When the Soviet Union launched Sputnik into space in late 1957, it ignited a new phase in the Cold War. The United States, recognizing the need to respond, was spurred into action by the infamous “Space Race.” This competition for space supremacy was the driving force behind the establishment of NASA. On July 29th, 1958, President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, a direct response to the Soviet Union’s space achievements. 

The National Aeronautics and Space Act shifted the focus of space exploration from being a predominantly military responsibility to one that aimed to promote peace and scientific advancement. The goals were to expand the human knowledge of all phenomena in space and atmosphere, to build and improve space vehicles, to establish space studies for peaceful and scientific purposes, and to use the United States’ scientific and engineering resources most effectively. This act also effectively abolished its predecessor, The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. 

NASA has led most of the United States’ space exploration programs, including Project Mercury, Project Gemini, the Apollo Moon landing missions, and the Space Shuttle. This independent agency of the US government remains focused on better understanding our planet and its surroundings through its “Earth Observing System” and continually advancing robotic spacecraft.