Analysis of The History of NASA - Research Paper Example

Analysis of The History of NASA Abstract This paper looks at the history of NASA since its inception in 1958 up to the present. The paper focuses specifically on the highlights of the history of NASA, aims and objectives of NASA, its main achievements, and also its administration. At the end of the paper, a conclusion is drawn that shows that for the time that NASA has been in operation, it has indeed been able to achieve its main objectives and goals. NASA NASA is an acronym for the, National Aeronautics and Space administration. NASA was founded in 1958 with a clear mandate to explore the outer space and to expand people’s knowledge on the outer space or the Universe. This paper reviews the history of NASA: NASA’S formation, goals and objectives, greatest achievements in history, and also its administration. At the end of the paper, it is argued that NASA has indeed lived up to its mission and objectives, and that it has been very successful in achieving its goals and objectives. Formation of NASA The formation of NASA as a fully-fledged government agency dedicated to the exploration of the outer space was sparked off by the historic launch of the satellite Sputnik 1 by Russia in October 1957 (Galloway, 2008). The launch of the Sputnik 1 Satellite by Russia was a monumental success for Russia in space science, and this action made Russia the leading country in space science explorations. The launch of the Sputnik 1 Satellite by Russia made US to feel insecure, the US government felt that Russia could use its superior knowledge in space science to harm them in one way or another. The US also felt that they had to do everything possible so as to reclaim their position as the world’s premier in space science and aeronautics. For these reasons, the use government set out in November, 1957, to establish a government agency fully dedicated to the exploration of outer space. The following are the highlights in the establishment of NASA as a government agency dedicated to the study of the outer space. Prior to the establishment of NASA as a government agency, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) was the body in the US government that was charged with the responsibility of dealing with matters of Aeronautics and outer space exploration. But following the Sputnik’s launch by the Russia, establishment of a more effective and robust government agency dealing with outer space exploration became a matter of agency. The US Senate, the Congress and the Executive began a process of establishing a government agency that would deal with matters of outer space explorations (Dick, 2008). On 6th February, 1958, the Senate established a special committee on space and Aeronautics with the aim of exploring ways and means of establishing a space agency. The committee was headed by Senator Johnson. On the side of the Congress, a select committee on Aeronautics and space exploration was formed on 5th March, 1958, and the committee was headed by John McCormack, McCormack was the house majority leader. On the executive side, President Eisenhower asked his science advisor James Killian to convene science advisory committee to deliberate on the issue of establishing a space agency. The Science advisory committee proposed establishment of a civilian committee built around the NACA (Dick, 2008). The committee presented their resolutions to President Eisenhower and the president approved their resolutions on the establishment of a space agency. In their deliberations, both the Senate and the Congress had also resolved that there was indeed an urgent need of establishing a space agency. On 2nd April, 1958, President Eisenhower sent draft legislation to the Congress. The draft proposed establishment of a space agency by the name, National Aeronautics and Space Agency. The Congress, however, changed the name of the proposed agency to, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Congress passed the legislation and presented President Eisenhower with the draft. President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space act into law on 29th July, 1958 (Griffith, 1962). This was the day therefore that NASA was established and it replaced the NACA. Keith Glennan, the president of Case Institute technology was appointed the first administrator of NASA by President Eisenhower on 1st October, 1958. In nutshell, this is the process that formation of NASA as a government space agency took. The main driving force for the establishment of NASA was the Russia’s breakthrough in Launching Sputnik 1 satellite. Objectives of NASA The following were the main reasons why NASA was formed, and although, the objectives of NASA have slightly been modified, overtime, the fundamental objectives of NASA remain largely the same. The first reason for the establishment of NASA was to expand human knowledge of the outer space (Layton, n.d.). NACA also had the same objective but the US government felt that NACA wasn’t doing enough in exploring and disseminating knowledge on the outer space and the atmosphere. With the Russia’s launch of Sputnik 1, the US government felt that expansion of human knowledge on space was a big possibility and the US government therefore formed NASA to tap into this hitherto untapped ore of knowledge. The second reason for the establishment of NASA was the improvement of aeronautical and space vehicles (Layton, n.d.). This objective is perfectly in line with the first objective. In order to be able to effectively do more research and gain more knowledge on the space, there was a need to improve the aeronautical and space vehicles on speed, safety, efficiency, and the general performance of the vehicles. The US government therefore felt that with the establishment of a fully-fledged government agency dealing