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NASA is the U.S. civil space agency behind some of the most iconic achievements in modern history—from the Moon landings to the Space Shuttle era to today’s International Space Station and Artemis missions. It’s also a massive science-and-engineering organization with a budget, workforce, and global partnerships large enough to show up in real “by the numbers” stats.
Below is an updated 2026-ready roundup of NASA facts and statistics, including an answer box, key metrics table, and FAQs. Older data is preserved only when it’s labeled clearly by year.
NASA (Quick Facts)
NASA was established in 1958 and today employs just under 18,000 civil servants (with additional contractors and partners). The agency’s FY2026 enacted budget is widely reported at $24.4B in appropriations, with some analyses citing additional supplemental funding that would raise the FY2026 total. NASA’s biggest ongoing human-spaceflight platform is the International Space Station, which has hosted 290+ visitors and seen 277 spacewalks. On the science side, Hubble has made nearly 1.7 million observations and its archive is 400+ TB.
Key Metrics Table: NASA by the Numbers
| Metric | Stat | Year / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NASA established | 1958 | U.S. civil space agency formed |
| NASA civil servant workforce | Just under 18,000 | NASA description of workforce size |
| NASA workforce (OPM-based reporting) | 16,869 | Early 2026; measurement differs from NASA phrasing |
| FY2026 enacted NASA funding | $24.4B | Appropriations figure widely reported (Jan 2026) |
| People who have walked on the Moon | 12 | All Apollo, 1969–1972 |
| Space Shuttle era | 1981–2011 (30 years) | Total missions flown: 135 |
| ISS visitors | 290+ people | From 26 countries |
| ISS spacewalks | 277 | Since December 1998 |
| Hubble observations | ~1.7M | ESA reporting (as of Feb 2025) |
| Hubble archive size | 400+ TB | ESA reporting (as of Feb 2025) |
NASA Programs (Fast Timeline)
- Mercury: 1958–1963
- Gemini: 1961–1966
- Apollo: 1960–1972
- Space Shuttle: 1981–2011
- International Space Station: continuous human presence since 2000
- Artemis: NASA’s current Moon-to-Mars program (crew flights in development and testing)
International Space Station (ISS) Stats
- Visitors: Over 290 individuals from 26 countries have visited the ISS.
- Spacewalks: NASA reports 277 spacewalks at the ISS since December 1998.
- Speed: The ISS travels at roughly 5 miles per second.
- Orbit time: About 90 minutes per orbit.
Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Stats
Hubble launched in 1990 and continues to be one of the most productive observatories in history.
- Observations: nearly 1.7 million (as of Feb 2025)
- Targets: ~55,000 astronomical targets (as of Feb 2025)
- Archive size: 400+ terabytes (as of Feb 2025)
Astronaut Records (NASA)
- Most cumulative days in space (NASA record): Peggy Whitson — 675 days
- Longest single spaceflight (NASA record): Frank Rubio — 371 days
- Historical benchmark (older record): Scott Kelly — 340 days (2016 era record)
NASA Budget & Workforce (What the Numbers Mean)
NASA’s funding is set annually by Congress and is divided across major mission areas (science, exploration, aeronautics, technology, etc.). For FY2026, the enacted appropriations figure commonly reported is $24.4B. Some analyses add supplemental appropriations and cite a higher total for FY2026 overall. Workforce counts also vary depending on whether you’re looking at civil servants only vs. broader contractor/partner labor.
NASA Spinoffs (Tech That Shows Up on Earth)
NASA’s technology transfer program publishes an annual Spinoff report highlighting commercial products that benefit from NASA innovations. NASA says it has profiled 2,400+ spinoffs since 1976.
FAQ: NASA Facts
When was NASA established?
NASA was established in 1958.
How many people have walked on the Moon?
12 people have walked on the Moon (Apollo missions, 1969–1972).
How many Space Shuttle missions were flown?
NASA flew 135 Space Shuttle missions from 1981 to 2011.
How many people have visited the ISS?
NASA reports 290+ visitors from 26 countries have visited the International Space Station.
What’s the NASA record for time in space?
NASA lists Peggy Whitson as the record holder for cumulative time in space at 675 days. For single longest spaceflight, NASA lists Frank Rubio at 371 days.
