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 dynamic workforce.
March 2, 2026
Science Nugget of the Week
Future Methane Emission from Lakes and Reservoirs
A global, data-driven model estimated for the first time that methane released from lake and reservoir surfaces could change over the coming decades under a range of future environmental conditions. These emissions were recently estimated to account for 10% of global methane emissions.
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.
Earth Science
Developing tools that monitor the health of Earth from air and space with fleets of satellites and airborne science related missions.
Space Science and Astrobiology
Examining our place in the universe by studying the origins and evolution of stars, planetary systems, and life.
Space Bioscience
Biological research and technology development necessary to tackle spaceflight challenges and enable NASA's long-term human exploration mission.
