The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Prior to the first space missions that enabled the world to see beyond the planet, the public had many misconceptions over what is out there in the universe. There were a few mentions of space people that are bent in destroying mankind or even technologies that could only be seen in the future. Some also speculated that there is a different kind of world out there that is waiting to be discovered, and there were also a few who believed that once man sees the world outside Earth, a lot of unanswered questions would be brought to light such as the beginning of life and how the world actually works. Many nations had started their own programs to discover the life outside the Earth’s atmosphere and venture to the cosmos of mystery. As expected, during the 20th century the United States government created the space agency known as NASA to meet with the growing interest of its competitors to the concept of space. However, many had questioned the US’ intensions over creating such space agency. Nonetheless, the establishment of NASA had proven to the world that space exploration and habitation is plausible and introduced new technologies that now improves the lives of many societies around the globe.
Establishment of NASA
NASA or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established as the United States’ means to find a common ground with the Soviet Union and develop a national space policy that will be handled by a specialized agency handling such affairs. Prior to its establishment, the US did not have its own space program. However, it was already engaging in research pertaining rocketry and atmospheric sciences as their means to show their superiority on technology. President Dwight Eisenhower had enabled plans for the US scientific community to begin in studies to work on creating a scientific satellites as their contribution for the International Geophysical Year (January 1, 1957 to December 31, 1958) as the satellite would be a collective effort to study the Earth. The Soviet Union had immediately announced their own plans in launching a similar project to launch their own satellite into orbit. The first project under Eisenhower’s initiatives was the Naval Research Laboratory’s Project Vanguard on September 9, 1955 in lieu of the IGY effort. Project Vanguard was seen as a viable option for the US to use as it would not interfere with their missile development programs and uses non-military Viking rockets as the launch vehicle. Vanguard had received exceptional support and publicity from 1955 to 1956s, however, it was not put into action given the technological equipment and technicalities of the plan were quite difficult to enact and the funding was not enough to fund the entire project. On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union managed to launch Sputnik 1, the world’s first artificial satellite as its IGY contribution. The Americans were stupefied with the success of the Soviets, instantly believing that the Soviets had finally made a gap from the US’ endeavors. As a result, the public had called for the US’ government’s immediate action to increase spending in space programs, research, and the creation of a federal agency that would manage air and space research.
With renewed vigor, the US launched its first satellite known as the Explorer 1 on January 31, 1958, which became known for its discovery that the Earth is being surrounded by several radiation zones. The discovery had revealed that these electrical charges from the atmosphere are dictated by these radiation zones, and the amount of solar radiation that penetrates to the Earth. The US then became active in sending scientific missions to the Moon and to the other planets since the 1950s. Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson had expressed that Eisenhower was allowing the US to fall behind the Soviet Union over missile technology, given the success of most of Soviet Union’s space missions, and enabling them to gain the advantage of ruling in space flight. However, Eisenhower had contradicted this belief as he stated that the Soviets could not possibly have this missile technology capable of destroying the US. Eisenhower was also reluctant to divulge into space competition with the Soviets, seeing the idea of creating NASA a waste of resource. Despite his reluctance, Eisenhower was overruled by the public and by the Democrats in his administration and found common basis to create the federal agency to handle space research and development. Through the help of scientists and engineers, Johnson had revised his perception of the space being a new battlefield against the Soviet Union, showing the scientific and commercial opportunities it could bring to the country. Eisenhower, on his end, was advised by his science advisor James Killian to the importance of an authoritative space infrastructure that would handle the US’ studies and space programs. Johnson had concluded his hearings on the issue in January 1958, agreeing to the creation of a civil space agency and drafting the National Aeronautics and Space Act after Sputnik 2’s launch. According to Eilene Galloway, they had used the term “administration” rather than “agency” in the name of NASA as it would show broader authority in gaining resource and funding than waiting for voluntary funding and cooperation from interested parties.
