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 It superseded the NACA and leads the nation's civil space program, focusing on aeronautics and space research with a civilian orientation. NASA has spearheaded numerous space exploration endeavors, including Project Mercury, Project Gemini, the Apollo program, Skylab, and the Space Shuttle. Currently, it supports the International Space Station (ISS), the Commercial Crew Program, and oversees the development of the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System for the Artemis lunar program.

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, recognizing that it was behind Europe in aviation capability.

1915: Establishment of NACA

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

1956: Formation of Man in Space Soonest project

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

February 1, 1958: Launch of Explorer 1

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

July 29, 1958: Establishment of NASA

On July 29, 1958, NASA was established with the signing of the National Aeronautics and Space Act.

October 1, 1958: NASA Begins Operations

On October 1, 1958, NASA began its operations.

1958: NASA Established

In 1958, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was established as an independent agency of the US federal government. NASA succeeded the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).

1958: National Aeronautics and Space Act

In 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Act established Earth science study as part of NASA's mission.

1959: NASA Sounding Rocket Program in operation

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

1960: Launch of TIROS

In 1960, the Television Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS) was launched as the first weather satellite.

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.

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

On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy openly 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, making three full orbits before reentering.

September 12, 1962: "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, hoping to reinforce 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, performing 22 orbits over 34 hours in the Faith 7.

1964: Protection of NASA's Budget

In 1964, despite attacks on the goal of landing astronauts on the Moon from former president Dwight Eisenhower and 1964 presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, President Kennedy was able to protect NASA's growing budget.

1967: Formation of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel

In 1967, in response to the Apollo 1 accident, Congress directed NASA to form an Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) to advise the NASA Administrator on safety issues and hazards in NASA's air and space programs.

1968: Apollo 8 Orbits the Moon

In 1968, Apollo 8 became the first crewed spacecraft to leave low Earth orbit and the first human spaceflight to reach the Moon, orbiting it ten times on December 24 and 25.

1968: Apollo Program

In 1968, NASA led the Apollo program missions.

1969: Apollo 11 Landed on the Moon

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

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. Meanwhile, the Marshall Space Flight Center was assigned the task of leading the development of the launch system.

1971: Establishment of Space Program Advisory Council

By 1971, NASA had also 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, which was eventually renamed to Landsat 1 in 1975.

1972: Apollo 17 Concludes the Apollo Program

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

1972: Apollo Program

In 1972, NASA led the Apollo program missions.

1972: Launch of Landsat

In 1972, NASA's first dedicated Earth observation satellite, Landsat, was launched.

1972: Official Space Shuttle development begins

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

1973: Launch of Skylab

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.

1974: Skylab hosted nine missions

In 1974, Skylab hosted nine missions.

1975: Mariner 9 launch

In 1975, Mariner 9 was the first orbital mission to Mars.

1975: Apollo–Soyuz Mission

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

1975: Renaming of Earth Resources Technology Satellite to 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: Formation of the NASA Advisory Council

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 launch

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

1979: Decommissioning of Skylab

In 1979, Skylab was decommissioned and deorbited.

1979: Skylab reentry

In 1979, after Skylab's reentry, NASA never gave up on the idea of a space station.

1981: First Space Shuttle Flight

In 1981, the first Space Shuttle flight occurred with the launch of the Columbia on the STS-1 mission. This mission served as a flight test for the new spaceplane.

1984: Reagan declares support for space station

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared his support for building a larger space station, envisioning it as an orbital laboratory, repair station, and 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. This marked the world's first on-orbit satellite servicing mission.

1985: NASA proposes Space Station Freedom

In 1985, NASA proposed the Space Station Freedom, which was intended to be an international program, to add legitimacy. An international agreement was signed with thirteen countries, including the European Space Agency member states, Canada, and Japan.

1986: Challenger disaster on STS-51L

In 1986, the Challenger disaster occurred on the STS-51L mission, resulting in the loss of the spacecraft and all seven astronauts on launch. This event grounded the entire space shuttle fleet for 36 months and forced commercial companies to return to expendable launch vehicles.

1990: Launch of the Hubble Space Telescope

In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched on STS-31 from the Discovery and could view galaxies 15 billion light years away.

1990: NASA Launch Services Program

Since 1990, the NASA Launch Services Program (LSP) has purchased expendable launch vehicle launch services directly from commercial providers for its scientific and applications missions whenever possible.

1991: Launch of the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory

In 1991, the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory was launched from the Atlantis on STS-37, discovering a possible source of antimatter at the center of the Milky Way and observing that the majority of gamma-ray bursts occur outside of the Milky Way galaxy.

