NASA is on a thrilling quest to uncover the secrets of our solar system's origins and evolution! From the enigmatic past to the potential for life on distant worlds, our planetary science missions are at the forefront of exploration.

Through cutting-edge robotic missions to planets and smaller celestial bodies, our sophisticated instruments are like time machines. They peel back layers of cosmic history, revealing the very building blocks that shaped our solar system and the processes that led to its current state.

This groundbreaking research isn't just about our cosmic neighborhood; it extends to studying exoplanets and far-off galaxies as part of NASA’s astrophysics programs. Moreover, tracking small celestial bodies, such as asteroids, is key to planetary defense, ensuring we’re prepared against potential threats from space—even though there are no immediate concerns!

The direction of NASA’s planetary science is guided significantly by the scientific community, particularly through comprehensive reports from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) produced every decade. These crucial surveys pose essential science questions and detail how data from NASA's missions—past, present, and future—can answer them. The latest survey is titled "Origins, Worlds, and Life: Planetary Science and Astrobiology in the Next Decade, 2023-2032."

In addition to these scientific inspirations, NASA's missions are influenced by government priorities and funding decisions, ensuring that the exploration of our universe remains a top priority.