Full History Of NASA In Timeline From 1914

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, due to the US being far 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: Air Force's Man in Space Soonest Project formed

In 1956, the Air Force's Man in Space Soonest project was formed, coupled with the Army's Project Adam, 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, America's first satellite.

July 29, 1958: National Aeronautics and Space Act Signed

On July 29, 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Act was signed, establishing NASA.

October 1, 1958: NASA Begins Operations

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

1958: NASA Established

In 1958, NASA was established as an independent agency of the US federal government. It replaced the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) to lead the nation's civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.

1958: NASA's Earth science study

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

1959: NASA Sounding Rocket Program begins

The NASA Sounding Rocket Program (NSRP) has been in operation since 1959 and is managed by the Goddard Space Flight Center.

1960: TIROS Launched

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 in the Faith 7, performing 22 orbits over 34 hours.

1964: Apollo program budget was protected.

In 1964, President Kennedy was able to protect NASA's growing budget, of which 50% went directly to human spaceflight and it was later estimated that, at its height, 5% of Americans worked on some aspect of the Apollo program.

1967: Congress Directs NASA to Form ASAP

In response to the Apollo 1 accident, which killed three astronauts in 1967, Congress directed NASA to form an Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) to advise the NASA Administrator on safety issues.

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. The crew orbited the Moon ten times on December 24 and 25, and then traveled safely back to Earth.

1968: Apollo Moon Landing Missions Began

In 1968, NASA led the Apollo Moon landing missions as part of America's space exploration programs. The Apollo program was designed to land humans on the Moon and return them 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.

1969: Johnson Space Center designated lead center 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.

1971: NASA Establishes Space Program Advisory Council and Research and Technology Advisory Council

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

July 23, 1972: Launch of Earth Resources Technology Satellite (Landsat 1)

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

1972: Apollo Program Concludes

In 1972, NASA concluded the Apollo program with the Apollo 17 mission, marking the sixth and final lunar landing.

1972: Apollo Moon Landing Missions Continued

In 1972, NASA continued the Apollo Moon landing missions as part of America's space exploration programs. The Apollo program was designed to land humans on the Moon and return them safely to Earth.

1972: Landsat Launched

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

1972: Official Development of the Space Shuttle Began

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

1974: Skylab hosted nine missions

In 1974, Skylab hosted nine missions before being decommissioned.

1975: Mariner 5 First Flyby Mars

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

1975: Apollo–Soyuz Mission

In 1975, the Apollo–Soyuz mission was flown, marking the first international spaceflight and a major diplomatic accomplishment between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, which also marked the last flight of the Apollo capsule.

1975: Earth Resources Technology Satellite Renamed Landsat 1

The Earth Resources Technology Satellite was launched on July 23, 1972, and was eventually renamed to Landsat 1 in 1975.

1976: Viking Program Landings on Mars

In 1976, the Viking program achieved two landings on Mars.

1977: Formation of NASA Advisory Council (NAC)

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: Skylab Decommissioned

In 1979, Skylab was decommissioned and deorbited, two years prior to the first launch of the Space Shuttle.

1979: NASA Begins Lobbying for a Space Station

In 1979, after Skylab's reentry, NASA began lobbying politicians to support building a larger space station, envisioning it as an orbital laboratory, repair station, and a jumping-off point for lunar and Mars missions.

1981: First Space Shuttle Flight

In 1981, the Space Shuttle Columbia launched on the STS-1 mission, the first Space Shuttle flight, designed as a flight test for the new spaceplane. NASA intended for the Space Shuttle to replace expendable launch systems, and its Spacelab payload, developed by the European Space Agency, increased scientific capabilities.

1984: President Reagan Supports Space Station

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan voiced support for building a space station, becoming a strong advocate for NASA's plans.

