UAP sightings.

June 2022: ELaNa 39 Mission Launched

In June 2022, two NASA-sponsored CubeSats launched on a Virgin Orbit LauncherOne vehicle as the ELaNa 39 mission.

July 2022: NASA and Roscosmos Sign Flight Sharing Deal

In July 2022, NASA and Roscosmos signed a deal to share space station flights, enabling crew from each country to ride on the systems provided by the other.

September 26, 2022: DART Successfully Impacts Dimorphos Asteroid

On September 26, 2022, the DART spacecraft successfully hit its target, the Dimorphos asteroid. The event demonstrated alteration to the subsequent path of the asteroid and confirmed shortening its orbital period around Didymos by about 32 minutes.

October 2022: Landsat Satellites Operating in Orbit

As of October 2022, nine Landsat satellites have been built, with eight of them successfully operating in orbit.

2022: X-57 Maxwell Scheduled for First Flight

In 2022, NASA's X-57 Maxwell, an experimental all-electric aircraft, was scheduled to fly before the end of the year, marking a significant milestone in the development of highly efficient electric aircraft technology.

January 2023: NASA Partners with DARPA on DRACO Program

In January 2023, NASA announced a partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program to demonstrate a NTR engine in space.

June 2023: 22 Countries Sign Artemis Accords

As of June 2023, 22 countries have signed the Artemis Accords, which define a framework for cooperating in the peaceful exploration and exploitation of the Moon, Mars, asteroids, and comets.

July 2023: NASA and DARPA Award Contract to Lockheed Martin for NTR Rocket

In July 2023, NASA and DARPA jointly announced the award of $499 million to Lockheed Martin to design and build an experimental NTR rocket to be launched in 2027.

July 2023: NASA+ Streaming Service Announcement

In July 2023, NASA announced the upcoming launch of NASA+, a free streaming service that will offer live coverage of launches, documentaries, and original programming.

November 8, 2023: NASA+ Streaming Service Launch

On November 8, 2023, NASA launched NASA+, a new streaming service offering live launch coverage, documentaries, and original programs, accessible via the NASA app on various platforms and the web.

2023: NASA establishes Moon to Mars Program office

In 2023, NASA established the Moon to Mars Program office to oversee the various projects, mission architectures and associated timelines relevant to lunar and Mars exploration and science.

2023: NEOWISE Mission Extended

In 2023, NASA extended the NEOWISE mission, which was repurposed from the WISE mission, to continue searching for potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids and comets.

December 23, 2024: NASA Center Director Data Valid

As of December 23, 2024, data regarding the directors of NASA's 10 major field centers is valid.

2024: ISS Expeditions crew size of four

As of 2024, though the Commercial Program's crew capsules can allow a crew of up to seven, expeditions using them typically consist of a crew of four.

2024: US Government Tasked NASA to create a Time standard for the Moon

In 2024, NASA was tasked by the US Government to create a Time standard for the Moon. The standard is to be called Coordinated Lunar Time and is expected to be finalized in 2026.

May 31, 2025: Withdrawal of Jared Isaacman as NASA Administrator Nominee

On May 31, 2025, the administration's original nominee of Jared Isaacman was withdrawn as NASA Administrator.

July 2025: Directive to Fast-Track Lunar Nuclear Reactor Plans

In July 2025, Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy issued a directive to fast-track plans for placing a nuclear reactor on the Moon to support the Artemis program and maintain U.S. leadership in space exploration.

July 30, 2025: Launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission was launched on July 30, 2025. This is a joint radar mission by NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

2025: Acting Administrator

As of 2025, Sean Duffy is the acting administrator of NASA.

2025: Target Year for Completion of NAS Modernization Components

The modernization effort of the United States National Airspace System (NAS) that began in 2007 has a goal to deliver major modernization components by 2025.

2026: Coordinated Lunar Time standard to be finalized

In 2026, NASA is expected to finalize a Time standard for the Moon called Coordinated Lunar Time. This task was assigned by the US Government in 2024.

2026: NEO Surveyor Spacecraft Scheduled for Launch

In 2026, the NEO Surveyor spacecraft, a space-based infrared telescope, is scheduled to launch to survey the Solar System for potentially hazardous asteroids.

2027: Experimental NTR Rocket Launch

In 2027, NASA and DARPA plan to launch an experimental NTR rocket designed and built by Lockheed Martin, following a $499 million contract awarded in July 2023.