NASA

American  

[nas-uh] / ˈnæs ə /

noun

1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration: the federal agency that institutes and administers the civilian programs of the U.S. government that deal with aeronautical research and the development of launch vehicles and spacecraft.

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NASA British  

/ ˈnæsə /

acronym

1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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Usage

What is NASA? NASA is short for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, a civilian agency of the United States government that specializes in space exploration and research about flight and aircraft. Aeronautics is the science of flight. Although NASA is most known for space travel and research, it also researches things like supersonic flight, energy-efficient aircraft, and drones. Over the years, NASA has advanced space exploration and made many contributions to science. Its notable programs and missions have included astronaut moon landings, Mars rovers, satellites around planets, and interstellar telescopes. One of NASA’s earliest and most famous programs was the Apollo program, which put the first person on the moon on July 20, 1969. NASA runs numerous missions and programs at its facilities across the United States.

Example Sentences

That resumption of flights will likely be welcome for NASA, which is leaning on Blue Origin to carry out its own lunar ambitions.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

One of Scanlon’s clients turned to her for help because they were finishing their PhD while getting ready for a new job at NASA.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

The company eventually created partially reusable rockets and landed contracts including with NASA.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

Clients across the federal government include NASA, but also the Pentagon and intelligence agencies.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

The millisecond I’d found out that Mrs. B was an aerospace engineer at NASA, I’d known we would be friends.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas