NASA is Born

Spurred by the launch of Sputnik, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, which creates the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, better known as NASA.
CreditNASA
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Spurred by the launch of Sputnik, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, which creates the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, better known as NASA. The new space agency opens for business on 1 Oct. 1958.

Eishenhower (center) is shown here with NASA's first administrator, Dr. T. Keith Glennan (right) , and deputy administrator Dr. Hugh L. Dryden (left).