NASA in the 1950’s

By: Kamri Brestensky October 4, 1957 January 31, 1958 sources October, 1958 February 20, 1962

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

 The space race began in 1957 when the Soviet Union launched the first satellite, Sputnik. The United States and the Soviet Union had been in a competitive challenge for over a decade to see who would be the “winner,” or in other words, the one to conquer outer space first. Both countries felt the need to win in order to accomplish their scientific superiority and military strength.

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“No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long range exploration of space. And none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.”

- John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson helped establish NASA and kick off the Space Race

No Distractions Here

 After the Sputnik crisis, NASA’s 8,000 employees began thoroughly researching every way possible to get a satellite successfully into space. In October of 1958, these 8,000 employees were all spread out at the three major research laboratories: Langley Aeronautical Lab, Ames Aeronautical Lab, and Lewis Flight Propulsion Lab. They had an annual budget of 1 million dollars that was put towards launching Explorer 1 and eventually putting a human in orbit around the Earth.

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An astronaut, along with two employees of NASA accomplishing a mission.

Aerospace physician Dr. George Albright gives instructions to a space environmental engineer during a workout on a special bicycle known as an "ergo meter" in the laboratory.

Just A Step Behind

 Just a year after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the United States launched their first satellite, Explorer 1 . Explorer 1 was built by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. They completed the satellite in just 84 days and launched it on January 1, 1958. When compared to the Soviet Union’s satellite, Sputnik, Explorer 1 was a whole 154 lbs lighter, allowing it to move around faster. It gained more efficient information then Sputnik as well.

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 Explorer 1 brought back data proving that there was evidence that Earth is surrounded by intense bounds of radiation. This was one of the first major scientific discoverers of NASA.

Ready For Take Off

 NASA was highly determined to accomplish Project Mercury, whose goal was to put a human in orbit around the Earth. In 1959, NASA officially began testing and preparing for this day to come. Not until February 20, 1962 did these plans succeed on flight Mercury- Atlas 6. This project was named after Mercury, a mythological god, who was often seen as a symbol of speed.

Mercury-Atlas 6: First manned orbital flight.

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Astronaut John Glenn, during Mercury-Atlas 6 Pre-launch activities. He was the astronaut to make the first orbit around the Earth.

 Click here to watch Glenn’s take off on Mercury- Atlas 6

Works Cited

 “Explorer 1.” 2010. Wikipedia. 18 February 2010. .

 “Launching NASA.” 2004. Almanac. 18 February 2010. .

 “The Rockets of NASA.” 2010. The New York Times Company. 18 February 2010. .

 “The Space Race.” 2010. Newseum. 18 February 2010.

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