“National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958” AnalysisExploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in the History of the U.S. Civil Space Program. Ed.John Logsdon, Washington D.C. NASA History Office, 1995. vol.1, 334-344.During the Cold War, there was extreme tension and animosity between Russia and theUnited States. The American public showed great nationalism after World War II and consideredAmerica to be the one supreme power in the world. Nonetheless, Americans worried about anupcoming war against Russia, the other world power. After the successful Russian launching ofSputnik I on October 4, 1957 and Sputnik II on November 3, 1957 into space, American worldsupremacy was brought to question. The American government and President DwightEisenhower knew they had to reevaluate and strengthen its aeronautical and space programs tocounteract the publicity and fear that was created by Sputnik. On July 29, 1958, PresidentEisenhower signed the “National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958.”
