National Aeronautics and Space Administration

09/30/1958-

 

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY:

 

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was established by the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (72 Stat. 426; 42 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.) as amended.
 
This act served to create NASA by incorporating several research organizations into one agency dedicated to a new era of aeronautics technology and space flight. The largest of the agencies NASA absorbed was the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). NACA served as NASA's nucleus with its staff of approximately 8000 scientists, engineers, technicians, and administrative personnel. NASA also received from NACA five research facilities stretching across the United States. NASA, however, differed from NACA in two ways. First, NASA would be an operational agency as well as a research oriented agency. NASA would not only design and build launch vehicles and satellites, but would launch, operate, acquire data, and interpret data from them. Second, NASA would use contractors to do the majority of its work. In addition, NASA acquired other programs that focused on space related technology. These included Project Vanguard (from the Navy) with 158 scientists and staff, and various Army and Air Force lunar exploration programs. Between late 1958 and early 1960, NASA also absorbed the Army's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Army Ballistic Missile Agency's 4000 person Development Operation Division.
 
During those first two years, NASA concentrated on organizing itself into a cohesive agency. In 1960, the agency put forward its "Long-Range Plan for Space Exploration." This plan had three principal objectives: an early application of earth satellites to practical uses; a study of the space environment and celestial bodies to gain scientific knowledge; and a determination of man's capacity to function usefully in the space environment in order to open the way to manned exploration of space, of the moon, and of planets in our solar system (NASA's Fourth Semi-Annual Report to Congress, April 1, 1960 through September 30, 1960). To address the goals of the long range plan, NASA organized itself around five program activities: the Office of Advanced Research Programs; the Office of Space Flight Programs; the Office of Life Sciences Programs; the Office of Technical Information and Educational Programs; and the Office of Business Administration. The Office of Advanced Research Programs developed and administered NASA aeronautical research programs and the research programs required to support space exploration and utilization activities. The Office of Space Flight Programs created and executed the NASA flight program for the exploration and utilization of space. The Office of Launch Vehicle Programs developed launching vehicles, associated guidance and control, launch techniques, and propulsion systems. The Office of Life Sciences Programs created and directed NASA programs, operations, and training in the Life Sciences (biology, medicine, and psychology) as they related to NASA missions. The Office of Technical Information and Educational Programs gathered and disseminated technical information and conducted educational programs about NASA. The Office of Business Administration directed business programs involved in the general administration of NASA. These programs changed, however, in the following years, reflecting shifts in the agency's and the country's priorities.
 
In 1961, for example, President John F. Kennedy, responded to Yuri Gagarin's successful orbit of the earth by calling for a national commitment to land an American on the moon within the decade. This decision changed NASA's priorities and precipitated a major change in the agency's organization. Due to the perceived importance of the Mercury Project, the Gemini Project, and the Apollo Lunar Exploration Program, NASA created an Office of Manned Spaceflight in 1963 which was responsible for directing NASA's efforts in manned spaceflight missions. This change was followed by the creation of five new offices, replacing the original organization. The new organization then consisted of: the Office of Manned Space Flight, the Office of Space Science Applications, the Office of Advanced Research and Technology, the Office of Tracking and Data Acquisition, the Office of Technology Utilization and Policy Planning, and the Office of Industry Affairs. The Office of Space Science Applications administered projects involving unmanned scientific explorations of space and the planets and for communications, meteorological, and related peaceful applications. The Office of Advanced Research and Technology was to provide the technical knowledge needed for future aeronautical and space vehicle designs. The Office of Tracking and Data Acquisition developed and managed tracking and data acquisition facilities as well as NASA's long line communication systems. The Office of Technology Utilization and Policy Planning promoted the utilization and dissemination of technological innovations coming from NASA's research programs. The Office of Industry Affairs directed NASA's procurement, construction review, and reliability and quality assurance programs.
 
