Full History Of NASA In Timeline From 1914

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NASA has updated its Artemis lunar program, adding a mission and changing its roadmap. SpaceX's Starship may not be ready for the revamped Artemis 3 mission, creating uncertainty about the program's schedule.

1914: Aviation Section of the US Army Signal Corps created

In 1914, the US Congress created the Aviation Section of the US Army Signal Corps because the United States recognized 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 was formed, coupled with the Army's Project Adam, serving 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, NASA was established with the signing of the National Aeronautics and Space Act, splitting the US's military and civil spaceflight programs.

October 1, 1958: NASA begins operations

On October 1, 1958, NASA began its operations.

1958: NASA Established

In 1958, NASA was established as an independent agency of the U.S. federal government, succeeding the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). This gave the American space development effort a civilian orientation, emphasizing peaceful applications in space science.

1959: NASA Sounding Rocket Program in Operation

In 1959, the NASA Sounding Rocket Program (NSRP) began operations at the Wallops Flight Facility, providing launch capability, payload development, 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, in collaboration with the US Weather Bureau. This launch was significant for advancing Earth observation and weather forecasting capabilities.

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 declared goal to land a man on the Moon

On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy openly declared the goal to land a man on the Moon and return him safely to Earth by the end of the 1960s in his "Urgent National Needs" speech to Congress.

February 20, 1962: John Glenn's first 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: Attacks on Apollo program

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: Congress Directs NASA to Form ASAP

In 1967, following the Apollo 1 accident, Congress mandated NASA to establish an Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) to advise on safety issues within NASA's air and space programs.

1968: Apollo program missions

From 1968, NASA led the Apollo program missions.

1968: Apollo 8 Reaches the Moon

In 1968, the Apollo 8 mission was 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, 1968, and then traveled safely back to Earth.

1969: Apollo 11 Landed on the Moon

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

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1969: Johnson Space Center designated for Space Shuttle design

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 would lead the development of the launch system. This decision set the stage for the Space Shuttle program.

1969: Apollo 11 mission

Since the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, NASA has maintained an influence on American popular culture.

1971: Establishment of Space Program Advisory Council

By 1971, NASA 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, marking the beginning of the Landsat program.

1972: Launch of Landsat

In 1972, NASA launched its first dedicated Earth observation satellite, Landsat. This launch marked a significant step in NASA's Earth observation efforts, leading to the joint development of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite and the discovery of ozone depletion.

1972: Apollo program missions

In 1972, NASA led the Apollo program missions.

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. NASA acquired six orbiters: the Enterprise, Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. This marked a crucial step in the Space Shuttle program.

1973: Skylab launched

In 1973, NASA launched its first space station, Skylab, on the final launch of the Saturn V.

1974: Skylab hosted nine missions

In 1974, the Skylab space station hosted nine missions.

1975: Mariner 5 flies by Mars

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

1975: Apollo-Soyuz mission

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

1975: Earth Resources Technology Satellite Renamed

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

1976: Viking program landings on Mars

In 1976, the Viking program consisted of 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 establish 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's reentry

Following Skylab's reentry in 1979, NASA never gave up on the idea of a space station. The agency started advocating for a larger space station to be built as soon as the Space Shuttle began flying.

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 launch of the Columbia on the STS-1 mission. This mission was designed as a flight test for the new spaceplane and marked the beginning of the Space Shuttle era, with NASA aiming to replace expendable launch systems.

1984: President Reagan's support for space station

In 1984, NASA found a strong advocate in President Ronald Reagan, who supported building a larger space station, which was sold 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. This marked the world's first on-orbit satellite servicing mission, showcasing a new capability in space operations.

1985: NASA proposed the Space Station Freedom

In 1985, NASA proposed the Space Station Freedom as an international program, backed by both the agency and President Reagan. An international agreement to develop the Space Station Freedom program was signed with thirteen countries including the European Space Agency (ESA) member states, Canada, and Japan.

1986: Challenger disaster on STS-51L mission

In 1986, the Challenger disaster occurred on the STS-51L mission, resulting in the loss of the spacecraft and all seven astronauts. The event led to the grounding of the space shuttle fleet for 36 months and forced commercial companies to return to expendable launch vehicles. This had a significant impact on NASA's space program and commercial space ventures.

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 been directly purchasing expendable launch vehicle services from commercial providers for its scientific and application missions, operating from Kennedy Space Center.

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 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, the Rockwell X-30 National Aerospace Plane program was canceled before reaching flight status due to the end of the Cold War. The X-30 was a joint program with the Department of Defense designed to be a single-stage-to-orbit spaceplane with both civil and military applications.

