The agency is now majorly focused on better understanding Earth through the Earth Observing System.

NASA (The National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is a huge name in the world of science of technology. Ever since the US-based space agency was formed in the 20th century, it has been providing us with a better understanding of our existence and so much more. It has led many significant space explorations over the years, such as Project Mercury, Project Gemini, the 1968–1972 Apollo Moon landing missions, and the Skylab space station among others.

The space agency currently oversees the development of the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System for the crewed lunar Artemis program, the Commercial Crew spacecraft, and the planned Lunar Gateway space station.

NASA was formed on this very date back in 1958. To mark the occasion, let's travel down history and learn how it was born.

How NASA Was Formed

The origin of NASA goes back to the early 20th century when the United States established the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) to regain its leadership in aviation. It oversaw aeronautical research in support of the U.S. Air Force, its predecessors in the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, and the civil aviation sector for nearly four decades.

 

However, in 1957, as the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, the United States recognized the importance to foster its aeronautical research and development.

Notably, it was the early stages of the Cold War.

As Gerald Siegel, who was de facto staff director of the Senate Special Committee on Space and Astronautics in 1958, said in an interview, "I remember one of us saying, it wasn't the satellite we were concerned about, it was what got it up there. Because if you can achieve a missile launch of that magnitude, you can launch a thermonuclear bomb very easily."

(Credit: International Astronautical Federation)

The United States attempted to launch its own satellite, Vanguard TV-3, on Dec 6, 1957, but failed with an explosion that was broadcast live to the world.

Within a few weeks, ARPA (the Advanced Research Projects Agency) was created within the Department of Defense, which would later become DARPA.

However, during this time, many top officials in the US recognized the need for a civilian space agency. Eilene Galloway, a senior national security consultant to Johnson in 1958, later said in a statement, "How many benefits there were to space. Especially communications, meteorology, and navigation. We could not do all those things under the law in the Department of Defense. We had to set up a civilian agency."

Therefore, with the signing of the National Aeronautics and Space Act, NASA was established on July 29, 1958.