NASA

What NASA does

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is a U.S. federal independent agency established October 1, 1958 under the National Aeronautics and Space Act. It is the locus of U.S. civil space exploration, aeronautics research, and scientific discovery, operating 10+ major research centers, launch facilities, and testing complexes across the United States — including Johnson Space Center (Houston, human spaceflight), Kennedy Space Center (Cape Canaveral, launch operations), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena, robotic planetary missions), Marshall Space Flight Center (Huntsville, propulsion), Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, Earth science and observatories), and others. Core capabilities span propulsion systems, life support, communications, navigation, and materials science for extreme environments.

The agency's product portfolio includes flagship space telescopes (James Webb, Hubble, Chandra, TESS, Swift), the Artemis human spaceflight program, the International Space Station as an orbital research laboratory, planetary exploration assets (Perseverance Mars Rover, OSIRIS-REx), Earth observation satellites (PACE), and supporting technologies such as Navigation Doppler Lidar, Terrain Relative Navigation, and Roll-Out Solar Arrays (ROSA). The Space Technology Mission Directorate operates innovation programs including NIAC, Flight Opportunities, SBIR/STTR small business programs, and the Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative. Public-facing distribution is handled through NASA+ streaming, mobile applications, the TechPort technology database, and social channels reaching global audiences.

NASA is funded entirely through U.S. Congressional appropriations — it does not generate commercial revenue and provides scientific data, imagery, and educational resources to the global public at no charge. Its customer base spans general public engagement, K-12 through graduate students (2,000+ interns annually via OSTEM/Pathways), academic and research institutions, the commercial space industry through contracting and SBIR/STTR, international agencies (ESA, JAXA, CSA, Roscosmos), and other U.S. government partners (NOAA, DOD). Citizen science programs have produced 450+ co-authors on refereed publications, and Centennial Challenges prize competitions drive external technology development.

Name

NASA

Legal name

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Website

https://nasa.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

NASA is a U.S. federal agency conducting civil space exploration, aeronautics research, and scientific discovery. It operates research centers across the United States, develops space telescopes and human spaceflight systems, and serves global audiences through free scientific data, educational resources, and citizen science programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civilian Space Exploration

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Space Research and Technology (92711), Space Research and Technology (927), Space Research and Technology (927110), Space Research and Technology (9271)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI), Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters (IMABACAE), Spacecraft Integration, Assembly & Test (IAT) (IMABACAK), Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF), Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal) (IMABACAM), International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK)

Keywords

• Space exploration
• Aeronautics research
• Human spaceflight
• Space telescopes
• Planetary science

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

NASA is the U.S. federal civilian space agency that conducts space exploration, aeronautics research, and scientific discovery through human spaceflight programs (Artemis, International Space Station), robotic missions (Perseverance Mars rover, OSIRIS-REx), space telescopes (James Webb, Hubble, Chandra, TESS), and Earth observation satellites (PACE). The agency provides free public access to scientific data, mission imagery, educational resources, and streaming content via NASA+, and supports innovation through SBIR/STTR programs, Centennial Challenges, and STEM engagement programs serving over 2,000 students annually.

Product overview

NASA operates as a government space agency offering a diverse portfolio of space exploration products and services including space telescopes (James Webb Space Telescope, Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, TESS), human spaceflight programs (Artemis, International Space Station), planetary exploration (Perseverance Mars Rover, OSIRIS-REx), and Earth observation (PACE satellite). The agency provides streaming content through NASA+, mobile applications, and maintains technology platforms like TechPort. NASA supports the innovation ecosystem through SBIR/STTR small business programs, Centennial Challenges prize competitions (LunaRecycle, Mars to Table), and educational programs including OSTEM and Pathways internships serving over 2,000 students annually. Technology development is coordinated through STMD programs including Flight Opportunities, NIAC research, and various technology demonstration initiatives advancing lunar surface technologies, space weather prediction, and navigation systems like Navigation Doppler Lidar and Terrain Relative Navigation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NASA+: NASA's streaming service featuring video content about space missions, documentaries, and science programming.
• NASA STEM Engagement
• Centennial Challenges

Products and services

• NASA+ NASA's free streaming service providing original video content including mission coverage, documentaries, and educational programming available via web, mobile apps, and connected TV platforms globally.
• NASA Apps
• TechPort