Ten years later, in 1975, new offices had been created reflecting the changes within the past decade. The successes of the manned space missions and lunar landings (Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo) had helped NASA's and the United States' prestige in the eyes of the world, but public worries about costs and spending and the energy crisis greatly affected NASA. The Offices of Manned Spaceflight, Tracking and Data Acquisition, and Aeronautics and Space Technology, remained relatively static. There was, however, increased emphasis placed on unmanned missions (which were seen to be cheaper than the manned projects) and practical earthly uses for space technology. Three new offices, replacing the three old, addressed those concerns. The Office of Applications of Space Research was responsible for disseminating space technology information for the benefit of earthly problems. The Office of Space Science concentrated on programs (such as the Pioneer and Mariner voyages) involving unmanned lunar and planetary exploration, astronomy, physics, and earth life sciences. The third office was the Office of Energy Programs. This office assisted other government agencies in creating energy efficient programs to cope with the energy crisis.
 
In the late 1970's and early 1980's, new projects began dominating NASA's agenda, most notably the Space Shuttle, and plans for a space station, which led to renewed change in NASA's organization. In 1986, NASA had five offices which organized the research programs. The offices of Aeronautics and Space Technology, Space Science and Applications, and Tracking and Data Systems still remained. However, two new offices mirrored changing priorities. The Office of Space Flight's responsibilities included advancing the Space Shuttle, and carrying out space transportation and other related programs. The Office of the Space Station was created to achieve President Reagan's goals of: developing a permanently manned space station by 1994; to involve other countries in the Space Station Program; and to excite private sector investment in space through space-based operational capabilities.
 
In 1992, ASA organized into four program offices. The Office of Space Science and Applications has remained constant, but the Office of Space Flight has absorbed the Space Station Freedom project. Two new offices have also been created, the Office of Space Operations and the Office of Aeronautics Exploration. The Office of Space Operations incorporated the old Office of Tracking and Data Systems. The new Office's duties now include the development of a comprehensive plan for managing NASA space operations. The Office of Aeronautics Exploration Technology responsibilities include programs to develop advanced technology to enable and enhance pursuit of national objectives in aeronautics, space, and transatmospherics. The Office is the focal point for the Space Exploration Initiative. This initiative is a long term program of robotic and human exploration which will include sending humans to the Moon to establish a permanent outpost and conducting human missions to the planet Mars.
 
 
ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY CITATION(S): Bilstein, Roger E. Orders of Magnitude, A History of NACA and NASA, 1915 and 1990 (Washington D.C., NASA, Office of Management, Scientific and Technical Information Division, , 1989); Ezell, Linda Neuman NASA Historical Data Book, 3 vols. (NASA, Scientific and Technical Information Division, Washington D.C., 1988); National Aeronautics and Space Administration, First, Fourth, and Fifth NASA Semi-Annual Report to Congress (October 1, 1958-March 31, 1959; April 1, 1960-September 30, 1960; October 1, 1960-June 30, 1961); United States Government Organizational Manual (for the years: 1959-1960, 1960-1961, 1961-1962, 1964-1965, 1972-1973, 1975-1976, 1978-1979, 1982-1983, 1986-1987, 1988-1989, 1991-1992) (Washington, D.C., Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration)

 

 

 

Miscellaneous Office Records of Dr. Homer Newell, Associate Administrator, 1965-74.

There are folder lists for the 124 boxes in this sub-group.

 

 

SUBJECT FILES. 

Boxes 1-69
MLR Entry 82, A1
Location: 130/25/31/2
 
 

 

READING FILE FOLDERS.

Boxes 70-80
MLR Entry 83, A1
Location: 130/25/32/5
 

 

RECORDS OF TELEPHONE CALLS, FOLDERS.

Boxes 81-82
MLR Entry 84, A1
Location: 130/25/32/6
 

 

DESK RECORDS, FOLDERS.

Boxes 83-89
MLR Entry 85, A1
Location: 130/25/32/7
 

 

SPEECHES AND ARTICLES.

Boxes 90-105
MLR Entry 86, A1
Location: 130/25/33/1
 

 

MISCELLANEOUS.

Boxes 106-114
MLR Entry 87, A1
Location: 130/25/33/3
 

 

ROCKET AND SATELLITE RESEARCH PANEL RECORDS.

Boxes 115-117
MLR Entry 88, A1
Location: 130/25/33/4
 

 

RECORDS RELATING TO PREPARATION OF A "MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE."

Boxes 118-124
MLR Entry 89, A1
Location: 130/25/33/5
 

 

SLIDES PRESENTED AS AUDIOVISUAL AIDS IN NEWELL LECTURES AND BRIEFINGS.

Boxes 125-127
MLR Entry 90, A1
Location: 130/25/33/6

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