National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Since its establishment, NASA has helped to spur profound changes in our knowledge, culture, and expectations. Congress enacted the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 “to provide for research into problems of flight within and outside Earth’s atmosphere” and to ensure that the United States conducts activities in space devoted to peaceful purposes for the benefit of humanity. We have since been instrumental in numerous scientific discoveries and technological advances that have advanced humankind, while inspiring the Nation and the world to imagine that much more is possible.

We embrace the spirit, principles, and objectives of the original act and recent key policies and legislation in our Vision and Mission.

NASA’s Vision: We reach for new heights and reveal the unknown for the benefit of humankind.

NASA’s Mission: Drive advances in science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration to enhance knowledge, education, innovation, economic vitality, and stewardship of Earth. 

The following overarching approach governs the management and conduct of our aeronautics and space programs. These are standard practices that each organization within NASA employs in developing and executing their plans to achieve our strategic goals. They also provide a framework that guides our support for other areas of national and Administration policy: government transparency; science technology, engineering, and mathematics education; energy and climate change; innovation; and increased citizen and partnership participation to help address the multitude of challenges faced by our Nation.

• Invest in next-generation technologies and approaches to spur innovation;
• Inspire students to be our future scientists, engineers, explorers, and educators through interactions with NASA’s people, missions, research, and facilities;
• Expand partnerships with international, intergovernmental, academic, industrial, and entrepreneurial communities, recognizing them as important contributors of skill and creativity to our missions and for the propagation of our results;
• Commit to environmental stewardship through Earth observation and science, and the development and use of green technologies and capabilities in NASA missions and facilities; and
• Safeguard the public trust through transparency and accountability in our programmatic and financial management, procurement, and reporting practices.