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.

Monitor earth and Space weatheR

GOES-U Launch

VIPER robotic moon rover

Fly your name to the Moon

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.

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Dr. Nicola Fox speaking at a recent event in Washington, D.C.
Science Mission Directorate Associate Administrator, Dr. Nicola Fox, speaking at a recent event in Washington, D.C. about the success of the Parker Solar Probe mission.
NASA/Aubrey Gemignani
Featured Story

Total 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.

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Featured Missions

Our mission milestones showcase the breadth and depth of NASA science.

Artist concept of the GOES-U satellite in orbit around the earth

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.

artist's concept of Europa Clipper

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.

Illustration of NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) on the surface of the Moon

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!

Featured Story

NASA 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…

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The 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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What's out there?

Exploring the Sun's structure, behavior, and the effects of its radiant energy on the solar system and Earth.

Learning how protective magnetic fields surrounding planets shield them from solar wind and cosmic radiation.

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Studying the regions where Earth's atmosphere transitions into the ionized plasma of space.

Understanding how the invisible bubble surrounding our solar system is protecting life here on Earth.

Researching how environmental conditions in space can impact satellites, communications, and power grids on Earth.

Celebrating solar science and the Sun's influence on Earth and the solar system.