One could argue that the space age began with the launch of Sputnik, a Soviet satellite the size of a basketball, on Oct. 4, 1957. It would become the first man-made object to orbit the Earth.
Actually, the United States’ dedication to aeronautics and fiight research initially began way back in 1915, with the creation of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). In the decades that followed the inception of the NACA, many advancements occurred in aeronautics and even rocketry with many societies, panels and committees that were dedicated to the advancement of not only aeronautics, but even space research.
With the recommendation of the NACA and perhaps spurred on by the launch of Sputnik, the NACA along with many other agencies recommended to President Eisenhower that a national space program be implemented. The president quickly realized a more centralized approach to setting up such a program was needed. Then, with the cooperation of the Department of Defense, the National Academy of Sciences, the NACA as well as many researchments institutions, universities and even industrial companies, he proposed the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). With the approval of the Bureau of the Budget, Eisenhower signed
