NASA at 68: America must lead on the Moon, Mars and beyond—or China will

On July 29, America will celebrate the birth of the agency that transformed the impossible into the inevitable. For 68 years, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has led the world in space exploration.

From the Mercury missions to Apollo and the space shuttle program to Artemis, NASA has always represented something larger than rockets and astronauts. It is a reminder that when America leads with courage, innovation and purpose, the world follows.

Today, that leadership is being tested once again.