National Aeronautics and
             Space Administration
             (NASA)
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
             NASA
            
             The era of space exploration began in 1957, when the Soviet Union launched the first
             satellite, Sputnik, into Earth orbit October 4, 1957. The Soviet also were the first to launch a
             manned spacecraft when Yuri Gagarni, made one orbit around the Earth in 1961. Americans
             were electrified by the news. A year later the Soviets issued an ultimatum that the Western
             Allies evacuate Berlin. Next came a proposal that Berlin become a free city. There waere fears
             that the Cold War of coexistence could turn into a world war.
             America also had goals they wanted to fulfil. A year later the United States Congress
             passed the National Aeronautics and Space Act to promote and coordinate the United States
             space program. In 1958 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established,
             commonly referred to NASA. Shortly after NASA's founding, the launching site at Cape
             Canaveral, Florida, and the Johnson Space Center in Houston Texas were planned and built.
             Thus creating the "space race".
             According to the 1958 act, NASA's functions are: to conduct research on problems of
             flight within and outside the Earth's atmosphere; to develop, construct, tests and operate space
             vehicles; to explore space with manned and unmanned vehicles; to cooperate with other nations
             on projects for the peaceful uses of space; and to publish the results of its work.
             The planning and control of NASA's activities take place at the agency's headquarters in
             Washington, D.C. There are four program offices that have been set up to develop and direct the
             activities of NASA's several field installation...