with the outer space, it would be quite possible to improve the existing aeronautical and space vehicles. The third reason for the establishment of NASA was to develop and to invent vehicles able to carry research instruments, equipments, and even living organisms through the space for research (McDougall, 1985). It was quite clear in the minds of the US government that exploration of the outer space would require the invention of super-powerful scientific instruments that would be able to carry scientific equipments and even living things like human beings through the space for collection of data. But this task wasn’t easy and therefore there was a need to establish a government agency, well funded by the government to accomplish this task. NASA was also established for the purposes of long-studies into the benefits that can be gained from the knowledge gained through outer space explorations (Layton, n.d.).Having been funded by the government, NASA wasn’t supposed to seek knowledge of the outer space just for the sake of knowledge. The knowledge had to be appropriated for the good of human beings. And actually this is clearly stated in the insignia of the NASA motto. The motto of NASA is to seek knowledge of space for the good of all people. The fifth reason for the establishment of NASA was the preservation of US as the leader in aeronautical and space scientific exploration and technology. Prior to Russia’s launch of the Sputnik 1 Satellite in 1957, USA was the leading country in aeronautical and space explorations and technology. US therefore was keen on ensuring that they had overtaken Russia in aeronautical and space explorations and therefore preserving their position as the world’s premier country in space explorations and knowledge (Layton, n.d.).The US also wanted to ensure that their leading position in space explorations and knowledge would enable them to use this knowledge for peaceful activities within and outside the atmosphere. The sixth objective of the NASA was to ensure that the security of the people of the USA was ensured and well taken care of. The US government had realized that the knowledge gained through the space explorations can be quite handy in security matters. The US government was particularly concerned by the Russia’s breakthrough in space science, and the government felt that Russia could use their superior knowledge in space to harm them. The US therefore sought to establish an agency that would provide their military with the necessary space information on security. The NASA therefore was mandated to seek space knowledge that has value to the military and to share the knowledge with the military or other security agencies in USA. The seventh objective of the establishment of NASA was to ensure that the US cooperates well with other nations in space explorations and studies. The US government felt that success in space explorations required the collaboration of the USA with other nations. This collaboration would ensure that the necessary information is shared and also ensure that the knowledge gained in space exploration is used for the good of all people. The eighth objective of the formation of NASA was to ensure that there was effective utilization of the scientific instruments and other engineering resources in the USA. There was need for close cooperation among different agencies in the United States dealing with scientific research; this cooperation would help to avoid duplication of duty and resources (Layton, n.d.). The establishment of NASA therefore was meant to ensure that there was efficiency in the scientific explorations of space in the USA. Over the years, NASA has made some modifications and additions to its objectives. One of the main additions that have been made in the list of objectives of NASA is to study the Earth in relation to the Universe. But not withstanding these minor modifications and additions, the guiding objectives of NASA still remains the ones that had guided the founders of NASA in establishing it as a fully-fledged government agency. Achievements of NASA Apollo 11: A walk on the moon, 1969. This is arguably the greatest NASA achievement. Apollo two mission was commissioned by president Kennedy. The launch of Apollo 11 followed the disastrous Apollo 1 launch in which all the three astronaut aboard died at the launch pad (A Chronology of Defining Events in NASA History, n.d.). Apollo 1 was launched in 1967 and it failed miserably. Apollo 11 mission, however, was successful and it marked the first successful journey of man to the moon. After the unsuccessful Apollo 1 launch, NASA run nine other missions, trying to find out what had gone wrong with the Apollo 1 launch. NASA then realized that one of the main problems of Apollo 1 was poor equipments and with this realization, NASA put in place more powerful scientific tools and equipments. Through painstaking preparations and many experiments, NASA finally launched Apollo 11, and to the disbelief of many people, Apollo 11 landed to the moon. The leading astronaut in Apollo 11 was Neil Armstrong, and he was actually the first person to land on the moon. This mission was a great success for NASA. Freedom 7, the First American in Space, 1961 The first American to orbit the earth was Alan Shepard. Shepard left the earth on 5th May, 1961. Shepard, however, wasn’t the first human being to enter into space; A Russian by the named Yuri Gagarin had already entered into space (Layton, n.d.). Although the weather wasn’t a great challenge for the launch, the weather however presented great challenge to the photographer covering the event. Despite this minor challenge, the launch however went on successfully and Shepard reached the earth’s orbit and he spent 15 minutes and 18 seconds up there . During this time Shepard travelled 303 miles around the