Science Mission Directorate

Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is a division of NASA that is responsible for carrying out scientific research and exploration missions in space. SMD's main objective is to understand the universe and our place in it by studying the Earth, the Sun, our solar system, and the wider universe. SMD manages a wide range of missions, including robotic exploration of other planets and moons, astrophysics research, heliophysics research, and Earth science research. SMD also supports the development of new technologies and instruments that enable scientific discovery in space. Through its research and exploration missions, SMD seeks to answer fundamental questions about the origins and evolution of the universe, the formation of planets and stars, and the potential for life beyond Earth.
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