NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was established on July 29, 1958, by the National Aeronautics and Space Act, following the Soviet Union’s successful launch of the Sputnik satellite in 1957. This achievement sparked the Space Race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, propelling NASA to focus on human space exploration and advancing technology for space research.
Here are some key milestones in NASA’s history:
1. Project Mercury (1958-1963): NASA’s first human spaceflight program aimed to put an American astronaut in orbit. In 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American in space, and in 1962, John Glenn orbited Earth.
2. Apollo Program (1961-1972): Initiated by Pr...