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.
april 8, 2024
Monitor earth and Space weatheR
VIPER robotic moon rover
Welcome to our NASA Science website
A gateway to our missions, research, and engagement efforts.
The Science Mission Directorate inspires the learners of today and develops the leaders of tomorrow. One of our key strategies is to purposefully and actively engage with audiences and learners of all ages to share the story of NASA’s integrated science program. From exoplanet research to better understanding Earth’s climate to understanding the influence of the sun on our planet and the solar system, our work is interdisciplinary and collaborative. Similarly, this website showcases our work in a crosscutting way so that we may build stronger connections with you, our most important stakeholder. Together, we lead a globally interconnected program of scientific discovery that encourages innovation, positively impacts people’s lives, and is a source of inspiration.
Read Nicky NotesTotal Solar Eclipse 2024: The Moon’s Moment in the Sun
To know exactly where and when the solar eclipse will cast its shadow, we study our nearest neighbor in space.
Read the StoryFeatured Missions
Our mission milestones showcase the breadth and depth of NASA science.
GOES-U
Launching no earlier than May 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!
By 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 ScienceUsing Infrared Light to Survey the Milky Way Galaxy
Observatories with smaller views of space have provided exquisite images of other galaxies, revealing complex structures. But studying our own galaxy’s anatomy is surprisingly difficult. The plane of the Milky Way covers such a large area on the sky that studying it in detail can take a very long time. Astronomers also must peer through thick dust that obscures distant starlight. Infrared light can pass through that dust and is a key tool for learning about the far side of our galaxy.
Watch NowNASA Unveils Design for Message Heading to Jupiter’s Moon Europa
When it launches in October, the agency’s Europa Clipper spacecraft will carry a richly layered dispatch that includes more than…
Read the StoryExplore our changing planet
Discover Earth as NASA sees it. Learn why this information matters to us all.
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.
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