NASA then began its operations on October 1, 1958 with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics staff and infrastructure as its main backbone for its programs. Space research facilities were also created throughout the country such as the Huntsville, Alabama Ballistic Missile Agency, Maryland’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida. The National Aeronautics and Space Act also enabled the transfer of authority for military space to the Department of Defense, creating at the same time, the Advance Research Projects Agency on February 1958 to aid the military in its space research efforts. The creation of NASA can also be considered a product of quick, bipartisan cooperation between the Republican administration and the Democrat-Congresses. Eisenhower had even showed this cooperation when he sent Senator Johnson to the UN to head the discussions in November 1958 regarding a unified international space policy agreement. NASA then also served as a means to show the world the importance of a national space policy and international guidelines over space conduct to allow each nation equal access to space.
Successful Missions of NASA
For its first few months as a federal agency tasked to handle space research and development, NASA began organizing its first “man-in-space” program known as Project Mercury, announced on November 26, 1958. Evidently, NASA slowly became successful in its attempt to send man to space with the development of Mercury’s foundations. Mercury managed to make its flight with Alan B. Shepard Jr. on May 5, 1961 as the first American to fly into space Mercury had managed to orbit for 15 minutes before it returned back to earth. Following Shepard was John H. Glenn on February 20, 1962 under the same project, which also highlighted NASA’s capacity to successfully send spacecrafts and astronauts safely in orbit without casualties. NASA then worked on Project Gemini, which also had the same set of objectives like the Mercury Project. Gemini made 10 flights, providing both scientists, researches and engineers data on the nature of weightlessness while in orbit, reentry timing and splashdown computations that would be crucial for further space launches. Gemini 4 showcased NASA’s successful research on analyzing the space’s nature as Edward White Jr. became the first American to conduct a spacewalk.
However, history and experts undeniably agree that NASA’s crowning success was Project Apollo, which prioritized the goal for Americans and for human kind to go to the moon. Apollo became NASA priority on May 25, 1961 when newly elected president John F. Kennedy announced that before the decade is over, man can go to the moon and return back to Earth. Since the Soviets had showed success in most of their missions, Kennedy had supported Apollo as the US’ symbol of its scientific and technological superiority against the Soviet Union. The project had cost almost $25.4 billion throughout the program. On October 1968, Apollo 7 had successfully orbited around the Earth and tested the Apollo operating mechanism that would allow the astronauts to know the sequencing of events throughout the mission. JFK’s statement on Project Apollo’s introduction became a reality on July 20, 1969 when Apollo 11 had successfully landed on the moon with Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins leading man’s accomplishment for space travel. Their success in landing in the moon was also a huge achievement as it enabled scientists to understand the composition of the Moon and improvised safe and sustainable space travel for mankind. Several lunar landings had followed Apollo 11, some becoming known for their unorthodox method in resolving unforeseen difficulties while in flight.
Slowly, NASA introduced new methods in space flight with the introduction of the Space Shuttle. The first mission of the Space Shuttle was on April 12, 1981 or the STS-1 space mission. The launch showcased the shuttle’s capacity to take off in a vertical position and glide similar to an airplane. In April 4-9, 1983, F. Story Musgrave and Donald Peterson led the STS-6 mission, which challenged the newly developed Shuttle EVA and spacesuits designed to allow humans to breathe while in outer space. This mission also became known to be one of the pioneer missions that aided in the study of working within the Shuttle cargo bay. Women also found empowerment when Sally Ride became the first American woman to go into outer space as part of the STS-7 mission in June 18, 1983. The Shuttle program was continuously updated to ensure that the booster system and the launch sequence would be properly sequenced and become safe for all its astronauts and crew. By September 29. 1988, the Shuttle program had successfully brought NASA’s successful space missions up to 87. NASA was also able to sustain efforts in creating methods that would allow humans to live outer space. In 1984, the US Congress had allowed NASA to construct a space station that would serve as a base for future space explorations. It took years before the plans for Space Station Freedom was released in 1991. Clinton’s administration had also revised the plan in 1993, calling the newly designed station to be Space Station Alpha. Russia had aided the US and its international allies in creating what is now known as the International Space Station in 1993 as a joint facility for all nations who would be successful in space flight. The ISS’ construction started in 1998 with NASA working with Russia to develop its Shuttle technology and assess how long humans could live in outer space for an extended period of time. The ISS became permanently active on October 31st with Expedition One and docking began on November 2, 2000. NASA had also successfully sent out probes in other planets to see if there is life or what is the composition of each planet and structure in the universe .
