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The Soviet launch of Sputniks 1 and 2 in the autumn of 1957 inspired the U.S. entrance into the space age and the space race. The ingredients were in place to begin space exploration already with separate groups working on space missions, national defense, and arms control but the Soviets launch of these two artificial earth satellites, prompted important legislation that brought many of these elements together into a single organization.
Signed into law by president Dwight D. Eisenhower on July 29, 1958, the “Space Act” as it came to be called, set forth a broad mission for NASA to “plan, direct, and conduct aeronautical and space activities” to involve the nation’s scientific community in these activities and to disseminate widely information about these activities. The Act remains the core statement governing United States civil space exploration, launching as it did an organization that preempted outer space for peaceful exploration and uses that Americans have now enjoyed for many years.
For the last 65 years, NASA has been pioneering the future in space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research. From satellites to moonwalks, this organization has gathered information that has helped us better understand our universe and our own planet and it has employed some of the worlds most intelligent individuals in the process.
What will we do next? To learn more about NASA and how it came to be what it is today, visit https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/whyweexplore/Why_We_29.html