NASA Powerlifting is a drug-free, family-oriented strength federation where first-time competitors and accomplished champions share the same platform, the same standards, and the same belief that powerlifting should still be fun. In 1978, Richard Peters directed a local powerlifting meet in Noble, Oklahoma. At the time, it was one competition in one small town. In hindsight, it was the first step in a lifetime of building meets, developing lifters, training officials, and creating a place where drug-free strength athletes could compete on an even playing field. NASA Powerlifting was officially established on February 22, 1990, during the Natural Nationals in Reno, Nevada, which ran through February 25. That championship became one of the federation’s defining traditions and the beginning of the Natural Athlete Strength Association as its own organization. From those beginnings, NASA grew into a traveling federation serving lifters across more than twenty states. Local, State, Regional, Open, Grand, and National championships give new lifters a welcoming place to start while preserving events with decades of history behind them. The history is not tucked away in storage. It is still visible in the meets, traditions, awards, and people carrying NASA forward today. Rich Peters directs his first competition in Noble, Oklahoma, beginning a meet-promoting career that would span generations. Powerlifting USA describes Rich Peters as “The World’s Most Prolific Meet Director,” reflecting the scale and consistency of his work. The Natural Nationals in Reno becomes the official starting point of the Natural Athlete Strength Association. NASA expands strength competition through Rich Peters’ Power Sports format, featuring the strict curl, bench press, and deadlift. The National Awards banquet reflects a culture that celebrates performance, consistency, volunteer work, and commitment across an entire season. 36 years after NASA’s founding, the mission remains familiar: fair competition, drug-free strength, memorable awards, and a community that helps one another. NASA meets are built to matter—without making new lifters feel like outsiders. NASA was formed around organized, consistent rules and a true drug-free environment—not as a later addition, but as part of the federation’s identity. Husbands, wives, parents, children, training partners, and multi-generation families regularly compete and volunteer together. New lifters are not expected to know everything. Officials, staff, coaches, and experienced competitors help make the first meet understandable. NASA staff transport the equipment, set the platform, run the competition, and tear it all back down—bringing a consistent meet experience from state to state. Sculptured trophies, championship belts, annual honors, and long-running awards programs make accomplishments feel like part of a larger history. The same plates have carried attempt after attempt through decades of NASA history. Every new personal record joins the story already written on that platform. You bring the training. NASA provides the platform, the standards, and people who want to see you succeed. Start with the schedule and pick the competition that fits your location, date, and event goals. The online registration and membership systems guide you through divisions, events, and required information. Review legal attire, lift commands, weigh-in information, and drug-testing policy before meet day. Contact the NASA office or meet director when anything is unclear. There is no prize for arriving confused. Compete hard, support the flight, listen for commands, and enjoy becoming part of NASA history. On March 14, 2025, Tad and Rich Peters were traveling toward a NASA competition in Kokomo, Indiana, when they stopped in Rolla, Missouri. Tornado sirens sounded, traffic pulled from the interstate, and a tornado passed their parked truck while Tad recorded the scene. The footage spread far beyond powerlifting. Tad appeared as himself in Season 3, Episode 1 of Discovery Channel and HBO Max’s In the Eye of the Storm, titled “Tornado Torrent 2025,” and the story was carried by major television, weather, and news outlets. It is an unexpected chapter in NASA history—but also a fitting picture of the organization: father and son, equipment in the truck, still headed toward the next meet. Before social media feeds and livestreams, Powerlifting USA was the sport’s national record of lifters, meets, rankings, and personalities. NASA’s repeated cover presence reflects how visible its competitions and people became during that era. That 1986 description of Rich Peters captures one reason NASA endured: the work was never only about creating an organization. It was about repeatedly loading the trailer, setting the platform, running the meet, recording the results, and doing it again for the next group of lifters. NASA’s Executive Committee connects the federation’s history with the work happening now—from records and equipment to officiating, governance, and the next generation of competitions. Founder, owner, and president of NASA Powerlifting, guiding the federation’s mission, standards, and long-term direction. Vice president and records chairman, supporting federation operations and the administration of NASA records. Equipment chairman, helping maintain consistent competition equipment and meet-day platform standards. Chief national referee, providing leadership for officiating, referee development, and consistent rule enforcement. Social media belongs on this page because NASA’s history is still being made every meet weekend. Follow the federation for schedules, entries, awards, videos, lifter stories, and behind-the-scenes travel. Questions about meets, membership, records, or federation operations are welcome. Come for the competition. Remember the people, the atmosphere, and the feeling of making a lift while the whole room gets behind you.Built on history. Powered by lifters.
One local meet started a chain reaction.
Lift and have fun on an even playing field—the old-school way.
Milestones that shaped NASA Powerlifting
The first meet
National recognition
NASA is established
Power Sports is created
Awards become tradition
The next generation
Serious competition without losing the human side.
Drug-Free by Foundation
Family-Oriented Meets
A Place for First-Timers
A Traveling Meet Crew
Awards with Personality
Old-School Continuity
What a new lifter can expect
Choose a meet
Register and become a member
Learn the essentials
Ask questions early
Lift and have fun
A road trip to a meet became part of a national weather story.
“The World’s Most Prolific Meet Director.”
The people leading NASA forward
Rich Peters
Founder / Owner & President
Tad Peters
Vice President & Records Chairman
Seth Ford
Equipment Chairman
Chris Riley
Chief National Referee
Follow the next chapter of NASA Powerlifting
The bar is loaded. Your place in the story is next.
Every generation has a place here.
NASA meets bring youth, high-school, adult, and masters lifters together with families, coaches, teams, and friends.
NASA Team Challenge Generations
An adult and youth lifter represent NASA together in matching Team Challenge jackets.
High School Team Champions
A full high-school team celebrates together after a successful NASA Nationals.
A Family Celebration
Adults and children share the excitement of medals, plaques, and trophies.
Team Ohio
A large state team gathers with trophies after the competition.
Chain Breakers Team
A multigenerational team lineup celebrates meet-day accomplishments.
Masters Champions
Experienced lifters continue building NASA history together.
Youth Competition Group
A large group of young competitors celebrates together at the end of the meet.
A Young Winner and Family
A family shares a youth athlete’s award moment.
Equipped Lifters Together
Two competitors share a platform-side moment after lifting.
Mettle of the Gym Winners
Youth and adult lifters celebrate specialty recognition together.
Meet Community
Competitors and supporters gather around a meet and venue keepsake.
A Trophy for the Whole Family
A family gathers around a young competitor’s trophy.
Youth Champions With Rich Peters
Two young competitors celebrate their awards with NASA founder Rich Peters.
Championship Team Moment
Lifters and supporters gather with a NASA championship belt.
Youth Division Winners
Four young competitors proudly display their NASA awards.
Student and Team Champions
A large group of young adult competitors celebrates medals, plaques, and trophies.
Women and Youth Lifters
Women and younger competitors gather together at a NASA meet.
Women’s National Champions
Three women celebrate with major trophies and awards at NASA Nationals.
Platform Friendship
Two members of the NASA community share a moment beside the competition platform.
Masters Award Winners
Experienced competitors celebrate their accomplishments together.
Meet Crew Selfie
A candid platform-side moment with NASA staff and volunteers.
Women Champions Together
Five women celebrate their NASA awards as a group.
Men’s Team Champions
A men’s team gathers with trophies after a strong meet performance.
Men’s Division Champions
Men’s division winners gather with trophies and plaques.
Youth Champions Group
Young lifters celebrate their awards together after competition.
Champions of Every Generation
Youth, adult, and masters lifters share the awards platform.
Family and Team Trophy
A family and team group gathers around a major NASA trophy.
State Champions
A state team celebrates a collection of NASA awards.
College and Team Winners
Young adult competitors gather with team and individual awards.
Team Trophy Celebration
A team poses together with its championship trophy.
Women of Strength
Women competitors gather together between or after their events.
Multigenerational Team Champions
A team spanning multiple generations celebrates its awards.
The Whole Meet Together
A large NASA group gathers for a shared meet photograph.
Team Champions With the Big Trophy
A team celebrates with a towering championship trophy.
Deadlift Celebration
A successful pull ends in a burst of platform emotion.
Women’s Team Champions
A women’s team celebrates with trophies and plaques.
Meet-Day Personality
A playful selfie captures the fun and friendships behind a NASA meet.
A Masters Champion
A longtime NASA competitor proudly raises a championship belt.
Record Holder Gear
A decorated gym bag and record-holder patch capture the personality lifters bring to meet day.
Two Outstanding Lifters
Two teammates celebrate with distinctive NASA trophies.
Team Championship Celebration
A full team gathers around a towering trophy after the awards ceremony.
