NASA was created on July 29, 1958 - What is your favorite moment from their history?

2015-07-29T20:28:28-04:00

On this day in 1958, the U.S. Congress passes legislation establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a civilian agency responsible for coordinating America’s activities in space. NASA has since sponsored space expeditions, both human and mechanical, that have yielded vital information about the solar system and universe. It has also launched numerous earth-orbiting satellites that have been instrumental in everything from weather forecasting to navigation to global communications.

NASA was created in response to the Soviet Union’s October 4, 1957 launch of its first satellite, Sputnik I. The 183-pound, basketball-sized satellite orbited the earth in 98 minutes. The Sputnik launch caught Americans by surprise and sparked fears that the Soviets might also be capable of sending missiles with nuclear weapons from Europe to America. The United States prided itself on being at the forefront of technology, and, embarrassed, immediately began developing a response, signaling the start of the U.S.-Soviet space race.

On November 3, 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik II,which carrieda dog named Laika. In December, America attempted to launch a satellite of its own, called Vanguard, but it exploded shortly after takeoff. On January 31, 1958, things went better with Explorer I, the first U.S. satellite to successfully orbit the earth. In July of that year, Congress passed legislation officially establishing NASA from the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and other government agencies, and confirming the country’s commitment to winning the space race. In May 1961, President John F. Kennedydeclared thatAmerica should put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. On July 20, 1969, NASA’s Apollo 11 mission achieved that goal and made history when astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the moon, saying “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

NASA has continued to make great advances in space exploration since the first moonwalk, including playing a major part in the construction of the International Space Station. The agency has also suffered tragic setbacks, however, such as the disasters that killed the crews of the Challenger space shuttle in 1986 and the Columbia space shuttle in 2003. In 2004, President George Bush challenged NASA to return to the moon by 2020 and establish “an extended human presence” there that could serve as a launching point for “human missions to Mars and to worlds beyond.”

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Response by PFC Terry Kuehner made Jul 29 at 2015 8:30 PM

2015-07-29T20:30:48-04:00

I would have to say watching Neil Armstrong land and walk on the moon on my 5th birthday

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2015 8:48 PM

2015-07-29T20:48:58-04:00

My favorite NASA moment is when I worked for GE at NASA Houston in 1964-1965, a few months before I was drafted. I got to go to almost all of the buildings on NASA site. My job was a material expediter, and I picked up and delivered whatever was wanted. My favorite was watching the Astronauts train in the " no gravity" chamber. It was awesome to be allowed to watch. My next favorite moment is watching them land on the moon and hit a golf ball. I wonder if it is still in orbit?

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2015 9:06 PM

2015-07-29T21:06:24-04:00

Although I wasn't alive when this happened, it has to be landing on the moon. Hands down.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2015 9:18 PM

2015-07-29T21:18:13-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member I am jealous! Sounds like some experiences that will not be topped!

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2015 9:20 PM

2015-07-29T21:20:29-04:00

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member I have to agree, one of the best!

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2015 9:31 PM

2015-07-29T21:31:26-04:00

The Hubble also proved to be a great achievement!

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jul 29 at 2015 11:11 PM

2015-07-29T23:11:20-04:00

Without doubt my favorite moment was when man walked on the Moon and NASA completed its mission. Sadly, like all bureaucracies, they hung on. Now we spend as much as we did when they had a mission and for what, Arab outreach? It's time to shut it down and allow the military to direct its own space efforts (for tactical and strategic purposes) and civilian enterprises to pursue commercial use of space. Remember, NASA didn't really put the man on the Moon, they simply funneled monies to private contractors that accomplished the mission.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jul 29 at 2015 11:32 PM

2015-07-29T23:32:02-04:00

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member I really liked everything about the whole space program. I don't think we should have given it up for a minute. I think we should have kept going and made more trips back to the moon and colonized it like we did the Space Station. I think there are minerals and other resources we could be using from other planets. Just my Opinion!

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 29 at 2015 11:47 PM

2015-07-29T23:47:21-04:00

Landing on the moon!

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Jul 29 at 2015 11:50 PM

2015-07-29T23:50:48-04:00

I believe the space program is very important. I believe we should be learning everything there is to know about space...we should keep exploring and go further and further out into space. Still trying to figure out why Congress elected to cancel the NASA program...I think that was a big mistake....this is just my opinion.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jul 30 at 2015 12:03 AM

2015-07-30T00:03:26-04:00

"That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap...for mankind!"

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Jul 30 at 2015 3:40 AM

2015-07-30T03:40:28-04:00

Putting men into orbit and ultimately landing men on the moon less than 100 years after we first made a short flight in a wood and canvass aircraft tops the list.

My ultimate favorite would be the taking of the Hubble Deep Field image. for such a small amount of space to be reveled to in the distance hold so many more galaxies with so many more stars and to think that that is just one very isolated are in the observed universe let alone the entirety of it is absolutely mind boggling and amazing to me.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Jul 30 at 2015 6:54 AM

2015-07-30T06:54:29-04:00

Any of the Apollo missions ...

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jul 30 at 2015 8:47 AM

2015-07-30T08:47:19-04:00

As a kid watching Neil Armstrong step off, that lit the fuse on watching Star Trek when that came out. But my memory is more personal. I lost a friend, Dave Brown, on the Columbia. We knew Dave in our old Adak days. He was a Flight Surgeon, single, loved dogs, and liked to don a clown outfit and ride a unicycle. We had him over for dinner often. This would be the '84-85 time frame. Being an astronaut was his goal then, and nobody doubted he'd be one; just a matter of time. My regret is we didn't keep in touch as much after Adak.

My wife and I were over at the hospital chatting with another friend when the power went out. Very dark. Then there was this crash of stuff falling on the floor and then we heard Dave yell out "Next!" We were laughing so hard listening to him fumble his way out of the exam room knocking more things over.

So this isn't "favorite" but most profound.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 1 at 2015 6:36 AM

2015-08-01T06:36:29-04:00

Easy, landing on the moon! Although the recent Pluto flyby is very cool too.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2015 12:36 AM

2015-08-02T00:36:43-04:00

1) Allen Shepherd, flight into space. 2) Buzz Aldrien walking on the moon.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2015 12:53 AM

2015-08-02T00:53:13-04:00

http://www.space.com/6378-nasas-10-greatest-science-missions.html

NASA’s 10 Greatest Science Missions

The 10 most groundbreaking science missions NASA's ever sent to space.

Response by CPT Alan W. made Aug 2 at 2015 5:03 AM

2015-08-02T05:03:57-04:00

3,500 feet over the Indian River for the first Space Shuttle Launch. One of my HS buddies was at the controls while I snapped the picture. There weren't any planes available for rent anywhere in FL on the day it was scheduled to launch, but the launch was delayed a day and I had a plane reserved. I'm thinking is was a Piper Archer. Today you can't get anywhere near KSC in a light plane during a launch.