E-Library -Science-Plan

National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Headquarters
Washington, DC 20546-0001
March 10, 2025
I am pleased to share with you the 2025-2026 update to the NASA Science Plan: A Vision for Scientific Excellence, which reflects several important updates to our activities in the Science Mission Directorate (SMD). As the Associate Administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, I supervise a large portion of the Nation’s Earth and space science research program. From this perspective, I see the unique interconnections and synergies across our 100+ science missions and our research programs. While each discipline is focused on a particular area of science, all of our work is interdisciplinary and cross-cutting.
The updates to this existing plan are focused on the inclusion of recent accomplishments rather than significant structural changes. These refinements ensure the plan remains current and reflects recent progress while a planning begins for a more comprehensive 4-year update. The forthcoming update will align with the development of the next agency-wide NASA Strategic Plan in 2026, ensuring a cohesive approach to our future priorities and goals. The past year was another busy and successful year for NASA Science. We saw new corners of the universe in stunning detail with the James Webb Space Telescope, analyzed samples from asteroid Bennu, and captured images of our Earth in a new spectrum of colors with the launch of PACE. We advanced a mission to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa to seek out markers indicating it could be compatible with sustaining life, and studied how a space environment impacts plants on the International Space Station. The entire continental United States was treated to a solar eclipse, and we observed our Sun through a period of intense activity that is continuing into 2025. Together, NASA’s missions are helping us understand life and its possibilities, near and far.
We use these data, the collective ingenuity of our science community, and advanced technology like artificial intelligence (AI) large language models to forecast and respond to emergency situations and improve the daily lives of people around the world. From single cells to entire galaxies, NASA uses data at many scales to help solve problems. I’m so proud of the NASA team and science community, and I’m looking forward to a great 2025, filled with more learning and discovery. As noted in previous updates to this plan, we remain steadfast in measuring success through our ability to: