NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Act) is an Executive Branch agency of the US government established on July 29, 1958. The agency became operational on October 1, 1958. NASA headquarters is in Washington, D.C. It was previously known as the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) which was created in effect on the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik in 1957. NASA’s motto is: “For the benefit of all”.

Its goals include research and development of shuttles and activities for aeronautics and space exploration thus improving human knowledge of the universe, the solar system, and Earth. Since February 2006, NASA’s self-described mission statement is to “pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research. It is also responsible for long-term civilian and military aerospace research.NASA has conducted U.S. efforts for space exploration including the Apollo moon-landing missions, Space Shuttle, the Skylab space station and currently it is maintaining the International Space Station and developing manned Orion Spacecraft.  NASA’s mission is executed by four principal organizations known as Mission Directorates-

• Aeronautics who initiates new flight technologies to improve exploration.
• Exploration System which creates new spacecrafts and competence for sustainable human and robotic exploration such as New Horizon.
• Science organization explores the solar system, the Earth, the moon. It also obtains the benefits of space exploration for the society through the Earth Observing System
• Space Operations impart critical technologies through space shuttle, the International Space Station and flight support.

NASA has ten field centers and many installations to conduct work in the laboratories, control rooms, and airfields. NASA giant leap in technology includes- Satellite Television, Sat NAV, Google Earth, and Virtual Reality.