The Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) is a NASA Small Explorer mission launched on April 28, 2003, designed to perform the first space ultraviolet (UV) sky survey. GALEX operates in two UV bands: 1350-1750Å (FUV) and 1750-2750Å (NUV). The mission includes imaging and grism surveys to study star formation in galaxies and its evolution over time. GALEX's primary goals are to calibrate the relationship between UV and global star formation rate in local galaxies, determine the cosmic star formation history over the redshift range 0 < z < 2, and use both large statistical samples and detailed studies of nearby galaxies to inform a predictive model of global star formation rates. GALEX's surveys include an all-sky imaging survey (m_AB ≈ 20.5), a medium imaging survey (1000 deg², m_AB ≈ 23), a deep imaging survey (100 deg², m_AB ≈ 25), and a nearby galaxy survey. Spectroscopic grism surveys (R=100-200) are also underway. The mission includes a Guest Investigator program to support a wide variety of programs made possible by the first UV sky survey. GALEX's UV observations provide a powerful tool for measuring and understanding star formation in galaxies at all epochs. The mission's data has already yielded early results, including the discovery of Luminous UV Galaxies (LUGs) in the local universe, which have UV luminosities and properties comparable to distant Lyman Break Galaxies. GALEX has also provided insights into star formation history, dust extinction, and the physical drivers of star formation in galaxies. GALEX's data is expected to have broad and lasting impacts on astrophysics, particularly in understanding the history of star formation in the universe. The mission's data is available through the STScI MAST Archive, and the data legacy is expected to be widely used in future studies. GALEX is a collaborative mission involving NASA, the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales of France, and the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology.The Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) is a NASA Small Explorer mission launched on April 28, 2003, designed to perform the first space ultraviolet (UV) sky survey. GALEX operates in two UV bands: 1350-1750Å (FUV) and 1750-2750Å (NUV). The mission includes imaging and grism surveys to study star formation in galaxies and its evolution over time. GALEX's primary goals are to calibrate the relationship between UV and global star formation rate in local galaxies, determine the cosmic star formation history over the redshift range 0 < z < 2, and use both large statistical samples and detailed studies of nearby galaxies to inform a predictive model of global star formation rates. GALEX's surveys include an all-sky imaging survey (m_AB ≈ 20.5), a medium imaging survey (1000 deg², m_AB ≈ 23), a deep imaging survey (100 deg², m_AB ≈ 25), and a nearby galaxy survey. Spectroscopic grism surveys (R=100-200) are also underway. The mission includes a Guest Investigator program to support a wide variety of programs made possible by the first UV sky survey. GALEX's UV observations provide a powerful tool for measuring and understanding star formation in galaxies at all epochs. The mission's data has already yielded early results, including the discovery of Luminous UV Galaxies (LUGs) in the local universe, which have UV luminosities and properties comparable to distant Lyman Break Galaxies. GALEX has also provided insights into star formation history, dust extinction, and the physical drivers of star formation in galaxies. GALEX's data is expected to have broad and lasting impacts on astrophysics, particularly in understanding the history of star formation in the universe. The mission's data is available through the STScI MAST Archive, and the data legacy is expected to be widely used in future studies. GALEX is a collaborative mission involving NASA, the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales of France, and the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology.