The Race Begins 2

Dwight David Eisenhower signed into law the National Aeronautics and Space Act on July 29, 1958 providing ample funding for this new govern- ment administration.

Also established by Eisenhower and his advisors were provisions for education in the space sciences in public schools.

NASA's Beginnings

...........The ancestry of NASA is highly extended and diverse, but after its institution it became a highly efficient, well-funded and concentrated entity. With the ostensible purpose of furthering scientific progress in atmospheric and geophysical studies, NASA’s institution was noble in theory, but in actuality it was equally devoted to the reassertion of America’s technological prowess. Dr. Tom Crouch, an aeronautics historian, aptly states: "Scientific research and the pursuit of practical benefits of spaceflight were part of the NASA program from the outset, but there was never any serious doubt as to the agency’s primary goal. NASA was in business to overtake the Soviet space effort and restore confidence in the technological strength of the United States"(Crouch, 19). As it would turn out, Americans were willing to pay a considerable sum for this confidence. President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space act on July 29, 1958 effectively creating NASA (Emme, 130). It is not likely he knew that this administration would become one of the most well funded and politically significant organizations in the history of the nation. NASA had been built on the foundation of the long existing National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), a civilian organization that had an outstanding record of cooperation with both industry and military sectors, as well as an impressive previous record of flight research and development (Crouch, 43). But unlike NACA, the newly established NASA would be more than a basic research outfit; NASA was responsible for all aspects of the nations civilian space program (Crouch, 43). It would prove to be a great responsibility.

...........NASA was burdened with a considerable accountability, and its first few years saw limited success, although what it did see was very impressive. NASA immediately took on significant obligation after its establishment. Overnight it would be employing eight thousand workers, operating at three major laboratories and two large research stations. In addition, the navy’s Vanguard project was dumped on NASA, and the administration was granted a budget of $100 million. The administrator, T. Keith Glennan even asked for assistance from the Department of Defense (DOD). to help keep this new juggernaut moving smoothly (Crouch, 45). It proved to be a worthwhile venture. 18 of 31 launch attempts between 1958 and 1961 were successful, logging a cache of American firsts (Crouch, 51). The first photo of earth from space came compliments of the Vanguard 2 in 1959, and the following year saw the deployment of the first weather satellite, navigation satellite, and communications satellite (Crouch, 51). NASA was rapidly gaining steam.

...........In addition to its successes in the air NASA was gaining impetus on the ground. It was, by 1960, consuming key projects from the armed forces, including Von Brauns’ team at the Development and Operations division of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency, and the deep space programs underway at California Institute of Technology’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (Crouch, 50). The Jet Propulsion Laboratory at CIT was probably the most advanced of NASA’s consultant authorities. It had been working on the more complex issues of space robotics, thrust assistance, and other vital controls since the 1930’s, and had even volunteered to become the nations central space agency before NASA was contrived. Without the assistance of JPL, it is unlikely that the Explorer 1 would ever have flown (Walter, 86). In March of 1961 NASA opened its first new facility, the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, to design, build, and monitor satellites (Crouch, 51). Progress was being made undeniably, but the real challenge lay ahead. It was written right into the National Aeronautics and Space Act that it was the responsibility of NASA to see manned spacecraft come into use. Although many distinct approaches had been suggested to accomplish this end by military services, it was ultimately NASA’s brainchild that would see men outside of the bounds of Earths atmosphere, and eventually far beyond. Like a child in a candy store, the Americans demanded consistently and continually, more. It turned out that NASA would give them that coveted sucker.

NASA's first administrator, T. Kieth Glennan (right) was responsible for recruiting key scientists and research groups into the ranks of NASA. This was perhaps the most significant procurement, when Werner von Braun (center) and his team was transferred away from the Army Ballistic Missile Agency under the command of Major General John B. Maderis (left) and into the hands of NASA. This evidences the close ties between the military and the civilian organization of NASA. (Collins, 199)

Yuri Gagarin's parading around Russia earned him infamy among Americans.

...........More precedents by the USSR in their conquest of space prompted high aspirations by the women and men of NASA, trying to quell an American state of panic. In 1959 and 1960, the Soviets mysterious "Chief Designer" coordinated several impressive feats, always seemingly one step ahead of the American program (Walter, 87). The United States’ Mercury program of manned spacecraft was a whole new type of undertaking than had previously been engaged, but it seemed to be an imminent necessity that such a feat was accomplished. Now entirely new issues of safety and accountability had to be resolved, while immense public pressure to "get there first" loomed overhead. While the Russians seemed to be without error in their pursuit of space, America had only a better-than-average record, one that had to be re-written. This viewpoint of jealousy and paranoia was brought to new heights with the suprising success of the Soviets first manned satellite in April of 1961. Aboard the Vostok 1, the infamous cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin would become the first human being in space (Collins, 97). His parading around Russia would bring a new round of alarm to the American people. NASA’s response: A new and revitalized mission, not to just put men in space, but to land on the moon and more.

...........It would be only another month before the American Alan Shephard, aboard the Freedom 7 became the second outer space traveler, but still an inequity seemed to exist that would continue to plague the hearts and minds of Americans for years to come. Captured in a speech by the charismatic young President, John F. Kennedy, the Americans’ need for a serious mission, a committed undertaking of vast proportions, that would see the powers of freedom triumph over the frightening and overwhelming forces of the communist world, was painfully apparent. He said in an address to congress on May 25, 1961 "…this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal before the decade is out of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth." The people of America needed to hear this, needed to hear about their superior will and might. Kennedy further said that we would choose to accept this challenge "not because it is easy, but because it is hard."(Walter, 89). It was the beginning of yet another new era.

Alan B. Shephard brought redemption to the American space program in a time of need. From this photo it is evident how very small his capsule was.