Reading NASA material: find the original entry before following a repost

The entry evidence used in this guide

The USAGov directory lists the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and its Website link points to https://www.nasa.gov/. This verifies the relationship between the institutional name and primary entry; it does not endorse every online item carrying the NASA name.

Sources for this section：USAGov · U.S. General Services Administration

Read the original context before deciding what it means

When a headline, screenshot or short video attracts attention, return to the original page and check the complete title, publication date, body and related notices. Record separately what the original says, the republisher’s summary and your own inference to avoid mixing different levels of information.

If the content concerns changing plans, developments or figures, keep the original date. An old page can be authentic material, but it should not be restated as a current conclusion without its time context.

Citing a source does not grant unrestricted use of all its material

Before using an image, video or text in your own work, check that item’s credit, media notice and applicable terms. Do not infer unrestricted republication rights merely because it appears on an official website, or use a layout that implies the original institution endorses your product.

If you cannot yet find the original page, date or source of a widely shared item, keep it as a lead to check rather than rushing to a definitive conclusion.

Keep enough context with a saved reference

When saving a reference, also record its page title, original URL, publication date and your access date. Explicitly label any personal interpretation in your notes. If the page later changes, this context is more useful for reconstructing what you read than a screenshot alone.