NASA+Established+-+12-13

** NASA **


In October of 1 957, the first artificial satellite, Sputnik was launched into the earth's orbit by the Soviet Union. This was a big embarrassment to the United States, who were always the leader in technology. The Sputnik provided the USSR with an important propaganda advantage to reach out to the underdeveloped nations that needed technological assistance. However the most shocked and terrified were the US public, who feared that Sputnik could possibly do anything, when in fact all it was a beeping piece of metal in space. After the panic dude to the Soviet's launch of Sputnik I, president Eisenhower signs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration act. In this act, the US was showing that they were committed to winning the "Space Race". Also, t he Eisenhower administration passed the National Defense Education Act that provided federal funds for improving the teaching of science and mathematics in America's public schools. In an attempt to launch their own satellite, the US launched the Vanguard, a.k.a. "Flopnik" because the spaceship got only a few feet off the ground before exploding.
 * Brief Description **



The United States of America - John F. Kennedy - Neil Armstrong vs. Soviet Union
 * Major Players **

1946 - E stablishment of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA)
 * Dates **

October 4, 1957 - Launch of Sputnik

July 29, 1958 - Eisenhower signs of the National Aeronautics and Space Act, therefore establishing NASA.

October 1, 1958 - NASA begins operations



During the next decade, NASA became synonymous with the space race. In May 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced that the United States should set a goal of putting a man on the moon by the end of the decade. Eight years and billions of dollars later, as Neil Armstrong stepped out of the lunar module Eagle and onto the moon's surface on July 20, 1969. The great space race was over.
 * Outcomes **

Because of the Space Race, the tensions between the US and USSR rose even higher. Because of the success of Sputnik, the US was embarrassed and the USSR was taking lead at first. This caused even more fear in the US and the public was in panic. However, the US won the Space Race in the end, as Neil Armstrong was the first man to land on the moon.
 * How this event influenced the Cold War as a whole **

Sagdeev, Roald. "NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration." //NASA //. NASA, 05 Jan. 2010. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. Barry, Bill. "CHRONOLOGY OF DEFINING EVENTS IN NASA HISTORY." //CHRONOLOGY OF DEFINING EVENTS IN NASA HISTORY //. NASA History, 03 Jan. 2012. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
 * Bibliography **