1992: Redesigns to reduce cost

In the early 1990s, several redesigns to reduce cost were conducted for Space Station Freedom in 1992, stripping away much of its functions. Despite calls for Congress to terminate the program, it continued.

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.

1993: President Clinton directed costs be reduced

By 1993, President Bill Clinton attempted to significantly reduce NASA's budget and directed that costs be significantly reduced, aerospace industry jobs were not lost, and the Russians be included in the project.

1993: Merger of space station projects into the 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 called the International Space Station (ISS).

1993: Space Station Freedom becomes ISS

In 1993, the Clinton Administration announced that the Space Station Freedom would become the ISS in an agreement with the Russian Federation. This allowed the Russians to maintain their space program. The US built and launched the majority of the ISS, with Russia, Canada, Japan, and the ESA contributing components.

1994: Establishment of Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC)

In 1994, the Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC) was founded to archive and distribute data related to human interactions in the environment, synthesizing Earth science and socioeconomic data.

1994: First Russian cosmonaut flew on STS-60 mission

In 1994, the first Russian cosmonaut flew on the STS-60 mission as part of the Shuttle-Mir program. This marked a significant step in cooperation between the United States and Russia in space exploration following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

June 16, 1995: First APOD Image

On June 16, 1995, the first image appeared in the APOD Archive.

1996: Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Pathfinder

In 1996, Follow-on missions were launched, with the Mars Global Surveyor orbiter and Mars Pathfinder, deploying the first Mars rover, Sojourner.

1998: End of the Shuttle-Mir program

In 1998, the Shuttle-Mir program came to an end following a series of orbital accidents on the space station. Despite its conclusion, the program facilitated significant cooperation between the US and Russia in space and paved the way for future international collaborations.

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

In 1998, the US Congress gave NASA a mandate to detect 90% of near-Earth asteroids over 1 km in diameter by 2008 to mitigate the threat of global devastation.

1998: Beginning of on-orbit assembly of the ISS

In 1998, the on-orbit assembly of the International Space Station (ISS) began. Components were manufactured worldwide and launched by Russian Proton and Soyuz rockets, and the American Space Shuttle.

1998: Sky Scanning for NEOs Began

Since 1998, cooperative actions between the US, the European Union, and other nations had been scanning the sky for NEOs in an effort called Spaceguard.

September 23, 1999: Loss of Mars Climate Orbiter

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 the NEAR Shoemaker Spacecraft

In 1999, NASA visited 433 Eros with the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft, leading to its orbit insertion in 2000 and detailed imaging of the asteroid.

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. It provided critical observations on the Sagittarius A* black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy and the separation of dark and regular matter during galactic collisions.

2000: NEAR Shoemaker Enters Orbit Around 433 Eros

In 2000, the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft entered orbit around 433 Eros, enabling detailed imaging and study of the asteroid.

2001: 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter reaches Mars

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

2001: Cancellation of the VentureStar spaceplane

In 2001, the VentureStar spaceplane, a Lockheed Martin X-33 demonstrator, was canceled due to technical challenges. This spacecraft was intended to replace the Space Shuttle and represents a significant investment by a commercial space company.

May 8, 2003: EPA Recognizes NASA's 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.

2003: Reliance 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. This highlights the impact of the disaster on NASA's capabilities and international cooperation in space.

2003: President Bush started the Constellation program

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, aiming to return astronauts to the Moon. This was intended to use existing Space Shuttle equipment.

2003: Columbia disaster during STS-107 mission

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 accident marked the beginning of the Space Shuttle program's retirement.

2003: Spitzer Space Telescope launched

In 2003, the Spitzer Space Telescope, an infrared telescope, was launched from a Delta II rocket. It is in a trailing orbit around the Sun, following the Earth and 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 as a joint project by GSFC and an international consortium to monitor afterglows in X-ray and UV/Visible light.

2004: MESSENGER probe launch to Mercury

In 2004, NASA also launched missions to Mercury, with the MESSENGER probe demonstrating 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 planet Mars.

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

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

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

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

2005: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

In 2005, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was launched to Mars.

2005: Creation of NASAcast

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

2006: New Horizons mission launched

Finally launched in 2006, the New Horizons mission was the first spacecraft to visit Pluto and the Kuiper belt.

2006: Original Memorandum of Understanding

In 2006, NASA and Air Force Space Command signed a similar memorandum of understanding.

2006: Return to flight after Columbia disaster

In 2006, the Space Shuttle returned to flight, conducting several missions to service the Hubble Space Telescope. This return to flight marked a significant effort to continue space exploration and scientific research after the Columbia disaster.