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 1,200 LunaRecycle Challenge registrations in Phase 1 - most in 20-year Centennial Challenges history
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The University of Alabama College of EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2025NASA partners with The University of Alabama College of Engineering to manage the LunaRecycle Challenge, which develops recycling solutions for long-duration space missions. The partnership provides university research engagement and student involvement in NASA technology development.
• AI SpaceFactorycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2025Former Centennial Challenge winner AI SpaceFactory provides environmental sustainability expertise and challenge coordination for LunaRecycle. The partnership leverages previous competition winner experience to advance NASA's waste management technology goals.
• VeoliaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2025Environmental sustainability industry member contributing expertise to LunaRecycle Challenge. Veolia provides knowledge in waste management and resource recovery for the competition.
• BoeingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoeing partners with NASA on the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project, developing aircraft with Transonic Truss-Braced Wing configuration to advance fuel efficiency in commercial aviation.
• ESA (European Space Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESA collaborates with NASA on multiple missions including the Euclid space telescope, SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory), and Gateway lunar space station. The partnership includes joint missions, instrument sharing, and international space exploration coordination.
• International Space Station Partners (CSA, ESA, JAXA, Roscosmos)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA collaborates with international agencies on International Space Station operations, research, and crew rotations. Partnership enables continuous human presence in space and shared research facilities.
• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA collaborates with NOAA on space weather prediction and Earth observation missions. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center serves as the operational arm while NASA provides research observations.
• U.S. Department of DefenseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOD partners with NASA on shared technology interests including propulsion testing, launch capabilities, and space situational awareness. Collaboration enables efficient use of government launch infrastructure.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• China National Space Administration (CNSA): CNSA is China's national space agency with a parallel program to NASA's - lunar exploration (Chang'e), Mars missions (Tianwen), space station (Tiangong), and human spaceflight. It is a direct peer in mission scope and geopolitical competition for space exploration leadership.
• Canadian Space Agency (CSA): CSA is the Canadian space agency and a core ISS partner providing Canadarm robotics and crew members. As a national civil space agency with a defined mandate and budget, it is a direct peer in the international space agency ecosystem in which NASA operates.
• European Space Agency (ESA): ESA is the most direct international counterpart to NASA, operating as an intergovernmental civil space agency with comparable missions (Euclid, SOHO, Gateway collaboration), international partner relationships, and a similar mandate of scientific exploration, Earth observation, and human spaceflight coordination.
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO): ISRO is India's national space agency with comparable capabilities in launch, planetary exploration (Chandrayaan, Mars Orbiter Mission), and Earth observation. It operates with a similar institutional structure as a government civilian space agency at a smaller budget scale.
• Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA): JAXA is Japan's national space agency and an ISS partner, with comparable roles in human spaceflight coordination, robotic exploration, ISS module contribution (Kibo), and Gateway partnership. It operates at smaller scale but with a similar civil/mandate structure as NASA.
• Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos): Roscosmos is the Russian civil space agency and historically a core ISS partner. Despite recent geopolitical tensions, it remains a peer in operating space stations, launching crewed missions, and conducting planetary exploration, with comparable institutional challenges related to funding volatility.

Others

• Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman is a NASA contractor on the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) for Gateway, Cygnus cargo missions to ISS, and James Webb Space Telescope sunshield. It is a peer in space structures, mechanisms, and orbital systems delivery.
• Boeing: Boeing is a core NASA contractor on the Space Launch System, Starliner crew vehicle, and Sustainable Flight Demonstrator. While primarily a commercial aerospace company, it is a key peer in space systems integration and a long-standing institutional partner of NASA across human spaceflight.
• Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin is a major NASA contractor on Orion spacecraft, Mars missions, and various space science payloads. While a defense/aerospace prime rather than a peer agency, it functions as a peer in space systems manufacturing and scientific instrument development.

Emerging players

• SpaceX: SpaceX is NASA's primary commercial launch partner and increasingly a peer in capability for human spaceflight (Crew Dragon), lunar lander development (HLS Starship), and deep space exploration. While not a government agency, it competes with NASA on execution speed and is reshaping the agency's role from implementer to anchor customer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NASA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NASA
• Facebookfacebook.com/NASA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nasa
• Instagraminstagram.com/nasa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about NASA