NASA Science
NASA Science seeks to discover the secrets of the universe, search for life elsewhere, and protect and improve life on Earth and in space.
measuring earth's radiant energy
Monitor earth and Space weatheR
Explore and interact in 3D
NASA Science is Delivering
NASA Science is delivering: every second of every day, of every week, of every year. 2024 is proving to be yet another year of exceptional scientific discovery and achievement. From soft landing back on the Moon a few months ago, to celebrating the Heliophysics Big Year and a Total Solar Eclipse in the contiguous United States, to receiving stunning imagery from James Webb, NASA Science is as busy as ever. Recently launched earth science missions are also providing us unprecedented views of our planet and incredible insight into the health of our oceans and atmosphere, and helping decision-makers improve lives on Earth and safeguard our future. And we are charting a new, sustainable path for Mars Sample Return.
Looking ahead, we have many exciting launches on the horizon. At NASA, we are fortunate that our science and exploration endeavors are inextricably linked and help us discover and innovate for the benefit of humanity. Together, we explore to advance scientific understanding. Ultimately, exploration enables science, and science enables exploration.
The NASA Science team is continuing to deliver for the benefit of all.
Featured Missions
Our mission milestones showcase the breadth and depth of NASA science.
GOES-U
Launch is targeted for June 25, 2024. GOES-U will provide advanced detection and monitoring of environmental phenomena that directly affect public safety, protection of property, and the nation’s economic health.
Europa Clipper
Launching in October 2024, Europa Clipper’s main science goal is to determine whether there are places below the surface of Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa, that could support life.
VIPER
VIPER launches late 2024 and will be NASA's first robotic Moon rover to measure the location and concentration of water ice and other resources. These resources could eventually be harvested to sustain human exploration on the Moon, Mars — and beyond!
Latest News
NASA, IBM Research to Release New AI Model for Weather, Climate
Discovery Alert: Mini-Neptune in Double Star System is a Planetary Puzzle
NASA “Wildfire Digital Twin” Pioneers New AI Models and Streaming Data Techniques for Forecasting Fire and Smoke
NASA’s TESS Finds Intriguing World Sized Between Earth, Venus
Using observations by NASA’s TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) and many other facilities, two international teams of astronomers have discovered…
Read the StoryWhat NASA is doing to unlock one of the biggest mysteries of the universe
Only 5% of the known universe is visible to us. The other 95% is called dark matter and dark energy, and it's making scientists rethink what we know about the cosmos. Jet Propulsion Lab’s Fundamental Physics Portfolio Manager John Callas explains what dark energy is, why it’s so hard to study, and what NASA is doing to unlock this big mystery.
More about the building blocks of the UniverseBy the Numbers
Science is interconnected; no important question stands alone. The Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is an organization where discoveries in one scientific discipline have a direct route to other areas of study. This flow is something extremely valuable and is rare in the scientific world.
Learn More about NASA ScienceMay 23, 2024
Breathtaking Star Formation
Messier 78 is a nursery of star formation enveloped in a shroud of interstellar dust located 1,300 light-years away from Earth. Using its infrared camera, Euclid exposed hidden regions of star formation for the first time and mapped complex filaments of gas and dust in unprecedented detail.
Learn MoreExplore our changing planet
Earth is our home, shared with millions of species. Rapid changes like rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather are transforming our planet. For over 50 years, observations from space and ground have monitored these changes, guiding critical decisions in areas like agriculture and air quality. By understanding how our actions affect Earth's systems, we can help mitigate these impacts. Discover more about how you can make a difference in safeguarding our planet.
Visit the Earth Information CenterThe Sun and Heliophysics
NASA studies the star at the center of our solar system and its influence on space, Earth, and our solar system. This research helps us to not only understand how the universe works, but also protect our technology and astronauts in space.
Learn More