This Week in History

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CWA # 1422, 2 August 2024
This Week in History
29 July 1958: The US establishes NASA

  Nivetha B

On 29 July 1958, the US established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as an independent agency to conduct civil space programs and research in aerospace, marking a significant leap to understand space.  

The Road to establishing NASA
The roots of NASA lie with the National Advisory Committee of Aeronautics (NACA) established in 1915 to promote space research, and make the US a great space power power. The immediate tigger however was the launch of Sputnik 1 by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957 .  During that time, the US was behind the Soviet Union in space research. The need for establishing a specialized agency to look after research in space and aeronautics intensified when the US Vanguard TV3 rocket exploded immediately after its take-off in December 1957.  

President Eisenhower decided to split the United States military and civil spaceflight programs, which were clubbed under the US military's Advanced Space Research project. In February 1958, the President's Scientific Advisory Committee, a group of leading scientists and experts, proposed creating a new Civil Space agency to promote peaceful research in space. 

Establishment of NASA 
On 2 April 1958, the US President Eisenhower proposed establishing a civilian National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) to oversee the US space program. The legislation was drafted to give NASA greater authority to cooperate with other agencies. The National Aeronautics and Space Act (1958), passed on July 29, involved far more than a change of nomenclature for an existing agency. It provided a legal framework for NASA's operations and allowed NASA to undertake major operational projects independently rather than merely being an advisory group focused on research and development. 

The National Aeronautics and Space Act (1958) focused on building human knowledge about space and the atmosphere and promoting peace. NASA was established with the motto "For the Benefit of All," emphasizing its commitment to ensuring its advancements positively contribute to society, global peace, and progress. 

In October 1958, NASA started officially with its Headquarters in Washington, DC. 

Legacy of NASA  
First, internal streamlining of agencies within the US. Before the establishment of NASA, the US space-related activities were widely spread across agencies (for example Army, Navy, and the newly formed National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics), resulting in multiple projects and less coordination. NASA unified different agencies and streamlined the efforts and focused on civilian space exploration and research. 

Second, the beginning of space race with the Soviet Union. The establishment of NASA led to a competition that became a symbol of technological superiority and the nation's political and economic systems. After the successful launch of the first American into space and the Apollo program's historic Moon landing, the Soviet Union recognized the emergence of the US in space capabilities which intensified the space race.

Third, the expansion of space programmes within the US. NASA's initial mission was the Mercury program (1958 to 1963), whose main objective was to orbit a human-crewed spacecraft around the Earth. Alan Shepard became the first American to enter space on 5 May 1961. Project Gemini was the second human spaceflight program (1961-1966), followed by the Apollo program, which successfully landed the first human on the Moon. NASA undertook many other projects including the Space Shuttle, Hubble Space Telescope, Juno spacecraft, Mars Pathfinder, and communication satellites. 

Fourth, the International Space Station. It was a collaborative effort of NASA to unite nations for the exploration of space. It is the most politically and legally complex space exploration programme. ISS serves as a global platform for researchers to conduct experiments in space. NASA plays a crucial role in the ISS by training astronauts from partner countries, ensuring they are prepared for missions aboard the ISS.

About the author
Nivetha B is a postgraduate student, at the Department of Political Science, Madras Christian College, Chennai.

Also during this week published in This Week in History Vol. 1, Issue #05

4 August 2007: The US launches Phoenix, a mission to Mars
5 August 2011: Yingluck Shinawatra, becomes the first woman Prime Minister of Thailand
29 July 1957: IAEA comes into force
28 July 1821: Peru declares independence from Spain
28 July 2005: IRA announces the end of its armed campaign
28 July 1914: Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia, starting World War-I

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