does it do any sort of research?
Yes - aeronautics research; the Earth science research program; researching astrophysics topics such as the Big Bang, through the Great Observatories and associated programs.
NASA
NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate conducts aeronautics research.

NASA has made use of technologies such as the multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG), which is a type of radioisotope thermoelectric generator used to power spacecraft. Shortages of the required plutonium-238 have curtailed deep space missions since the turn of the millennium. An example of a spacecraft that was not developed because of a shortage of this material was "New Horizons 2".

The Earth science research program was created and first funded in the 1980s under the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
who is the second person step on moon Buzz Aldrin where was he born? Glen Ridge, New Jersey, United States when? January 20, 1930 which space agency did he work in? NASA what does it stand for? National Aeronautics and Space Administration when was it established? 1958 which was it's first mission? Project Mercury - On May 5, 1961, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space aboard a capsule he named "Freedom 7" what other missions was it involved in? Gemini 3, Apollo 8, Apollo 11, Asteroid Redirect Mission what was the third one about? Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that first landed humans on the Moon. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin formed the American crew that landed the Apollo Lunar Module "Eagle" on July 20, 1969 which uncrewed missions did it lead? Explorer 1
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NASA [SEP] Research
NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate conducts aeronautics research. NASA has made use of technologies such as the multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG), which is a type of radioisotope thermoelectric generator used to power spacecraft. Shortages of the required plutonium-238 have curtailed deep space missions since the turn of the millennium. An example of a spacecraft that was not developed because of a shortage of this material was "New Horizons 2". The Earth science research program was created and first funded in the 1980s under the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.