The initials NASA stand for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Established in 1958, NASA is the United States government agency responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA's mission includes the exploration of outer space, the development of space technologies, and scientific research to better understand the universe. It is renowned for significant achievements such as the Apollo moon-landing missions, the Space Shuttle program, and the ongoing exploration of Mars and other celestial bodies, contributing vastly to our knowledge of space and science.