1984: First On-Orbit Satellite Servicing Mission

In 1984, the STS-41-C mission conducted the world's first on-orbit satellite servicing mission. During the mission, the Challenger captured and repaired the malfunctioning Solar Maximum Mission satellite, demonstrating the Space Shuttle's capabilities. The Shuttle also returned malfunctioning satellites to Earth for repair and relaunch.

1985: Space Station Freedom Proposed

In 1985, NASA proposed the Space Station Freedom, intended as an international program. An international agreement was signed with thirteen countries, including European Space Agency member states, Canada, and Japan, despite internal concerns about diluting NASA's authority and sharing sensitive technologies.

1986: Challenger Disaster

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 tragic event grounded the space shuttle fleet for 36 months and forced commercial companies to return to expendable launch vehicles.

1990: Hubble Space Telescope delivered to orbit

In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was delivered to orbit.

1990: Hubble Space Telescope Launched

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 purchases launch services from commercial providers

Since 1990, NASA has purchased expendable launch vehicle launch services directly from commercial providers, whenever possible, for its scientific and applications missions.

1991: Compton Gamma Ray Observatory Launched

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.

1992: X-30 National Aerospace Plane Canceled

In 1992, the Rockwell X-30 National Aerospace Plane program was canceled before reaching flight status due to the end of the Cold War. NASA realized that the Space Shuttle would not be able to live up to all its promises and developed the joint program with the Department of Defense to build the single-stage-to-orbit spaceplane X-30, which had both civil and military applications.

1992: Space Station Freedom Redesigns

In the early 1990s, including 1992, several redesigns were conducted on the Space Station Freedom to reduce costs, stripping away many of its functions. Despite calls for Congress to terminate the program, it continued due to the 75,000 jobs it had created.

September 1993: NASA and Roscosmos Cooperate on ISS Development and Operation

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

1993: Clinton Attempts to Reduce NASA's Budget

In 1993, President Bill Clinton attempted to significantly reduce NASA's budget, directing that costs be reduced while preserving aerospace industry jobs and including the Russians in the project.

1993: Merger of Space Station Projects

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, managed by NASA, the Russian Federal Space Agency (RKA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

1993: International Space Station Agreement

In 1993, the Clinton Administration announced that 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: First Russian Cosmonaut Flies on Space Shuttle

In 1994, the first Russian cosmonaut flew on the STS-60 mission, marking an important milestone in US-Russian space cooperation following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the beginning of the Shuttle-Mir program.

1996: Mars Global Surveyor and Pathfinder Launched

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

1998: End of Shuttle-Mir Program

In 1998, the Shuttle-Mir program concluded after a series of orbital accidents on the Mir space station. The program, which involved docking the Space Shuttle with the Russian Mir, transferring supplies and personnel, was a significant collaboration between the United States and Russia.

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 diameter by 2008.

1998: On-Orbit Assembly of the ISS Begins

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

1998: Spaceguard Cooperation for Scanning NEOs

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

July 1999: Chandra X-ray Observatory launched

In July 1999, the Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO) was launched by STS-93 into a 64-hour elliptical orbit to study X-ray sources.

September 23, 1999: Mars Climate Orbiter lost due to unit mixup

On September 23, 1999, the Mars Climate Orbiter was lost due to a mixup between NASA's use of SI units and Lockheed Martin Space's use of US units.

1999: NASA Visits 433 Eros

In 1999, NASA visited 433 Eros with the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft which entered its orbit in 2000, closely imaging the asteroid with various instruments at that time.

1999: Chandra X-ray Observatory Launched

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

2000: Russian Progress Spacecraft ISS Service

Since 2000, the Russian Progress spacecraft is used to send astronauts to and from the ISS.

2000: NEAR Shoemaker Enters Orbit of 433 Eros

The NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft entered the orbit of 433 Eros in 2000. NEAR Shoemaker became the first spacecraft to successfully orbit and land on an asteroid, improving our understanding of these bodies and demonstrating our capacity to study them in greater detail.

