Science Mission Directorate

The Science Mission Directorate (SMD) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) engages the United States’ science community, sponsors scientific research, and develops and deploys satellites and probes in collaboration with NASA’s partners around the world to answer fundamental questions requiring the view from and into space.

The Science Mission Directorate also sponsors research that both enables, and is enabled by, NASA's exploration activities. The SMD portfolio is contributing to NASA’s achievement of the Vision for Space Exploration by striving to:

Thomas Zurbuchen is the Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate beginning October 3, 2016. Recent Associate Administrators for the SMD include Edward J. Weiler (1998–2004, 2008–2011), Mary L. Cleave (2004–2007), Alan Stern (2007–2008) and John M. Grunsfeld (2012-2016). Stern resigned 25 March 2008, to be effective 11 April, over disagreements with Administrator Michael D. Griffin.

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