NASA origins
Why NASA was created, and the world it was born into.
Context snapshot
Simply put, NASA was formed to compete with the Soviet Union in the space race. The creation of NASA created a spark for U.S. technological advancments and a new era of innovation. When NASA was formed it faced a completely different world that today. One where the U.S. was not the only superpower and had to compete with other countries for resources and power.
Founding moment
On July 29, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, establishing NASA as a response to the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik and the dawn of the space race.
July 29
1958
Historical timeline
A walk through NASA history.
1958
NASA was formed, replacing the previous space agency NACA
1959-1960
NASA launches it's first programs including the Mercury program, and the Gemini program
1969
NASA lands the first humans on the moon with the Apollo 11 mission.
2000s
NASA helps build the International Space Station (ISS). a major achievement in space exploration and long term human spaceflight.
2010
NASA works with different compainies to build the first comercial space craft along with signing deals to ferry astronauts to the ISS.
2020s