When the Soviet Union launched the first satellite into space on October 4, 1957, the United States government responded by establishing a single agency to coordinate the nation's civilian space program. On July 29, 1958, President Dwight Eisenhower signed legislation creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). On October 1, 1958, NASA began operations.
During its 50 year history, NASA has been responsible for many successes, including launching the first Americans into space, human exploration of the moon, robotic exploration of our solar system, the space shuttle, and the International Space Station. NASA has also suffered several tragedies, including the Apollo 1 fire, and the loss of the space shuttles Challenger and Columbia and their crews. Our fall public program, All Systems Go!, will highlight some of the major events in the history of NASA.