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

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

1992: Space Station Freedom redesigns

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

September 1993: NASA and Roscosmos Cooperate on ISS

In September 1993, NASA and Roscosmos began cooperating on the development and operation of the International Space Station (ISS), utilizing launch systems from both countries.

1993: Clinton directs cost reduction for Space Station Freedom

In 1993, President Bill Clinton attempted to significantly reduce NASA's budget and directed that costs be significantly reduced for the 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 International Space Station (ISS) program.

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.

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 collaboration between the Russian Federation and the United States in space exploration.

1996: Launch of Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Pathfinder

In 1996, NASA launched the Mars Global Surveyor orbiter and Mars Pathfinder, deploying the first Mars rover, Sojourner.

1998: NASA mandate 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 diameter by 2008.

1998: Cooperative actions between the United States, the European Union, and other nations

The PDCO augmented prior cooperative actions between the United States, the European Union, and other nations which had been scanning the sky for NEOs since 1998 in an effort called Spaceguard.

1998: End of the Shuttle-Mir program

The Shuttle-Mir program concluded in 1998, after a series of orbital accidents on the space station, bringing an end to this phase of international collaboration in space.

1998: On-orbit assembly of the ISS begins

The on-orbit assembly of the International Space Station (ISS) began in 1998, using components manufactured worldwide and launched by Russian Proton and Soyuz rockets, and the American Space Shuttle.

September 23, 1999: Mars Climate Orbiter Lost 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 visited 433 Eros with the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft

In 1999, NASA visited 433 Eros with the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft.

1999: Launch of the Chandra X-ray Observatory

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

2000: NEAR Shoemaker entered orbit around 433 Eros

In 2000, the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft entered orbit around 433 Eros, closely imaging the asteroid with various instruments at that time.

2000: Progress spacecraft service to the ISS begins

In 2000, the Russian Progress spacecraft began providing resupply services to the International Space Station (ISS).

2001: Mars Odyssey orbiter reaches Mars

During the early 2000s, in 2001, the 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter reached the planet Mars.

2001: Cancellation of the VentureStar spaceplane program

In 2001, due to technical challenges, the VentureStar spaceplane program and its Lockheed Martin X-33 demonstrator were cancelled, despite being the first time a commercial space company invested heavily in spacecraft development.

May 8, 2003: EPA Recognizes NASA 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 the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

2003: NASA relies on Russian Soyuz launches after Columbia disaster

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

2003: Bush initiates 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. The Obama Administration later canceled this program.

2003: Columbia disaster during STS-107 mission

In 2003, the Columbia 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: Launch of the Spitzer Space Telescope

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

2004: MESSENGER probe mission to Mercury

In 2004, NASA 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 Sprit and Opportunity rovers landed on the Red Planet.

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2005: NEO mandate set in 2005

In 2005, a mandate was set to detect 90% of NEOs with diameters of 140 m or greater.

2005: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter launch

In 2005, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was launched.

2005: Extension of USA Spaceguard mandate

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

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

2006: Signing of MOU between NASA and Air Force Space Command

In 2006, NASA and Air Force Space Command signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which was replaced by a new MOU with the Space Force in September 2020.

2006: New Horizons mission launch

In 2006, the New Horizons mission was launched as the first spacecraft 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, undertaking missions to service the Hubble Space Telescope before its eventual retirement.

March 18, 2007: NASA EDGE Released

On March 18, 2007, NASA released NASA EDGE, a video podcast exploring NASA missions, technologies, and projects.

August 2007: NASA to Use SI System for Moon Missions

In August 2007, NASA announced that all future missions and explorations of the Moon would be done entirely using the SI system to improve cooperation with international space agencies.

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

In 2007, NASA began collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration and industry stakeholders to modernize the United States National Airspace System (NAS).

2007: Phoenix Mars Lander launch

In 2007, the Phoenix Mars lander was launched.

2008: Original NASA mandate deadline

By 2008, NASA had a mandate from the US Congress to detect 90% of near-Earth asteroids over 1 km (0.62 mi) diameter.

2008: Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) service to the ISS begins

In 2008, the European Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) began providing service to the International Space Station (ISS).

May 2009: ISS Expedition crew size increase

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

December 2009: NASA EDGE Downloads Exceed One Million

In December 2009, NASA EDGE downloads exceeded one million.

2009: H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) service to the ISS begins

In 2009, the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) began providing service to the International Space Station (ISS).

2009: Launch of the Kepler Space Telescope

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

2009: Completion of the US Orbital Segment of the ISS

In 2009, the US Orbital Segment of the International Space Station (ISS) was completed, marking a significant milestone in the station's construction.

