NASA

NASA’s work ranges from robotic missions and human spaceflight to Earth science, astronomy and aeronautics, giving the agency a role well beyond sending people into space. Its public missions and research make complex questions about planets, the Sun and Earth available through images, data and educational material. By our assessment, that mix of long-term scientific work and visible exploration makes NASA one of the most consequential public space agencies. It also operates within government budgets and mission constraints, so research priorities and schedules are not simply set by public curiosity. Its remit is broader than a space-tourism service or a company selling spacecraft. The work depends on sustained funding, specialist teams and projects that can take years to yield results.