Suggested Searches

Satellite image of central California with analysis from OPENET.
An image of Astrocytic scar in a human neurovascular model.
Magnetic fields in the Whirlpool galaxy reveal a chaotic scene in the outer spiral arms.

Science at Ames

Our unique interdisciplinary research community is engaged in Earth and space sciences, aeronautics and exploration. Located in the San Francisco Bay Area’s Silicon Valley, Ames embraces a rich culture of innovation, including the NASA Research Park that cultivates diverse partnerships with academia, industry, non-profit organizations and other government agencies in support of NASA’s mission. Support facilities at Ames include instrument development labs, environmental pressure chambers, thermal and vibration test facilities, NIST traceable radiometric and spectral calibration facilities, airborne platforms, supercomputers and a satellite Mission Design Center.

Vision
To be a world-leading science organization, which contributes substantially to NASA’s science mission enterprise.

Mission
To provide scientific leadership in research and flight missions, enabled by the excellence of a diverse workforce.

Vision and Mission of the Science Directorate at NASA Ames about Science at Ames

Science Divisions

The Science Directorate at NASA Ames conducts basic and applied research, and technology development, in the fields of astrobiology, astrophysics, planetary sciences, biological sciences and Earth sciences.

A pre-winter storm located just off the coast of southwestern Australia was photographed from the International Space Station on March 29, 2014

Earth Science

Developing tools that monitor the health of Earth from air and space with fleets of satellites and airborne science related missions.

Europa, a moon of Jupiter, appears as a thick crescent in this enhanced-color image from NASA's Galileo spacecraft, which has been orbiting Jupiter since 1995.

Space Science and Astrobiology

Examining our place in the universe by studying the origins and evolution of stars, planetary systems, and life.

An astronaut performs ISS operations in support of the Rodent Research-1 validation flight in late 2014.

Space Bioscience

Biological research and technology development necessary to tackle spaceflight challenges and enable NASA's long-term human exploration mission.