2009: WISE/NEOWISE mission launched

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

January 2010: NASA EDGE Downloads Exceed One Million

In January 2010, NASA EDGE downloads exceeded one million.

February 2010: NASA EDGE Download Rate

As of February 2010, the NASA EDGE video podcast had an average download rate of more than 420,000 per month.

2010: Exploration Sciences Building Awarded LEED Gold Rating

In 2010, NASA's Exploration Sciences Building was awarded the LEED Gold rating for its sustainable design and construction.

2010: Completion of the Russian Orbital Segment of the ISS

In 2010, the Russian Orbital Segment of the International Space Station (ISS) was completed, signifying the full operational capability of the Russian contribution to the station.

2011: Space Shuttle retirement affects crew transport to the ISS

Between the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011 and the commencement of crewed Dragon flights, American astronauts exclusively used the Soyuz for crew transport to and from the International Space Station (ISS).

2011: Initial mandate met by 2011

By 2011, NASA had met its initial mandate from the US Congress to detect 90% of near-Earth asteroids over 1 km diameter.

2011: NASA Addresses Environmental Concerns with Constellation Program

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

2011: Space Shuttle program retired

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

2011: Retirement of the Space Shuttle

In 2011, the Space Shuttle was retired. This made Russia the sole provider of delivery of crew and cargo to the International Space Station until the commencement of NASA COTS and crew flights.

2011: Wolf Amendment Passed

In 2011, the Wolf Amendment was passed by the US Congress, restricting NASA from direct, bilateral cooperation with the Chinese government and China-affiliated organizations without explicit authorization.

2011: Retirement of the Space Shuttle accelerates ISS completion

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

2011: ELaNa Program Established

Since 2011, the Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) program has provided launch opportunities for university-developed CubeSats to test emerging technologies.

2012: (Uncrewed) Dragon service to the ISS begins

In 2012, the (uncrewed) Dragon spacecraft began providing service to the International Space Station (ISS).

2012: Curiosity Rover Discovers Radiation Levels on Mars

In 2012, the Curiosity rover discovered that the radiation levels on Mars were equal to those on the International Space Station.

2013: NEOWISE mission repurposed

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

2013: Chelyabinsk meteor event

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

2013: Cygnus spacecraft service to the ISS begins

In 2013, the American Cygnus spacecraft began providing service to the International Space Station (ISS).

2013: MAVEN Mission observes the 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 Partner for NISAR Mission

In September 2014, NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) partnered to collaborate on and launch the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, targeting launch in 2024.

2014: NASA-JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement Mission Launched

In 2014, NASA and JAXA launched the Global Precipitation Measurement mission. The mission includes both NASA- and JAXA-supplied sensors on a NASA satellite launched on a JAXA rocket. The mission provides frequent, accurate rainfall measurements worldwide.

2014: Cubes in Space Competition Started

In 2014, NASA started the annual "Cubes in Space" competition, organized with I Doodle Learning, to teach students to design and build experiments for space launch.

2014: Reaffirmation of ASAP importance

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

2014: US Liquid Fuel Consumption

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

2016: Planetary Defense Coordination Office established

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

June 21, 2017: KalamSAT Launched

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

2018: CAUTION Project Launched

In 2018, NASA and other companies launched the CAUTION (CoAtings for Ultra High Temperature detectION) project to enhance the temperature range of Thermal History Coating for jet engines.

2018: InSight studied the Martian interior

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

2019: Artemis program announced

In 2019, NASA announced the Artemis program, aiming to return to the Moon and establish a permanent human presence, along with the Artemis Accords to establish norms for space commercialization.

January 2020: Estimated timeframe for finding all NEOs

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

January 2020: Status of NEO detection

As of January 2020, it is estimated that less than half of NEOs with diameters of 140 m or greater had been found, but objects of this size hit the Earth only about once in 2,000 years.

July 29, 2020: NASA request 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 help the space agency conduct sustainable exploration of the Moon.

August 2020: 200 NASA EDGE Vodcasts Produced

As of August 2020, the NASA EDGE video podcast had produced 200 vodcasts, exploring various NASA missions, technologies, and projects.

September 2020: Space Force and NASA signed memorandum of understanding

In September 2020, the Space Force and NASA signed a memorandum of understanding formally acknowledging the joint role of both agencies. This new memorandum replaced a similar document signed in 2006 between NASA and Air Force Space Command.

December 18, 2020: Colonel Michael S. Hopkins commissioned into the Space Force

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

2020: Commencement of crewed Dragon flights to the ISS

In 2020, crewed Dragon flights commenced, providing another means of crew transport to and from the International Space Station (ISS).

