NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration and is an American agency responsible for the research, development and implementation of civilian space travel, space research and aeronautics.
NASA was founded in 1958 as a reaction to the Soviet Union's success in the space race. Today, NASA is the primary agency in the United States for space research and development of spaceflight technology. They run many programs focused on exploring our solar system, including Mars exploration and planning manned missions to the Moon. NASA has also made many important technological and scientific advances that have had a positive impact on people's lives here on Earth, such as the development of waterproofing technology and modern medical treatments.