Description

NASA was created in response to the Soviet Union's launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, in 1957. The U.S. government recognized the need to establish a dedicated space agency to compete in the Cold War-era "Space Race" and to advance space exploration and research. As a result, NASA was founded on July 29, 1958, with the passage of the National Aeronautics and Space Act, signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Since its inception, NASA has been at the forefront of space exploration, scientific discovery, and technological innovation.