earth. This mission was very important for NASA for it marked the first successful attempt of a manned exploration of the space by the Americans. Pioneer 10, Plight to Jupiter, 1972- 1997 Pioneer 10 launch was such a daring and ambitious attempt because before 1972, no man-made object had ever landed on the outer space. Before this launch, scientists had believed that there is an impassable asteroid belt between the planet earth and planet Jupiter; astronomers had long believed that this belt is completely impassable (Layton, n.d.). But notwithstanding this seemingly insurmountable challenge, NASA went on to launch Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 10 made it through the asteroid belt; this launch therefore marked the beginning of a new era in space explorations. Pioneer 10 was launched at Kenney Space Centre in 1972, and when it finally landed on planet Jupiter, it collected the first-ever direct data on an outer planet. Pioneer 10 then moved on further into space. The last time that it sent its last transmissions was in 2003, and during this time, it was 7.6 billion away from planet Earth. Pioneer 10 mission therefore is one of the greatest and awesome NASA feats. The Space Shuttle, a Reusable Space Craft, 1972- 2011 The idea of the development of a reusable space craft was prompted by the astronomical expenses associated with single- use Apollo rockets. Each mission required a new Apollo rocket and this made expenses for each mission astronomical. For this reason, NASA had to come up with a reusable space craft to cut down on the expenses for space explorations (A Chronology of Defining Events in NASA History, n.d.). The plan to build a re-usable space craft that would run multiple missions was announced by President Nixon. The development of such a space craft was faced with a lot of challenges. One of the challenges was that, since the equipments that protected space craft from the atmosphere disintegrated during the space craft’s re-entry into the atmosphere, NASA had to come up with a new heat-shield concept. NASA overcame this challenge by coating space craft with ceramic tiles that would absorb the heat without disintegrating. The second challenge of developing a re- usable space craft was that, the space craft had to land safely on the ground. The previous Apollo rockets did not land safely on ground but they splashed down into the ocean. NASA therefore had to come up with a way to make the space craft to safely land on the ground. It took around nine years before NASA finally came up with a re-usable space craft. The first reusable space craft was made and tested successfully in 1981. Chandra X-Ray Observatory, the High- Energy Universe (1999-Present) NASA launched the most sensitive X-ray telescope in the world. This powerful X-ray telescope is able to see things that no one has ever seen before such as disappearance of space particles into the black hole (A Chronology of Defining Events in NASA History, n.d.). The X-ray telescopes are different from light telescopes in that instead of relying on heat to form images, X-ray telescopes uses x-rays to record images based on energy fluctuations. This makes the X-ray Observatory telescopes very sensitive and their images are very clear. Through the use of the X-ray Observatory telescopes, we have been able to see images of Super Nova remnants, quasars, and exploding stars. The X-ray telescopes also have enabled us to see massive black holes, dark matter, and nebulae. Chandra also has been able to record light that has been in existence for the last ten billion years. Chandra X-ray telescope therefore has definitely opened new frontiers in the area of space explorations and study. Mars Pathfinder, Robots on the Red Planet (1996- 1997) The Mars Pathfinder exploration was meant to prove the possibility of unmanned exploration of the planet mars (A Chronology of Defining Events in NASA History, n.d.). The pathfinder was made of a Lander module and a rover module. The pathfinder was made in such a way that it could be able to go through the planet Earth atmosphere, land safely in Mars and set a robot to roam the planet and collect data. Pathfinder left planet Earth in December 1996, travelled for 309 miles to reach to planet March, and it landed on planet Mars in July 1997. Before this mission, no spacecraft had ever landed on a planet without first orbiting around it. The landing gear consisted of a parachute and a series of air bags. The Pathfinder’s mission was a big success and it achieved the aim of NASA. Mars Pathfinder returned more than 2.3 bits of data and this was indeed a big success for the NASA. The Lander was supposed to remain in working condition for three months but it ended up working for a whole year. One of the big reasons that we learnt from the data that was collected by the Pathfinder was that, exploration of planet Mars is indeed possible. We also learnt that planet Mars was at one time more friendly for life than it is today. On the administration of NASA, the president of America is the one who appoints the administrator of NASA (Rosholt, 1963). This shows the seriousness with which the US government handles the NASA agency. When it was founded, NASA had around 8000 employees but currently it has more than 18 million employees. In conclusion, a review of the achievements of NASA shows that NASA has indeed achieved all its objectives. NASA has achieved its main objective of expanding people’s knowledge of the outer space. NASA has also used this knowledge for the good of all humanity. Also, currently the USA is the leading country in space explorations and technology. This therefore shows that NASA has indeed lived to its objectives, and that it has been successful in achieving its goals. References A Chronology of Defining Events in NASA history. Web. Read More