2001: Mars Odyssey Orbiter Reached Planet

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

2001: VentureStar Spaceplane Cancelled

In 2001, the Lockheed Martin X-33 demonstrator of the VentureStar spaceplane was canceled due to technical challenges. The X-33 program was an agreement between NASA and Lockheed Martin intended to replace the Space Shuttle.

May 8, 2003: EPA recognizes NASA's use of landfill gas

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: Reliance on Russian Soyuz Launches

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

2003: Constellation Program Started

Following the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003, President Bush initiated the Constellation program to replace the Space Shuttle and expand space exploration beyond low Earth orbit. The Constellation program aimed to use former Space Shuttle equipment and return astronauts to the Moon.

2003: Columbia Disaster

In 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia was destroyed upon reentry during the STS-107 mission, resulting in the loss of the spacecraft and all seven astronauts. This tragic accident accelerated the retirement of the Space Shuttle program.

2003: Spitzer Space Telescope Launched

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

November 2004: Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory launched

The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory was launched in November 2004 to monitor gamma-ray bursts and their afterglow.

2004: MESSENGER probe launched

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 Landed on Mars

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

2005: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Launched

In 2005, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was launched.

2005: The 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: Original Mandate was extended

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.

2005: NASAcast created

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

2006: New Horizons Mission Launched

In 2006, the New Horizons mission was launched and was 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, conducting missions to service the Hubble Space Telescope and continue operations in space.

2006: NASA and Air Force Space Command signed a similar document

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.

March 18, 2007: NASA EDGE released

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

August 2007: NASA to use SI system for future Moon missions

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

2007: Modernization of the United States National Airspace System

In 2007, NASA began collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration and industry stakeholders to modernize the United States National Airspace System (NAS). The goal is to increase safety, efficiency, capacity, access, flexibility, predictability, and resilience of the NAS while reducing the environmental impact of aviation.

2007: Phoenix Mars Lander Launched

In 2007, the Phoenix Mars lander was launched.

June 2008: Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope launched

The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (FGST) was launched to low Earth orbit in June 2008 for gamma-ray astronomy observations.

2008: Original Deadline for NASA to Detect 90% of 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, though this was met by 2011.

2008: First CRS Contracts Signed

In 2008, NASA signed its first Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contracts, awarding $1.6 billion to SpaceX and $1.9 billion to Orbital Sciences for cargo deliveries to the International Space Station until 2016.

2008: European ATV Spacecraft ISS Service

Since 2008, the European Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) is used to send astronauts to and from the ISS.

May 2009: ISS Expedition Crew Size Increased

In May 2009, the expedition crew size on the International Space Station was increased to six crew members, remaining at that size until the Space Shuttle's retirement.

December 2009: NASA EDGE downloads

In December 2009, the NASA EDGE video podcast had over one million downloads.

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: Completion of the US Orbital Segment

In 2009, the US Orbital Segment of the International Space Station was completed.

2009: Launch of WISE/NEOWISE Mission

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

2009: Japanese HTV Spacecraft ISS Service

Since 2009, the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) is used to send astronauts to and from the ISS.

January 2010: NASA EDGE downloads

In January 2010, the NASA EDGE video podcast had over one million downloads.

February 2010: Average download rate for NASA EDGE

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

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

In 2010, the Russian Orbital Segment of the International Space Station was completed.

November 26, 2011: Mars Science Laboratory mission launched

On November 26, 2011, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission was successfully launched for Mars.

2011: End of Shuttle ISS Crew Transfer

Between the retirement of the Shuttle in 2011 and the commencement of crewed Dragon flights in 2020, American astronauts exclusively used the Soyuz for crew transport to and from the ISS

2011: NASA addressed 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: Space Shuttle Program Retired

In 2011, the Space Shuttle program was officially retired following the STS-135 resupply mission to the International Space Station, marking the end of an era in space exploration.

2011: Wolf Amendment passed

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

2011: Space Shuttle Retirement Accelerates ISS Completion

In 2011, the retirement of the Space Shuttle accelerated the completion of the International Space Station, as resources were redirected to the ISS project.