March 18, 2007: NASA EDGE Release

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

August 2007: NASA States Use of SI System

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 US National Airspace System Begins

In 2007, NASA began collaborating with the FAA and industry stakeholders to modernize the US National Airspace System (NAS) to improve safety, efficiency, and resilience.

2007: Phoenix Mars lander

In 2007, the Phoenix Mars lander was launched to Mars.

June 2008: Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope Launch

In June 2008, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (FGST) was launched into low Earth orbit to conduct gamma-ray astronomy observations, with involvement from NASA, the US Department of Energy, and various international agencies.

2008: Original Deadline for Detecting Near-Earth Asteroids

By 2008, NASA was originally mandated to detect 90% of near-Earth asteroids over 1 km in diameter, a mandate that was eventually met by 2011.

May 2009: Increase of ISS expedition crew size to six

Between May 2009 and the retirement of the Space Shuttle, the International Space Station (ISS) expedition crew size increased to six crew members. This expansion enhanced the research and operational capabilities of the station.

December 2009: NASA EDGE Downloads Exceed One Million

In December 2009, NASA EDGE downloads exceeded one million.

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. The first exoplanet that the Kepler space telescope confirmed was Kepler-22b, orbiting within the habitable zone of its star.

2009: WISE/NEOWISE Mission Launched

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

2009: Completion of the US Orbital Segment of the ISS

In 2009, the completion of the US Orbital Segment of the International Space Station (ISS) occurred. This marked a significant milestone in the international collaboration and construction of the station.

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, NASA EDGE had an average download rate of more than 420,000 per month.

2010: LEED Gold Rating for Exploration Sciences Building

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

2010: Completion of the Russian Orbital Segment of the ISS

In 2010, the completion of the Russian Orbital Segment of the International Space Station (ISS) occurred. This finalized the initial construction phase of the Russian portion of the station.

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: NASA Met the Original Mandate to Detect Near-Earth Asteroids

In 2011, NASA met the original mandate to detect 90% of near-Earth asteroids over 1 km in diameter that threaten global devastation.

2011: Retirement of the Space Shuttle program

In 2011, the Space Shuttle program was retired following the STS-135 resupply mission to the ISS. This marked the end of an era in space exploration and led to a shift in NASA's focus towards new programs and initiatives.

2011: Wolf Amendment Passed

In 2011, the Wolf Amendment was passed by the US Congress, restricting NASA's direct, bilateral cooperation with the Chinese government without explicit authorization.

2011: Russia Sole Provider for ISS Delivery

In 2011, with the retirement of the space shuttle, Russia became the sole provider of delivery of crew and cargo to the International Space Station (ISS).

2011: Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) Program

Since 2011, the ELaNa program has provided opportunities for NASA to work with university teams to test emerging technologies by providing launch opportunities for CubeSats.

2011: Retirement of the Space Shuttle accelerated ISS completion

The 2011 retirement of the Space Shuttle accelerated the International Space Station's (ISS) completion. This led to a greater reliance on international partners for resupply and crew transport.

2012: Curiosity discovers radiation levels and chemical ingredients for life

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

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 Chelyabinsk meteor, which was 20 meters in size, hit Russia.

2013: Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission

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) partnered to collaborate on and launch the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission.

2014: Launch of NASA-JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement Mission

In 2014, NASA and JAXA launched the Global Precipitation Measurement mission, which includes sensors from both agencies on a NASA satellite launched on a JAXA rocket.

2014: Launch of "Cubes in Space" Competition

In 2014, NASA started an annual competition named "Cubes in Space" jointly organized with I Doodle Learning, aimed at teaching students to design and build scientific 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: Fuel Consumption Statistics

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

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 defense strategies.

June 21, 2017: Launch of KalamSAT

On June 21, 2017, KalamSAT, the world's smallest satellite, was launched as part of the Cubes in Space program.

2018: Launch of CAUTION Project

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 and improve jet engine safety and efficiency.

2018: Interior exploration using Seismic Investigations Geodesy, and Heat Transport (InSight)

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

2019: Announcement of the Artemis program

In 2019, NASA announced the Artemis program, intending to return to the Moon and establish a permanent human presence. Paired with this was the Artemis Accords with partner nations to set up rules for commercialization of space on the moon.

January 2020: NASA Estimates Time to Find All 140m NEOs

In January 2020, NASA officials estimated it would take 30 years to find all objects meeting the 140 m size criteria, exceeding the 2005 mandate timeframe.

January 2020: Estimated Detection Rate of Smaller NEOs

As of January 2020, it was estimated that less than half of NEOs with diameters of 140 m or greater had been found, despite the 2005 mandate.

