There are NASA facilities across the United States and internationally. NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. provides overall policy direction and leadership for the agency. Ten field centers manage and execute NASA's programs and activities, with all other facilities assigned to the authority of at least one of these centers.
In 2013, a report by the NASA Office of Inspector General recommended the creation of a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)-style process to consolidate underutilized facilities. The report found that at least 33 of NASA's 155 facilities were underutilized.
NASA has ten field centers. Four were inherited from its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), two were transferred from the United States Army, and four were commissioned and built by the agency after its formation in 1958.
Langley Research Center located in Hampton, Virginia, was established in 1917 by NACA and is the oldest of NASA's field centers. The center is named after aviation pioneer Samuel Langley. The center conducts research in aeronautics and spaceflight, with aeronautics accounting for the majority of its work. It operates numerous wind tunnels used to study aircraft and spacecraft performance and safety. Langley also supported early human spaceflight programs, housing the Space Task Group responsible for Project Mercury until its relocation to Houston.
Ames Research Center located at Moffett Field in Northern California, was established on December 20, 1939 and named after NACA founding member Joseph Sweetman Ames. Originally focused on wind tunnel research for propeller-driven aircraft, Ames has expanded to include work in aeronautics, spaceflight, and information technology. Its research areas include astrobiology, small satellites, robotic exploration, and thermal protection systems.
Glenn Research Center located in Brook Park, Ohio, was established in 1942 as a laboratory for aircraft engine research. It was renamed in 1999 in honor of astronaut and U.S. senator John Glenn. The center conducts research in propulsion, power systems, communications, and materials for aeronautics and spaceflight. It has contributed technologies to programs ranging from early human spaceflight to the International Space Station.
Armstrong Flight Research Center located at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California, originated as a NACA facility before 1946. It was renamed in 2014 in honor of astronaut Neil Armstrong. The center conducts flight research using experimental and modified aircraft.
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) located in La Cañada Flintridge in Southern California, became part of NASA at its formation. The name reflects its original focus on jet-assisted propulsion systems. Managed by the California Institute of Technology, it designs and operates robotic spacecraft for planetary, Earth science, and astronomy missions. JPL also operates NASA's Deep Space Network, with tracking stations in California, Spain, and Australia.
Marshall Space Flight Center located at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, was transferred from the U.S. Army to NASA in 1958. It is named after U.S. Army General and statesman George C. Marshall. The center led development of the Saturn V rocket and Skylab. It supports propulsion systems, payload integration, and elements of the International Space Station. The center also oversees the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.
Goddard Space Flight Center located in Greenbelt, Maryland, was established on March 1, 1959. It is named after American rocket pioneer Robert H. Goddard. The center develops and operates uncrewed scientific spacecraft and conducts research in Earth science, astrophysics, and planetary science. GSFC also manages spaceflight tracking networks and supports satellite programs, including those for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The center also oversees the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, the Goddard Institute for Space Studies at New York's Columbia University, and the Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation Facility in West Virginia.
Stennis Space Center located in Hancock County, Mississippi, was commissioned on October 25, 1961. It is named after U.S. senator John C. Stennis. The center serves as a major rocket engine test facility and is used by government and commercial organizations.
Johnson Space Center located in Houston, Texas, was established on November 1, 1961 as the Manned Spacecraft Center. It was renamed in 1973 in honor of U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson. The center is responsible for astronaut training, mission control, and human spaceflight operations. It houses the NASA Astronaut Corps and the Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center. The center also oversees the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico
Kennedy Space Center located in Florida near Cape Canaveral, was established in 1962 as the Launch Operations Center. It was renamed in 1963 in honor of U.S. president John F. Kennedy. The center serves as NASA's primary launch site for human spaceflight. The center includes the Vehicle Assembly Building, one of the largest structures by volume.