2011: Retirement of Space Shuttle

NASA and Roscosmos have cooperated on the development and operation of the International Space Station since September 1993, noting Russia's unique role as the sole provider of delivery of crew and cargo upon retirement of the space shuttle in 2011 and prior to commencement of NASA COTS and crew flights.

2011: Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) program began

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 by providing launch opportunities for developed CubeSats.

2011: NASA Meets Initial Spaceguard Mandate

The original mandate to detect 90% of near-Earth asteroids was set in 1998 with a deadline of 2008, but wasn't met until 2011.

August 6, 2012: Curiosity rover landed on Mars

On August 6, 2012, the Curiosity rover successfully landed on Mars and began its search for evidence of past or present life.

2012: SpaceX CRS-1 First Resupply Mission

In 2012, SpaceX flew its first operational resupply mission (SpaceX CRS-1) to the International Space Station.

2012: Curiosity Discovers Radiation Levels

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

2012: Dragon Spacecraft ISS Service

Since 2012, the (uncrewed) Dragon is used to send astronauts to and from the ISS.

2013: NEOWISE Mission Repurposed for NEO Detection

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

2013: Chelyabinsk meteor

In 2013, the Chelyabinsk meteor hit Russia. 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.

2013: MAVEN Mission observed Martian Atmosphere

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

2013: American Cygnus Spacecraft ISS Service

Since 2013, the American Cygnus spacecraft is used to send astronauts to and from the ISS.

September 2014: NASA and ISRO sign partnership for NISAR mission

In September 2014, NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) entered into a partnership to collaborate on the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, with the aim of launching a joint radar mission.

September 2014: MAVEN spacecraft enters Mars orbit

In September 2014, NASA's MAVEN spacecraft successfully entered Mars orbit to study the atmosphere of Mars.

2014: Second Phase of CRS Contracts Solicited

In 2014, NASA requested the second phase of contracts for the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program.

2014: "Cubes in Space" competition started

In 2014, NASA started an annual competition named "Cubes in Space", jointly organized with I Doodle Learning, to teach students aged 11–18 to design and build scientific experiments for space launch.

2014: Orbital Sciences First Resupply Mission

In 2014, Orbital Sciences flew its first resupply mission (Cygnus CRS Orb-1) to the International Space Station.

2014: Liquid fuel consumption

In 2014, the United States consumed 803 million US gallons of liquid fuels per day. A Falcon 9 rocket first stage burns around 25,000 US gallons of kerosene fuel per launch.

2014: NASA Authorization Act Reaffirms Importance of ASAP

The NASA Authorization Act of 2014 reaffirmed the importance of ASAP.

2014: Launch of NASA-JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement Mission

The NASA-JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement mission was launched in 2014 and includes both NASA- and JAXA-supplied sensors on a NASA satellite launched on a JAXA rocket.

2015: CRS-1 Contract Extended

In 2015, NASA extended the CRS-1 contract to twenty flights for SpaceX and twelve flights for Orbital ATK.

January 2016: CRS-2 Contracts Awarded

In January 2016, NASA awarded CRS-2 contracts to Orbital ATK Cygnus, Sierra Nevada Corporation Dream Chaser, and SpaceX Dragon 2 for cargo transport flights beginning in 2019.

2016: NASA Establishes Planetary Defense Coordination Office

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

2016: End of First CRS Contracts

In 2016, the deliveries covered by the initial Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contracts, signed in 2008 with SpaceX and Orbital Sciences, came to an end.

June 21, 2017: KalamSAT launched

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

2017: NASA directed to get humans to Mars

In 2017, NASA was directed by the congressional NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017 to get humans to Mars-orbit (or to the Martian surface) by the 2030s.

2017: Artemis Program begins

Since 2017, NASA's crewed spaceflight program has been the Artemis program, aiming to return humans to the Moon.