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

On July 29, 2020, NASA requested proposals from American universities for new technologies to extract water from lunar soil and develop power systems, to support sustainable lunar exploration.

August 2020: NASA EDGE Vodcasts Reach 200

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

September 2020: NASA and Space Force Sign Memorandum of Understanding

In September 2020, NASA and the Space Force formalized their joint role by signing a memorandum of understanding.

December 18, 2020: Space Force Member Becomes NASA Astronaut

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

2020: 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: NASA Awards Contracts for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Reactor Development

In July 2021, NASA announced contract awards for developing nuclear thermal propulsion reactors with three contractors creating individual designs over 12 months for later evaluation.

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

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

December 2021: James Webb Space Telescope Launch

In December 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was launched on an Ariane 5 rocket to operate in a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L2 point, utilizing its infrared sensitivity to observe distant objects.

2021: James Webb Space Telescope launched

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

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 US Fleet

In March 2022, the GOES-T satellite (designated GOES-18 after launch) joined the US fleet of geostationary weather monitoring satellites, to study climate change, natural hazards, forest fires, and real-time agricultural processes.

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 in space to assess its ability to identify and analyze biomarkers, cells, microorganisms, and proteins.

June 2022: First NASA Rocket Launch from Commercial Spaceport Outside the 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 UAP Independent Study Team

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

June 2022: ELaNa 39 Mission

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

July 2022: NASA and Roscosmos Agree to Share Space Station Flights

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

September 26, 2022: DART Impacts Dimorphos

On September 26, 2022, the DART spacecraft successfully impacted the Dimorphos asteroid, achieving its mission objective of testing asteroid deflection techniques.

October 2022: Landsat Satellites 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 Flights

In 2022, the NASA X-57 Maxwell, an experimental all-electric aircraft, was scheduled to fly before the end of the year, after completing ground testing, with development involving NASA Armstrong, Glenn, and Langley centers along with industry partners.

January 2023: NASA Partners with DARPA on DRACO Program

In January 2023, NASA announced a partnership with DARPA on the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program to demonstrate a Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) engine in space for future Mars missions.

June 2023: 22 Countries Sign Artemis Accords

As of June 2023, 22 countries have signed the Artemis Accords, which define a framework for cooperation in the peaceful exploration of space.

July 2023: NASA and DARPA Award $499 Million to Lockheed Martin for NTR Rocket

In July 2023, NASA and DARPA jointly awarded $499 million to Lockheed Martin to design and build an experimental Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) rocket, with a planned launch in 2027.

July 2023: NASA+ Streaming Service Announced

In July 2023, NASA announced a new streaming service known as NASA+.

November 8, 2023: NASA+ Streaming Service Launched

On November 8, 2023, NASA launched its new streaming service, NASA+, featuring live coverage of launches, documentaries, and original programs.

2023: Establishment of the Moon to Mars Program office

In 2023, NASA established the Moon to Mars Program office to oversee projects, mission architectures, and timelines related to lunar and Mars exploration and science. This is to facilitate the Artemis program.

2023: NEOWISE Mission Extended

In 2023, the NEOWISE mission was extended to continue finding potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids and comets.

December 23, 2024: Center Director Data Update

As of December 23, 2024, center director data reflects the operational structure of NASA's ten major field centers and subordinate facilities.

2024: ISS expeditions typically consist of a crew of four

As of 2024, International Space Station (ISS) expeditions using the Commercial Program's crew capsules typically consist of a crew of four, despite the capsules allowing for a crew of up to seven.

2024: NASA Tasked to Create Lunar Time Standard

In 2024, NASA was tasked by the US Government to create a Time standard for the Moon, which is to be called Coordinated Lunar Time.

May 31, 2025: Nomination withdrawn

On May 31, 2025, Jared Isaacman's first nomination was withdrawn by President Donald Trump.

July 2025: NASA Fast-Tracks Lunar Reactor Plans

In July 2025, Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy directed the fast-tracking of plans to place a nuclear reactor on the Moon to support the Artemis program, driven by concerns of potential competition from China and Russia.

July 30, 2025: NISAR Mission Launched

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission was launched on July 30, 2025.

November 4, 2025: Renomination

On November 4, 2025, Jared Isaacman was renominated.

December 2025: Jared Isaacman is the new NASA administrator

Jared Isaacman is the administrator of NASA since December 2025, after Senate confirmation.

2025: Delivery of Major Modernization Components for US National Airspace System

By 2025, major modernization components are intended to be delivered as part of NASA's collaboration with the FAA and industry stakeholders to modernize the US National Airspace System (NAS).