Failures of NASA
While there are many successes on NASA’s belt, there were also notable failures within the administration in terms of its programs towards space. There are at least three major tragedies under the US spaceflight history which marred NASA’s programs and raised speculations over its capacity to safely bring humans and bring back data from space. The first fatal accident was recorded on January 27, 1967 when three of the first batch of NASA astronauts for the Apollo missions were killed during the ground test of the Apollo Capsule – Virgil Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chaffee. Reports stated that the astronauts had died due to suffocation due to an electrical spark that affected their pure-oxygen and highly-pressurized cabin. Almost 20 years later, the second NASA tragedy struck on January 28, 1986 when Space Shuttle Challenger launched into orbit carrying several civilian astronauts such as teacher Christa McAuliffe. Many had anticipated the Challenger’s launch but it turned into fear and chaos when 73 seconds later, the shuttle burst into flames and killed the entire crew. According to the investigations done by the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident in June 1986, the shuttle’s O-ring seals in its right rocket booster had failed to react due to cold temperature, eventually blowing up the booster. Many did not expect the malfunction of the O-ring as it is capable of withstanding frigid temperatures as seen in past missions. The last tragedy NASA had recorded was the February 1, 2003 launch of Space Shuttle Columbia, which was supposed to be a 16-day science mission for its entire crew. Columbia had actually managed to have a safe launch but it had suddenly broken apart upon its re-entry, killing the entire crew, which is comprised of U.S. astronauts Rick Husband, Willie McCool, Michael Anderson, Kalpana Chawla, David Brown, Laurel Clark and Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon. Investigators had reported that the shuttle’s left wing had absorbed too much heat upon reentry, causing it to overheat and break apart
Modern technologies derived from NASA and its impacts to life
Despite the tragedies that befell upon NASA, it is undeniable that it had paved the creation of many technologies that improves lives of Americans and the other nations. From its inception almost 50 years ago, NASA had recorded almost 1,600 new technologies or inventions each year and analysts have noted that most of these discoveries were actually discovered by chance and were spinoffs of the original activity. Medicine had greatly been improved thanks to NASA as the space program required technologies that would be able to monitor astronaut health while in orbit like those in the ICU. It was also through NASA that scientists discovered methods and devices that would help in dialysis, MRI and CAT Scans and prosthesis. Space missions also enable scientists to discover the means on reducing the signs of aging as astronauts are regularly immersed under radiation and microgravity. Robotics also aids in American society thanks to NASA’s creation as it now allows companies such as General Motors to devise methods for robotic surgery, and alternative industrial activity which could be dangerous for people. NASA had also paved the creation of utilizing satellite navigation and global positioning systems to enable people from locating themselves wherever they may be and also map out the entire globe in the most accurate precision. It had also helped in the creation of known juice drink Tang, the first integrated circuit, the world’s first small rechargeable battery, memory foams, and even flight helmets. NASA even supported the creation of baby formulas and means to clean water and air through algae. At present, NASA continues to aid or discover new methods in aiding the lives of many Americans and societies given the developing nature of technology and living in space.
Conclusion
The establishment of NASA, while it was mostly a reaction of the US to ensure national safety against its Cold War foe, can be considered one of the pioneer agencies in the 20th century that introduced space exploration and technological advancement. While there were failures in the part of NASA in some of its missions, it is undeniable that it had opened the eyes of the world to the never-ending possibilities space could offer to mankind and improve current technologies available in the market. NASA was able to deliver successful and unique breakthroughs in many aspects of everyday life such as the improvement of medicine, technology and even environmental protection that one cannot possibly imagine without venturing to outer space. As the many questions of man regarding space continues, it is likely that NASA would be at the forefront of innovation and introduce further knowledge on what is out there in the universe.
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