Exploration is in our nature. We begin as wanderers and we are wanderers still. We have lingered long enough on the shores of the cosmic ocean. We are ready at last to set sail for the stars – Carl Sagan
Source: collectSPACE
The Push: Unveiling the Sputnik shock
The Cold War was a period of ever-increasing geopolitical tension with the United States and its allies on one side and the USSR and its allies on the other. The war lasted from the end of the Second World War till the early 1990s and was characterized by political, economic, and military competition between the two superior powers. The two unions were in a fierce contest to prove the dominance of their technology, military might, and ultimately their political and economic systems. Amidst the escalating tensions of the Cold War, the USSR made a move, that would forever mock its rival union with the marks it made in history. On October 4, 1957, the Soviets officially, pierced the silence of space with the launch of Sputnik 1. Much to the eternal chagrin of the US, the Soviets had created the earth’s first artificial satellite, signalling the dawn of a new era, the space age. This huge success on the part of the USSR was a source of great anxiety in the US. The Soviet Union’s lead in space exploration demonstrated its technological and military superiority over the United States, capturing the world’s attention and awe. Foreigners previously taken with US Technological achievements were suddenly turning elsewhere. With their supremacy in aviation, superior nuclear capabilities, and ability to continuously hold the world in awe with new scientific achievements, the US has always been viewed as the Technological Giant of the world. This Soviet surprise suddenly cast that image into question.
While the US reeled in shock, the Soviets followed up with a second launch carrying Laika, the first living organism in space, into orbit. The 3.5-pound satellite the US had been developing before the launch of Sputnik 1 could hardly compare with the 184-pound miracle that was Sputnik 1. After the launch of Laika, the clear technological disparity between the two rivals left no doubt as to who was on top.
The Plot: Visionaries at work
The United States was confronted with a crucial decision of strategizing and mobilizing its resources to compete with the Soviet Union’s space accomplishments. They had two separate programs to launch a satellite into orbit. The two launches of Sputnik had a profound impact on the United States, emphasizing the need to produce comparable results to those achieved by the Soviets. The spotlight was immediately turned towards Republican President Dwight Eisenhower, with fingers pointed at him relentlessly. The competition had now evolved from a technological one to a political one. President Eisenhower knew he had to move quickly to restore the Americans’ confidence and prestige and protect his seat. He invested a significant amount of money into the projects to speed up their progress. The first, Project Vanguard, was led by the National Academy of Sciences.
The Vanguard rocket, a three-stage engineering marvel, was tasked with a monumental mission: to launch a tiny satellite into orbit and assert America’s presence in the space race. On December 6, 1957, the world held its breath as the Vanguard, like a modern-day Prometheus, ascended into the heavens. However, tragedy struck as the rocket veered off course and exploded into a spectacular fireball, hurling the satellite into the sky. In the eyes of the media, the US had made their move and failed woefully plunging them deeper down the abyss of unending embarrassment.
The second project involved the US Army Ballistic Missile Agency(ABMA) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory(JPL). Under the leadership of Werner von Braun, the ABMA developed a four-stage rocket, Juno, that would carry the satellite, Explorer 1, into orbit. On January 1st, 1958, the US regained some prestige as the rocket took off and Explorer 1 was confirmed to have reached orbit. Some of the political pressure on Eisenhower and his administration eased with the launch of Explorer.
