Aeronautics
Results achieved by NASA’s aeronautical innovators through the years directly benefit today’s air transportation system, the aviation industry, and the passengers and businesses who rely on those advances in flight every day. As a result, every U.S. commercial aircraft and U.S. air traffic control tower uses NASA-developed technology to improve efficiency and maintain safety.
Learn More![Members of an audience lift their phones to snap a photo of the recently revealed X-59 aircraft. The plane's long, sharp nose appears to jut out towards the audience.](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/afrc2024-0004-001orig.jpg?w=1024)
Exploration Systems
The Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate manages human exploration system development for lunar orbital, lunar surface, and Mars exploration. Artemis missions will open a new era of scientific discovery and economic opportunity on the Moon while validating operations and systems and preparing for human missions to Mars. Programs in the directorate include the Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, human landing systems, spacesuits, and Gateway.
Learn More![Orion spacecraft in the foreground and the Moon and Earth in the background on Flight Day 13 of the Artemis I mission. Orion reached its maximum distance from Earth during the Artemis I mission when it was 268,563 miles away from our home planet.](https://images-assets.nasa.gov/image/art001e000673/art001e000673~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1440&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint)
Mission Support
The Mission Support Directorate enables NASA’s missions by providing foundational support capabilities responsive to evolving mission needs. The directorate delivers services and capabilities that ensure NASA has the technical skills, physical assets, financial resources, and top talent to be successful while also providing novel, innovative, high-quality solutions and leading-edge enterprise services to empower NASA customers, partners, and employees.
Learn More![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 mission to the International Space Station Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023.](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/nasas-spacex-crew-7-launch.jpg?w=1024)
Science
The Science Mission Directorate 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. From exoplanet research to better understanding Earth’s climate to understanding the influence of the sun on our planet and the solar system, the directorate’s work is interdisciplinary and collaborative.
Learn More![NASA'S Europa Clipper Spacecraft](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/europa-clipper.jpg?w=1024)
Space Operations
The Space Operations Mission Directorate maintains a continuous human presence in space for the benefit of people on Earth. The programs within the directorate are the heart of NASA’s space exploration efforts, enabling Artemis, commercial space, science, and other agency missions through communication, launch services, research capabilities, and crew support.
Learn More![iss068e045241 (Feb. 2, 2023) --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Nicole Mann is pictured in her Extravehicular Mobility Unit, or spacesuit, during her second spacewalk. She and fellow spacewalker Koichi Wakata (out of frame) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) installed a modification kit on the International Space Station's starboard truss structure that will enable the future installation of the orbiting lab's next roll-out solar array.](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/nasa-astronaut-nicole-mann-during-her-second-spacewalk-52672742797-o-1.jpg?w=1024)
Space Technology
Technology drives exploration and the space economy. NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate aims to transform future missions while ensuring American leadership in aerospace. The directorate develops, demonstrates, and transfers new space technologies that benefit NASA, commercial, and other government missions.
Learn More![A person on the right puts a small box-like structure into a dispenser as the person on the left holds the dispenser steady. In the background, a person documents the process with a smart phone camera.](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/acd23-0129-015-2.jpg?w=913)
Directorate Leadership
Latest News
Careers at NASA
Align your talents with your passion and find out why NASA consistently is named a best place to work in the federal government. At NASA, you'll have an opportunity to work on unique and challenging projects that truly make an impact on humanity.
Explore Opportunities about Careers at NASA![The VIPER Rover in Simulated Lunar Operations Laboratory](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/grc-2022-c-04467.jpg?w=1041)