Missions
The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (Space Act) established NASA as an aerospace research and development agency that sponsors and conducts flight missions to obtain data in furtherance of its objectives. In NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD), flight missions range from suborbital projects—including balloons, sounding rockets, and airplanes—to interplanetary probes and flagship observatories. All investigations and missions selected and flown must respond to Agency goals and strategic objectives.
Mission opportunities are open to all proposers, within fixed rules, via public announcement, and selections are based primarily on scientific and technical merit as evaluated by independent peer review. Foreign partners are frequent and valued participants in joint missions. The partnerships are generally conducted on a cooperative, no-exchange-of-funds basis. NASA also works closely with a number of other Federal agencies to implement and support our flight missions. To learn more about mission planning and development, see section 3.3 of the Science Plan for NASA's Science Mission Directorate 2007 - 2016 (PDF 5.1 MB).
This page provides access to all SMD missions, with several options for viewing. Click on the column headers below to change your view. The "All" tab will provide you with a complete listing that can be sorted to suit your interests.
*Sort missions by clicking Launch Date, A-Z, or PHASE column headers.
Launch Date | A-Z | Phase |
---|---|---|
September 27, 2007 | Operating | |
January 12, 2005 | Operating | |
January 12, 2005 | Operating | |
October 24, 1998 | Past | |
TBD | Under Study | |
January 13, 1993 | Past | |
August 03, 1981 | Past | |
November 21, 2000 | Operating | |
December 02, 1997 | Past | |
October 05, 1984 | Past | |
July 17, 1991 | Past | |
February 03, 1966 | Past | |
June 07, 1992 | Past | |
2013 | Under Study | |
August 21, 1996 | Operating | |
June 11, 2008 | Operating | |
June 24, 1999 | Past | |
April 28, 2003 | Operating | |
October 18, 1989 | Past | |
August 08, 2001 | Past | |
March 12, 1985 | Past | |
July 24, 1992 | Operating | |
June 16, 2009 | Development | |
October 16, 1975 | Past | |
September 09, 1980 | Past | |
April 13, 1994 | Operating | |
May 04, 2006 | Operating | |
June 01, 2013 | Under Study | |
March 17, 2002 | Operating | |
September 01, 2011 | Under Study | |
April 20, 2004 | Past | |
February 12, 1997 | Past | |
May 09, 2003 | Operating | |
October 31, 2008 | Development | |
October 09, 2000 | Past | |
September 23, 2006 | Operating | |
August 08, 1989 | Past | |
April 24, 1990 | Operating | |
October 19, 2008 | Operating | |
January 12, 2003 | Operating | |
2015 | Under Study | |
October 29, 1998 | Past | |
2013 | Under Study | |
March 25, 2000 | Past | |
October 26, 1973 | Past | |
October 17, 2002 | Operating | |
October 22, 1997 | Past | |
November 17, 1995 | Past | |
January 26, 1978 | Past |