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: NEO Surveyor spacecraft development authorized

In June 2021, NASA authorized the development of the NEO Surveyor spacecraft to reduce that 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 the 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 program series, was launched as a joint NASA/USGS program.

November 2021: DART launched by SpaceX Falcon 9

In November 2021, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 from California on a trajectory designed to impact the Dimorphos asteroid.

2021: Launch of the James Webb Space Telescope

In 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope, an infrared observatory, was launched as a direct successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, intended to observe the formation of the first galaxies.

2021: Perseverance rover Carries Ingenuity Helicopter

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

May 13, 2022: rHEALTH ONE universal biomedical analyzer tested in space

On May 13, 2022, NASA and SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts successfully tested the rHEALTH ONE universal biomedical analyzer for its ability to identify and analyze biomarkers, cells, microorganisms, and proteins in a spaceflight environment.

June 2022: First NASA rocket launch from commercial spaceport outside US

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

June 2022: NASA's UAP independent study team confirmed

In June 2022, the head of the NASA Science Mission Directorate, Thomas Zurbuchen, confirmed the start of NASA's UAP independent study team, bringing a scientific perspective to efforts to make sense of dozens of such sightings.

June 2022: ELaNa 39 Mission Launches CubeSats

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

July 2022: NASA and Roscosmos Share Space Station Flights

In July 2022, NASA and Roscosmos signed an agreement to share space station flights, allowing crew members from each country to travel on the other's systems.

September 2022: 21 Countries Sign Artemis Accords

As of September 2022, 21 countries have signed the Artemis Accords, which define a framework for cooperation in the peaceful exploration of the Moon, Mars, asteroids, and comets.

September 26, 2022: DART hits its target

On September 26, 2022, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) hit its target, the Dimorphos asteroid.

October 2022: Landsat Satellites: A Unique Resource for Global Change Research

As of October 2022, nine Landsat satellites have been built, with eight successfully operating in orbit, providing a unique resource for global change research and various applications.

2022: X-57 Maxwell experimental aircraft development

In 2022, NASA's X-57 Maxwell experimental aircraft completed ground testing, with its first flights scheduled before the end of the year. The goal is to demonstrate technologies for an efficient all-electric aircraft.

January 2023: Partnership 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, an enabling capability for NASA missions to Mars.

July 2023: Award 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 Announces NASA+ Streaming Service

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

November 8, 2023: NASA+ Streaming Service Launched

On November 8, 2023, NASA launched NASA+, a new streaming service featuring live coverage of launches, documentaries, and original programs, available on various platforms without ads or subscription fees.

2023: NASA establishes Moon to Mars Program office

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

2023: NEOWISE mission extended into 2023

In 2023, the NEOWISE mission's operations were extended to continue the search for near-Earth asteroids and comets.

December 23, 2024: Center Director Data Valid

As of December 23, 2024, the data pertaining to the directors of NASA's 10 major field centers and their subordinate facilities is valid.

2024: ISS Expeditions with four crew members

As of 2024, while the Commercial Program's crew capsules can accommodate up to seven crew members, expeditions to the International Space Station (ISS) typically consist of a crew of four.

2024: Tasked 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, called Coordinated Lunar Time.

2024: NISAR Mission Targeted Launch

In 2024, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission is targeted to launch as a collaborative effort between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

January 20, 2025: Janet Petro Appointed Acting NASA Administrator

On January 20, 2025, Janet Petro was appointed as acting administrator of NASA by President Donald Trump.

2025: ISS is the largest artificial satellite in Earth orbit

As of 2025, the International Space Station (ISS) is the largest artificial satellite in Earth orbit, surpassing any previous space station in mass and volume and is visible from earth.

2025: Goal to deliver major modernization components by 2025

By 2025, the goal is to deliver major modernization components to increase the safety, efficiency, capacity, access, flexibility, predictability, and resilience of the NAS while reducing the environmental impact of aviation.

2026: NEO Surveyor spacecraft launch scheduled

In 2026, the NEO Surveyor spacecraft is scheduled to launch to survey the Solar System for potentially hazardous asteroids.

2026: Finalization of Coordinated Lunar Time expected in 2026

In 2026, the Time standard for the Moon, called Coordinated Lunar Time, is expected to be finalized.

2027: Experimental NTR rocket launch

In 2027, Lockheed Martin is expected to launch the experimental NTR rocket designed and built under contract with NASA and DARPA.

2030: ISS program expected to continue until 2030

The International Space Station (ISS) program is expected to continue until 2030, after which the space station will be retired and destroyed in a controlled de-orbit.