Galaxy Guidebook: NASA Explained

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the United States government agency responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research. Established in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in response to the Soviet Union's launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, NASA has been at the forefront of space exploration, technology, and research for over six decades.