2018: CAUTION project launched to enhance temperature range of thermal coatings

In 2018, NASA, along with other companies, launched the CAUTION (CoAtings for Ultra High Temperature detectION) project to enhance the temperature range of the Thermal History Coating up to 1,500 °C (2,730 °F) and beyond, aiming to improve jet engine safety and reduce CO2 emissions.

2018: InSight Studied 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, with the intention of returning to the Moon and establishing 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.

2019: CRS-2 Transport Flights Begin

In 2019, cargo transport flights under the CRS-2 contracts began, awarded in January 2016.

January 2020: NASA Estimates Time to Find NEOs Meeting Size Criteria

In January 2020, NASA officials estimated it would take 30 years to find all objects meeting the 140 m size criteria.

January 2020: Estimated Completion of Detecting 90% of NEOs with Diameters of 140 m or Greater

In 2005, the George E. Brown, Jr. Near-Earth Object Survey Act extended the mandate to detect 90% of NEOs with diameters of 140 m or greater by January 2020.

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.

August 2020: 200 vodcasts produced by NASA EDGE

As of August 2020, NASA EDGE had produced 200 vodcasts.

September 2020: Space Force and NASA Sign Memorandum of Understanding

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

November 16, 2020: SpaceX Crew-1 launched

On November 16, 2020, SpaceX Crew-1, the first operational mission of the Commercial Crew Program, was launched to the International Space Station.

December 18, 2020: Space Force Officer Commissioned from ISS

Space Force members can be NASA astronauts, with Colonel Michael S. Hopkins, the commander of SpaceX Crew-1, commissioned into the Space Force from the International Space Station on December 18, 2020.

2020: Start of Crewed Dragon Flights

Between the retirement of the Shuttle in 2011 and the commencement of crewed Dragon flights in 2020, American astronauts exclusively used the Soyuz for crew transport to and from the ISS

2020: SpaceX Crew Dragon begins service

In 2020, SpaceX began providing commercially operated crew transportation services to the International Space Station (ISS) using the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

2020: First operational CCP mission

In 2020, the first operational Commercial Crew Program (CCP) mission occurred, ending NASA's reliance on the Soyuz program for astronaut transport to the ISS after the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011.

2020: Discovery program finalists selected

In early 2020, proposals for missions to Jupiter's volcanic moon Io and Neptune's large moon Triton were selected as Discovery program finalists.

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

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

April 16, 2021: SpaceX Lunar Starship selected as Human Landing System

On April 16, 2021, NASA announced the selection of the SpaceX Lunar Starship as its Human Landing System for the Artemis program.

May 2021: Dragonfly launch scheduled for June 2027

As of May 2021, the Dragonfly mission, which will send a mobile robotic rotorcraft to Saturn's moon Titan, is scheduled for launch in June 2027.

June 2, 2021: DAVINCI+ and VERITAS missions selected

On June 2, 2021, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced that the DAVINCI+ and VERITAS missions were selected to launch to Venus in the late 2020s.

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: NASA Awards Contracts for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Reactor Development

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

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

November 2021: Launch of DART Mission

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

November 2021: Lunar landing delayed

In November 2021, it was announced that the goal of landing astronauts on the Moon by 2024 had slipped to no earlier than 2025.

December 2021: IXPE launched

The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) launched in December 2021 to study X-ray production in objects such as neutron stars and black holes.

December 2021: James Webb Space Telescope launched

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was launched in December 2021 on an Ariane 5 rocket to operate in a halo orbit circling the Sun-Earth L2 point.

2021: James Webb Space Telescope Launched

In 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope, named after the NASA administrator who lead the Apollo program, is an infrared observatory launched and is a direct successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, intended to observe the formation of the first galaxies.

2021: Perseverance Rover Carried Ingenuity

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

2021: Juno flybys Ganymede

The Juno extended mission conducted flybys of Ganymede in 2021.

