Centers

NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC provides overall guidance and direction to the agency, under the leadership of the Administrator, Bill Nelson. The five Mission Directorates are based at NASA Headquarters. However, much of the work performed by NASA is done elsewhere. Ten field centers and a variety of installations conduct the day-to-day work, in laboratories, on airfields, in wind tunnels and in control rooms.

The map below shows the locations for each center, which are spread across the country.

Source: NASA

The locations and brief description of capabilities of NASA’s centers and facilities are identified below:

Ames Research Center

Moffett Federal Airfield, California

Karen C. Bradford
Director of Partnerships
650-604-2251

Ames Capabilities

  • Air Traffic Management
  • Entry Systems
  • Advanced Computing and IT Systems
  • Intelligent/Adaptive Systems
  • Small Spacecraft Technology and Missions
  • Astrobiology and Life Science
  • Space and Earth Sciences

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Edwards Air Force Base, California

Samantha Hull
661-276-3368

Armstrong Capabilities

  • Spacecraft/Aircraft Loads, Instrumentation & Systems Integration
  • Thermal & Ground Testing
  • Thermal Analysis & Systems Development
  • Flight Testing of Unique Research Vehicles & Space Systems
  • Enable Low-cost Access on Commercial Suborbital Space Platforms
  • Global Atmospheric Research

Glenn Research Center, including Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility

Cleveland, Ohio and Sandusky, OH

Harvey L. Schabes
Chief, Technology Transfer Office
216-433-5309

Glenn Capabilities

  • Air-Breathing Propulsion
  • Electric Propulsion
  • Power Systems
  • Communications
  • Materials
  • Physical Sciences
  • Major Test Facilities including Aero-Propulsion Wind Tunnels & Engine Test Cells
  • R&D Labs including the World’s Largest Vacuum Facility

Goddard Space Flight Center, including Wallops Flight Facility

Greenbelt, Maryland and Wallops Island, Virginia

Darryl R. Mitchell
Chief, Strategic Partnerships Office
301-286-5169

Goddard Capabilities

  • Earth System Observation & Modeling
  • Instrument Development & Miniaturization and Characterization
  • Distributed Sensing
  • Space Weather
  • Spacecraft Development & Integration
  • Robotic Acquisition, Servicing & Assembly
  • Space Communications
  • Launch Range and Suborbital Services

Headquarters

Washington, D.C.

Joseph F. Kroener
Director, NASA Partnerships Office
202-358-2558

Click here to watch A message from the Director

Kent Bress
Director, Aeronautics and Cross Agency Support Division
Office of International and Interagency Relations
202-358-0269

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

Pasadena, California

Louise Hamlin
Manager, JPL Program Office
818-393-6048

JPL Capabilities

  • Remote Sensing Systems
  • Advanced Optics
  • Robotics & Autonomy
  • Communication & Navigation Systems
  • Avionics
  • Mission Design & Concurrent Engineering
  • Earth Science Research & Applications Development
  • Data Analytics

NOTE:  JPL is a Federally-Funded Research and Development Center operated on behalf of NASA by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).  Any partnership agreements committing JPL resources are subject to the review, approval, and execution by the NASA Management Office (NMO) at JPL, Nar Nazari, NMO Agreements Manager, 818-354-5619.

Johnson Space Center including White Sands Test Facility

Houston, Texas and Las Cruces, New Mexico

Sam Gunderson
Lead, Partnership Development

Johnson Capabilities

  • Human Spaceflight Design, Development, Systems Integration & Mission Operations
  • ISS Coordination & Access
  • Crew Training & Mission Planning
  • Life Support Systems
  • Space Suits
  • Human Health & Safety in Space
  • Orbital Debris
  • Facility Available for High-Pressure Oxygen Systems, Materials & Rocket Propellant Testing

Kennedy Space Center

Cape Canaveral, Florida

Robyn L. Mitchell
Chief, Partnerships Development Office
321-861-8038

Kennedy Capabilities

  • Launch & Landing Capabilities & Technologies
  • Available Land
  • Vehicle, Payload, Spacecraft & Small Satellite Processing
  • Integration & Testing
  • Plant Research & Production

Langley Research Center

Hampton, Virginia

Carrie Rhoades
Lead, Partnerships
757-864-8793

Langley Capabilities

  • Entry, Descent & Landing
  • Aerosciences
  • Atmospheric Characterization
  • Systems Analysis and Concepts
  • Advanced Materials and Structural Systems
  • Intelligent Flight Systems

Marshall Space Flight Center including Michoud Assembly Facility

Huntsville, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana

Preston Schmauch
Partnerships and Formulation Office
256-544-1218

Marshall Capabilities

  • Chemical Propulsion Development, Testing & Technology
  • Habitat & Environmental Control
  • Life Support Systems Development, Testing & Technology
  • Facility Available for Large Scale Manufacturing & Equipment

Stennis Space Center

Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Gary Taylor
Manager, Strategic Business Development
228-688-7244

Stennis Capabilities

  • Propulsion & Launch Systems Test & Technology
  • Test Operations & Engineering Consulting
  • Lease Opportunities for Commercial Space Activities
  • Small UAV & Lander Test Sites

Source: NASA

Updated September 2022 by Jennifer Ostromecki