However, there was still some discontent since the US had only replicated the Soviet Union’s achievement of sending a satellite into space. The US had simply proven that they had caught up with the Russians, who had accomplished this feat over three months earlier. In the corridors of power, a series of meetings, hearings and negotiations were going on to shape the future of space exploration. The goal was to chart a course that would not only match the Soviet’s accomplishment but would greatly surpass it. President Eisenhower set up the Presidential Science Advisory Committee(PSAC), a group that was to be responsible for coming up with ideas on how best to organize the US space program. On this council sat James Doolittle, chair of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics(NACA). As the committee began its efforts to achieve its goal, it became increasingly clear that, for the United States to have a chance of winning the space race,
they would need to establish a central space agency to manage all aspects of space-related activities within the country. The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), established during World War II, was created to secure American air dominance over Europe. In due course, the committee ventured into space research, thus laying the foundation for the United States space program. Due to military and civilian efforts in the space race, the allocation of already scarce resources and funding were stretched thin putting considerable constraints on the US’s ability to pursue its space ambition. There were two possibilities; If the army were to take over the US space program, all space efforts would be conducted in secrecy, and limited to military-specific objectives, not exploiting space’s vast potential. A civilian space agency would be dedicated to space exploration benefiting all aspects of science including even the military. The committee came forward with a proposal for a civilian space agency with NACA as its nucleus carrying out all non-military space research and projects.
The Product: THE BIRTH OF NASA.
President Eisenhower approved this proposal to expand NACA into an agency tasked with planning, organizing, and executing all aeronautical and space-related projects within the United States. This new agency was designed to engage the nation’s scientific community and widely disseminate information concerning its activities.
On the 29th of July 1958, President Eisenhower signed into law the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958. The act abolished the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics transferring its activities and resources to the new agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The act also established the National Aeronautics and Space Council (NASC), serving as a liaison committee between the civilian and military sectors. Its main objective was coordinating space efforts and ensuring that NASA and the Department of Defense were fully informed about each other’s space activities.
On the 1st of October 1958, NASA officially started operations with the facilities and human resources inherited from NACA. On September 30th, NACA employees went home and resumed as NASA employees the following day. In addition, the President issued an order transferring all space resources and activities from other space programs to NASA. Thus, on its very first day, NASA had over 8,000 staff, 5 research facilities and a budget of approximately $ 340 million.
NASA has remained committed to its objectives since its founding, leading most of America’s space exploration projects and altering the course of the space race with its groundbreaking projects and discoveries. A number of its most notable accomplishments include the Apollo 11 moon landing, the space shuttle program, the International Space Station, and the Mars rovers. Through these achievements, the United States has demonstrated its technological prowess and cemented its position as a global leader in space exploration.
A human goes to space
As NASA took its first step, eager to match the Soviet’s early lead, one mission would stand out as a testament to the US’s determination and courage. On the 5th of May 1961, NASA launched the US first crewed flight on the space capsule named Freedom 7 piloted by astronaut Alan Shepard. The Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) mission was a significant undertaking within the larger Project Mercury initiative, which sought to achieve the remarkable feat of sending human beings into orbit and successfully returning them to Earth. The success of Project Mercury marked a crucial milestone in NASA’s quest to reach the stars and ignited a new wave of enthusiasm and determination in the American space program
Reflecting on the Past, Looking to the Future
As we close this chapter on NASA’s early days and Alan Shepard’s pioneering mission, we are reminded of the incredible courage, dedication, and ingenuity that propelled humanity into the cosmos. From the fierce competition of the Space Race to the awe-inspiring achievements of Project Mercury, these milestones continue to inspire us to reach for the stars.
As we celebrate these historic moments, let us also look to the future with hope and determination. NASA’s journey is far from over, and the next chapter promises even greater discoveries and accomplishments. Together, we stand on the brink of a new era of space exploration, where the possibilities are as vast as the universe itself.
So let us continue to dream, to explore, and, to push the boundaries of what is possible. The stars await, and with the same spirit of adventure that drove Alan Shepard and the early pioneers of space exploration, we will boldly go where no one has gone before.
Today’s Author
Greetings earthlings.
I am Sophia Akande, a part 4 student of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Though my passions lie in the technical realm, I do have a flair for writing. Describe me in one word? Pretty sure it will be “delightful and amazing” (because a single word can’t capture my awesomeness). I hope you’ll find this as enlightening to read as it was for me to write. Live long and prosper, fellow space lovers. Till next time, Sophia out!