February 2022: Cygnus NG-17 Delivered to ISS

In February 2022, Northrop Grumman successfully delivered Cygnus NG-17 to the International Space Station.

March 2022: Commercial Lunar Payload Services contracts awarded

As of March 2022, NASA has awarded contracts for robotic lunar probes to companies such as Intuitive Machines, Firefly Space Systems, and Astrobotic under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.

March 2022: Additional CRS-2 Missions Awarded

In March 2022, NASA awarded an additional six CRS-2 missions each to both SpaceX and Northrop Grumman.

March 2022: GOES-T satellite joins weather monitoring fleet

The GOES-T satellite (designated GOES-18 after launch) joined the fleet of US geostationary weather monitoring satellites in March 2022.

May 13, 2022: rHEALTH ONE Biomedical Analyzer Tested in Space

On May 13, 2022, NASA and SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts successfully tested its rHEALTH ONE universal biomedical analyzer for its ability to identify and analyzer 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 Confirms Start of UAP Independent Study Team

In June 2022, the head of the NASA Science Mission Directorate, Thomas Zurbuchen, confirmed the start of NASA's UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) independent study team.

June 2022: NASA-sponsored CubeSats launched on Virgin Orbit LauncherOne

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

July 2022: NASA and Roscosmos Sign Deal to Share Space Station Flights

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.

July 2022: SpaceX CRS-25 Launched

In July 2022, SpaceX launched its 25th CRS flight (SpaceX CRS-25) and successfully delivered its cargo to the International Space Station.

September 2022: 21 countries signed the Artemis Accords

As of September 2022, 21 countries have signed the Artemis Accords, which establish a framework for cooperation in the peaceful exploration of the Moon, Mars, asteroids and comets. The accords were drafted by NASA and the US State Department and are executed as bilateral agreements.

September 26, 2022: DART Impacts Dimorphos

On September 26, 2022, the DART spacecraft impacted its target, the Dimorphos asteroid, in an experiment to test possible planetary defense concepts.

October 2022: MAVEN continues study of Mars atmosphere

As of October 2022, NASA's MAVEN spacecraft continues its study of the atmosphere of Mars.

October 2022: Landsat Program Update

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

November 16, 2022: Artemis I launched

On November 16, 2022, Artemis I was launched.

December 11, 2022: Artemis I returns to Earth

On December 11, 2022, Artemis I returned to Earth safely.

2022: SMEX missions cost limit

In 2022, the Small Explorer missions are required to limit cost to NASA to below $150M.

2022: X-57 Maxwell Scheduled to Fly

In mid-2022, the NASA X-57 Maxwell experimental all-electric aircraft was scheduled to fly before the end of the year. The goal is to develop electric solutions that can achieve airworthiness certification.

2022: Juno flybys Europa

The Juno extended mission conducted flybys of Europa in 2022.

January 2023: NASA and DARPA Partner 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 Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) engine in space.

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 Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) rocket.

July 2023: NASA announces new streaming service known as NASA+

In July 2023, NASA announced a new streaming service known as NASA+ which would launch later that year.

November 8, 2023: NASA+ streaming service launched

NASA launched its new streaming service, NASA+, on November 8, 2023, featuring live coverage of launches, documentaries, and original programs, free of ads and subscription fees.

2023: Moon to Mars Program Office Established

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: Juno to flyby Jovian moon Io

The Juno extended mission will make multiple flybys of the Jovian moon Io in 2023.

2023: NEOWISE Mission Extended

The WISE/NEOWISE mission was launched by NASA JPL in 2009, and in 2013, NASA repurposed it as the NEOWISE mission to find potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids and comets; its mission has been extended into 2023.

April 2024: Artemis II and III launch plans

As of April 2024, NASA plans to launch Artemis II in September 2025 and Artemis III in September 2026.

October 2024: Europa Clipper to launch

NASA's Europa Clipper, launched in October 2024, will study the Galilean moon Europa through a series of flybys while in orbit around Jupiter.

