US space program

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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NASA logo Motto: For the Benefit of All
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Agency overview
Formed	July 29, 1958; 58 years ago (1958-07-29)
Preceding agency	NACA (1915–1958)
Jurisdiction	United States government
Headquarters	Washington, D.C. 38°52′59″N 77°0′59″W / 38.88306°N 77.01639°W / 38.88306; -77.01639
Employees	17,345+
Annual budget	US$ 19.3 billion (2016), also see NASA Budget
Agency executives	Robert M. Lightfoot, Jr. (acting), Administrator Lesa Roe (acting), Deputy Administrator
Website	nasa.gov See more

Coordinates: 38°52′59″N 77°0′59″W / 38.88306°N 77.01639°W / 38.88306; -77.01639

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA /ˈnæsə/) is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower established NASA in 1958 with a distinctly civilian (rather than military) orientation encouraging peaceful applications in space science. The National Aeronautics and Space Act was passed on July 29, 1958, disestablishing NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). The new agency became operational on October 1, 1958.