NASA History - Complete Background Events, Facts, Objective and Purpose

NASA founded by the 34th US President Dwight D. Eisenhower on July 29, 1958.

KEY POINTS:

1. Brief Introduction of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
2. Fall of British Empire and Its role in the NASA's Birth
3. Cold War Space Race competition between US and USSR
4. The Launch of Sputnik 1 by Soviet Union and US Response to it
5. The Failure of US Vanguard Project
6. The US Fragmented Space Exploration Initiatives
7. NASA's Birth and Dawn of New Era of Space Exploration
8. NASA's Creation Objective and Purpose
9. NASA’s few major and famous Achievements

Brief Introduction of NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), founded by the 34th US President Dwight D. Eisenhower on July 29, 1958, Headquarters in Washington, D.C. is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space.

Answer of the above key points will paint the fundamental factors those played vital role in the NASA’s birth. So, Let’s, explore the above points one by one before reaching to the birth of NASA and its objectives.

Fall of British Empire

Overall, the British Empire's involvement in World War II (1939 to 1945) was instrumental in the eventual defeat of the Axis powers: were a coalition of countries led by Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan and the preservation of freedom and democracy in Europe and beyond. However, the war also marked the beginning of the decline of the British Empire, as the costs of the conflict and the rise of nationalist movements in colonies hastened the process of decolonization in the post-war period. At end of World War II which was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945, the British Empire disintegrated, leaving the United States and the Soviet Union to dominate world affairs that opened multifront rivalries among Soviet Union and United States like Cold War and Space Race.

Cold War Space Race

In 1950’s, after WWII, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as two major superpowers. The Cold War started in 1947 that lasted to 1991. The war between the United States and the Soviet Union is known as the Cold War was an ideological war between communism and capitalism. But instead of fighting directly, they had a proxy war. Instead of fighting in their own country, they started fighting in other countries. Ultimate target was to gain supremacy in space exploration, military modernization and expand geographical boundaries. Cold war gave birth to many rivalries among US and Soviet Union one of them was Space Race.

The Space Race was a competition between two Cold War rivals, the United States and the Soviet Union to fly spacecraft with capability, into or through outer space, either with or without humans on board to achieve superior spaceflight capability such as satellites in orbit around Earth.

The competition began on July 30, 1955, when the United States announced its intent to launch artificial satellites for the International Geophysical Year. Four days later, the Soviet Union responded by declaring they would also launch a satellite "in the near future".

The launch of Sputnik 1

On October 04, 1957, the Soviet Union's the launch of Sputnik 1 as part of the Soviet space program, the first artificial satellite into Earth orbit, raised alarm bells for the United States. The U.S. envisioned that this would pose a potential threat to U.S. national security, in addition to making the Soviet Union the sole leader in space technology. The success of the satellite was unexpected for the US.

As a result, the launch of Sputnik served to intensify the arms race and raise Cold War tensions. Although President Dwight Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United State, had tried to downplay the importance of the Sputnik launch to the American people, he poured additional funds and resources into the space program in an effort to catch up.

The Failure of Vanguard

The U.S. Government suffered a severe setback in December of 1957 when its first artificial satellite, named Vanguard that was a key project in the early days of American space exploration led US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), exploded on the launch pad, serving as a very visible reminder of how much the country had yet to accomplish to be able to compete militarily with the Soviets.

US Fragmented Space Exploration Initiatives

But, in US, Fragmented initiatives of space exploration across military and civilian sectors lacked efficiency and synergy as US National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA), Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Air Force, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) were operating in independently, there was need for a unified space agency in the United States.

The launch of Explorer 1

At last, on January 31, 1958, the United States succeeded in launching its first satellite, the Explorer 1. One of its most significant discoveries was the detection of the Van Allen radiation belts, regions of charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field. The Explorer was still slighter than Sputnik, but its launch sent it deeper into space.

NASA Birth and Dawn of New Era of Space Exploration

Dwight D. Eisenhower and his administration decided to setup national civilian space agency by splitting the United States' military and civil spaceflight programs, which were organized together under Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency. NASA was created on July 29, 1958, with the signing of the National Aeronautics and Space Act and it began operations on October 1, 1958.