December 23, 2024: NASA Field Centers Leadership

As of December 23, 2024, NASA operates 10 major field centers, each led by a director. Each center manages additional subordinate facilities across the country.

2024: ISS Expedition Crew Size Update

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: Boeing Starliner begins service

In 2024, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft began providing commercially operated crew transportation services to the International Space Station (ISS).

2024: US Government Tasked NASA to Create Lunar Time Standard

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.

2024: Dream Chaser Demo-1 Launch Scheduled

In the first half of 2024, the Dream Chaser spacecraft is currently scheduled for its Demo-1 launch.

2024: Next New Frontiers missions proposal opportunity

NASA has determined that the next opportunity to propose for the fifth round of New Frontiers missions will occur no later than the fall of 2024.

2024: Juno to flyby Jovian moon Io

The Juno extended mission will make multiple flybys of the Jovian moon Io in 2024.

2024: Target launch year for NISAR mission

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission is targeted to launch in 2024. NASA is providing the mission's L-band synthetic aperture radar, while ISRO is providing the spacecraft bus, the S-band radar, the launch vehicle and associated launch services.

2024: End of expected CRS-2 contracts

The cargo transport flights under the CRS-2 contracts awarded in January 2016, and flights are expected to last through 2024.

January 20, 2025: Janet Petro appointed NASA Administrator

Since January 20, 2025, Janet Petro has been serving as NASA's administrator after being appointed by President Donald Trump. The administrator is nominated by the President of the United States and approved by the US Senate.

September 2025: Planned launch of Artemis II

As of April 2024, NASA plans to launch Artemis II in September 2025.

2025: ISS Largest Artificial Satellite

As of 2025, the ISS is the largest artificial satellite in Earth orbit with a mass and volume greater than that of any previous space station.

2025: Targeted lunar landing

By 2025, the Artemis program aims to land "the first woman and the next man" on the lunar south pole region.

2025: Artemis II launch

In 2025, the Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch. This 10-day mission will involve a crew of four in a lunar flyby using the Orion crew module and SLS.

2025: Target Date for NAS Modernization

The goal is to deliver major modernization components of the National Airspace System by 2025. The modernization effort intends to increase the safety, efficiency, capacity, access, flexibility, predictability, and resilience of the NAS while reducing the environmental impact of aviation.

September 2026: Artemis III lunar landing targeted

Artemis III aims to conduct the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 and is scheduled for no earlier than September 2026.

September 2026: Planned launch of Artemis III

As of April 2024, NASA plans to launch Artemis III in September 2026.

2026: Expected Finalization of Coordinated Lunar Time

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.

2026: Scheduled Launch of NEO Surveyor Spacecraft

The NEO Surveyor spacecraft is scheduled to launch in 2026.

June 2027: Dragonfly scheduled for launch

Dragonfly will send a mobile robotic rotorcraft to Saturn's biggest moon, Titan. As of May 2021, Dragonfly is scheduled for launch in June 2027.

2027: Lunar Gateway construction begins

Construction of the Lunar Gateway, a small space station in lunar orbit, is expected to begin in 2027 with the launch of the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO).

2027: Scheduled Launch of Experimental NTR Rocket

In July 2023, NASA and DARPA jointly announced the award of $499 million to Lockheed Martin to design and build an experimental Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) rocket, with the rocket scheduled to launch in 2027.

2028: Planned launch of Artemis IV

Artemis IV is planned to launch around 2028.

2028: Lunar Gateway operations to begin

Operations on the Lunar Gateway will begin with the Artemis IV mission, which plans to deliver a crew of four to the Gateway in 2028.

2028: Launch of DAVINCI+ and VERITAS missions

The launches for the DAVINCI+ and VERITAS missions are expected to occur around 2028.

2030: ISS support secured through 2030

By 2030, NASA has contracted for six operational missions from Boeing and fourteen from SpaceX, ensuring sufficient support for the International Space Station (ISS).