What agency maintains the U.S. space program?

The agency that maintains the U.S. space program is NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It is the United States government agency responsible for the nation’s civilian space program and for research in aeronautics and space.

NASA was created in 1958 during the early Space Race, after the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik heightened concern about American technological capabilities. It succeeded the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, or NACA, and officially began operations on October 1, 1958.

NASA has led or managed landmark programs including Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, the Space Shuttle, the International Space Station and Artemis. It also operates major science missions involving Earth observation, planetary exploration, astrophysics and heliophysics. The wording can be simplified in a quiz: NASA oversees civilian space activities, while military and intelligence space work is handled by other U.S. organizations such as the Space Force and National Reconnaissance Office.