However, Cold War Space race continued, but NASA never looked back and brought many achievements to US include landing humans on the Moon during the Apollo missions, also Artemis, International Space Station launching the Hubble Space Telescope.

On December 26, 1991, The Soviet Union fell. The fall of the USSR transformed the geopolitical landscape, leading to the end of the Cold War, the expansion of democracy and capitalism in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet republics, and the emergence of Russia as an independent nation. However, the dissolution also brought economic challenges, political instability, and conflicts in the newly independent states. However, as for as NASA concerned, it continued to rise sending James Webb Telescope, and sending Robotic Missions to Mars, such as the Mars rovers and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. NASA continues to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and exploration, with ongoing missions to study exoplanets, asteroids, and to develop technologies for future human spaceflight endeavours, including crewed missions to Mars.

Objectives of NASA

The objectives of NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) encompass a broad range of goals related to space exploration, scientific research, technological innovation, and aeronautics. Some of the key objectives include:

1. Space Exploration: NASA aims to explore the solar system and beyond, including missions to the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies. This involves conducting robotic missions, crewed spaceflights, and the development of new spacecraft and technologies.
2. Scientific Discovery: NASA seeks to expand our understanding of the universe through scientific research conducted in space and through telescopes and instruments both on the ground and in orbit. This includes studying Earth's climate, the origins of the universe, and the search for extra-terrestrial life.
3. Technology Development: NASA works to advance technology for space exploration and for applications that benefit life on Earth. This includes developing new spacecraft, propulsion systems, materials, and communication technologies.
4. Aeronautics Research: NASA conducts research to improve the safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability of aviation. This includes developing new aircraft designs, air traffic management systems, and technologies to reduce noise and emissions.
5. Education and Outreach: NASA is committed to inspiring and educating the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers. This involves supporting educational programs, engaging with the public through events and media, and providing opportunities for students and educators to participate in NASA missions and research.

Overall, NASA's objectives are driven by a desire to push the boundaries of human knowledge, explore new frontiers, and improve life on Earth through the peaceful exploration of space.

NASA’s Achievements

NASA has been at the forefront of space exploration, conducting missions to study Earth, our solar system, and the universe. Some of its most notable achievements include landing humans on the Moon during the Apollo missions, also Artemis, International Space Station launching the Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb Telescope, and sending Robotic Missions to Mars, such as the Mars rovers and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

NASA continues to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and exploration, with ongoing missions to study exoplanets, asteroids, and to develop technologies for future human spaceflight endeavours, including crewed missions to Mars. NASA has a rich history of space exploration, with numerous missions spanning decades. Here's a concise timeline of some key NASA missions:

1. 1961: Mercury Program - NASA's first human spaceflight program, aimed at putting astronauts into orbit around the Earth.
2. 1962-1972: Gemini Program - Followed Mercury and focused on developing space travel techniques necessary for the Apollo missions.
3. 1969: Apollo 11 - First manned mission to land on the Moon, with astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
4. 1973-1974: Skylab - America's first space station, designed for long-duration missions.
5. 1977: Voyager Program - Launched Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, which explored the outer planets and are now in interstellar space.
6. 1981-2011: Space Shuttle Program - A fleet of reusable spacecraft that carried astronauts and cargo to and from low Earth orbit.
7. 1990: Hubble Space Telescope - Launched into orbit, providing breathtaking images and invaluable data about the universe.
8. 1997-present: Mars Exploration Rovers - Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity have explored the Martian surface, studying its geology and searching for signs of past life.
9. 2006-present: New Horizons - Flew by Pluto in 2015 and is now exploring the Kuiper Belt.
10. 2011-present: James Webb Space Telescope - Set to be launched in late 2021, it will be the premier observatory of the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide.
11. 2012-present: Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity Rover - Continues to explore the Martian surface, searching for evidence of past habitability and gathering data for future human missions.
12. 2020-present: Perseverance Rover - Landed on Mars in February 2021, searching for signs of past microbial life and collecting samples for future return to Earth.