The Whole Meet With Its Awards
Lifters from across the meet gather with trophies and medals.
Youth and High School Holiday Champions
A huge group of young lifters celebrates a holiday meet with plaques, medals, and trophies.
Young Champion With a Towering Trophy
A youth or high-school competitor proudly holds a major NASA trophy.
Young Lifters Between Attempts
Two young competitors share a relaxed moment during the meet.
High School Medal and Trophy Winners
Young teammates and coaches celebrate a successful NASA competition.
Young Champion With Her Coach
A young lifter displays a championship medal and specialty plaque beside her coach.
Championship Medal and Plaque
A high-school lifter celebrates her title with a coach and teammate.
High School Girls Championship Team
A girls powerlifting team and coaches celebrate their NASA championship results.
Girls Team Trophy Winners
A high-school girls team gathers with a full collection of trophies.
Team Champions on the Platform
A mixed team celebrates with individual and team trophies.
Women’s Championship Awards
Women competitors and coaches gather with medals, plaques, and trophies.
A Family Award Moment
A young winner shares her first-place plaque with the whole family.
Thumbs Up After the Meet
A lifter and meet staff member share a well-earned post-meet moment.
The Scoring Table Crew
Officials and longtime contributors keep meet operations moving from the table.
Women Lifters Together
Four women competitors share a meet-day team photograph.
A Meet Full of Winners
Competitors gather with plaques and trophies at the end of the day.
Platform Staff and Lifters
A relaxed group photograph around the bench rack after competition.
The Crew and the Foam Roller
A lighthearted training-room moment shows the friendships around the sport.
Meet Crew Cupcake Break
A funny candid reminds everyone that meet day includes a little personality too.
The Meet Crew and Mascot
A friendly staff photograph captures the people—and dog—behind the platform.
New Mexico Trophy Winners
Three lifters display trophies, medals, and plaques after the meet.
Thorbecke’s Team Champions
A longtime team gathers with a towering trophy beneath an earlier NASA banner.
Team Awards and Brotherhood
A team celebrates its awards together at the end of competition.
The people who make the platform run.
Officials, spotters, loaders, staff, and volunteers keep every attempt moving safely and fairly.
The Platform Team at Work
A bench attempt brings the lifter, spotters, loaders, and officials together.
Behind the Meet
A candid moment with members of the meet crew behind the curtain.
Meet Community
Competitors and supporters gather around a meet and venue keepsake.
A Full NASA Meet in Progress
A wide view of the platform, audience, banners, and competition atmosphere.
After the Attempt
A lifter shares a platform moment with the crowd and meet staff nearby.
States Represented at NASA
State flags create a colorful backdrop for a national competition.
Christmas Meet Platform
A festive NASA platform is prepared for holiday competition.
The Referee’s View
A NASA official watches a standing Power Sports lift from the best seat in the house.
Meet Crew Selfie
A candid platform-side moment with NASA staff and volunteers.
Waiting for the Platform
A lifter prepares backstage before the next attempt.
Bar Loaded Backstage
A lifter waits near a heavily loaded bar before entering the platform.
Final Preparation
A lifter receives belt and equipment help before the next attempt.
Deadlift Preparation
A competitor prepares behind the curtain before taking the platform.
Rest Between Attempts
A lifter recovers and resets before returning to the platform.
Coaching Behind the Curtain
A coach and lifter work through final preparation backstage.
Meet-Day Personality
A playful selfie captures the fun and friendships behind a NASA meet.
Running the Meet Before the Cloud
A historic scoring-table photograph preserves an earlier generation of NASA meet operations.
Thumbs Up After the Meet
A lifter and meet staff member share a well-earned post-meet moment.
Bench Crew Between Attempts
Lifters and spotters reset around the bench platform.
The Scoring Table Crew
Officials and longtime contributors keep meet operations moving from the table.
Watching the Platform
A meet official stays close to the action and ready for the next attempt.
Platform Staff and Lifters
A relaxed group photograph around the bench rack after competition.
The Crew and the Foam Roller
A lighthearted training-room moment shows the friendships around the sport.
Meet Crew Cupcake Break
A funny candid reminds everyone that meet day includes a little personality too.
Platform Crew Huddle
Staff gather around the rack to plan the next stage of meet day.
The Meet Crew and Mascot
A friendly staff photograph captures the people—and dog—behind the platform.
The Platform Before the Next Flight
A wide venue view shows the NASA stage, flags, equipment, and officials between attempts.