{"id":130034,"date":"2012-05-31T15:47:00","date_gmt":"2012-05-31T19:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-352451"},"modified":"2023-07-25T11:26:12","modified_gmt":"2023-07-25T15:26:12","slug":"nasa-50th-anniversary-proceedings-nasas-first-50-years-historical-perspectives","status":"publish","type":"topic","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/nasa-50th-anniversary-proceedings-nasas-first-50-years-historical-perspectives\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA’s First 50 Years: Historical Perspectives"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\" hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\"><div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex desktop:display-none width-full flex-align-center bg-carbon-90 border-color-carbon-80 color-spacesuit-white\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"hds-secondary-nav-track\"><span>NASA History<\/span><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><\/button><div class=\"hds-secondary-nav-track grid-container grid-container-extrawide padding-0 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-2 \"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-items\"><nav><ul class=\"usa-nav__primary usa-accordion flex-justify-center margin-0\"><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/explore-nasas-history\/\">Explore NASA’s History<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-office\/\">NASA History Office<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>Publications and Resources<\/span><svg class=\"hds-desktop-submenu-toggle-icon display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-block\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><svg class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon display-block tablet:display-block desktop:display-none\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"7.5\" fill=\"#0B3D91\" stroke=\"white\"\/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.6001\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" fill=\"white\"\/><rect class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon-line-vertical\" x=\"7.59998\" y=\"12\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" transform=\"rotate(-90 7.59998 12)\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/button><ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/\">NASA History Series<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/news-and-notes\/\">News and Notes<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/aeronautics-and-space-report-of-the-president\/\">Aeronautics and Space Report of the President<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/oral-histories\/\">Oral Histories<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/other-research-resources\/\">Research Resources<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/archives\/\">NASA Archives<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-page-intro\">\n\t<div class=\"padding-0 bg-spacesuit-white wp-block-nasa-blocks-page-intro\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-page-intro hds-page-intro-banner width-full maxw-full padding-0 hds-cover-wrapper minh-tablet\">\n\t\t<div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper display-flex\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto margin-bottom-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-top-9 padding-x-3 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-4 margin-bottom-3 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"page-heading-md line-height-sm color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA’s First 50 Years\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-lg color-carbon-30-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA’s First 50 Years: Historical Perspectives (NASA 50th Anniversary Proceedings)\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-4 margin-bottom-3 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1535\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/KSC-72C-5901\/KSC-72C-5901~large.jpg?w=1535&h=1920&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"The Apollo 17 Saturn V rocket is lit up beneath a full moon prior to launch\" style=\"transform: scale(1.1); transform-origin: 26% 20%; object-position: 26% 20%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/KSC-72C-5901\/KSC-72C-5901~large.jpg?w=1535&h=1920&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1535w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/KSC-72C-5901\/KSC-72C-5901~large.jpg?w=240&h=300&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 240w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/KSC-72C-5901\/KSC-72C-5901~large.jpg?w=768&h=961&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/KSC-72C-5901\/KSC-72C-5901~large.jpg?w=819&h=1024&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 819w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/KSC-72C-5901\/KSC-72C-5901~large.jpg?w=1228&h=1536&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1228w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/KSC-72C-5901\/KSC-72C-5901~large.jpg?w=320&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 320w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/KSC-72C-5901\/KSC-72C-5901~large.jpg?w=480&h=600&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 480w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/KSC-72C-5901\/KSC-72C-5901~large.jpg?w=720&h=901&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 720w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/KSC-72C-5901\/KSC-72C-5901~large.jpg?w=959&h=1200&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 959w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1535px) 100vw, 1535px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p><b>Edited by Steven J. Dick<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On 29 July 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which became operational on 1 October of that year. Over the next 50 years, NASA achieved a set of spectacular feats, ranging from advancing the well-established field of aeronautics to pioneering the new fields of Earth and space science and human spaceflight. In the midst of the geopolitical context of the Cold War, 12 Americans walked on the Moon, arriving in peace \u201cfor all mankind.\u201d Humans saw their home planet from a new perspective, with unforgettable Apollo images of Earthrise and the \u201cBlue Marble,\u201d as well as the \u201cpale blue dot\u201d from the edge of the solar system. A flotilla of spacecraft has studied Earth, while other spacecraft have probed the depths of the solar system and the universe beyond. In the 1980s, the evolution of aeronautics gave us the first winged human spacecraft, the Space Shuttle, and the International Space Station stands as a symbol of human cooperation in space as well as a possible way station to the stars. With the Apollo fire and two Space Shuttle accidents, NASA has also seen the depths of tragedy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this volume, a wide array of scholars turn a critical eye toward NASA\u2019s first 50 years, probing an institution widely seen as the premier agency for exploration in the world, carrying on a long tradition of exploration by the United States and the human species in general. Fifty years after its founding, NASA finds itself at a crossroads that historical perspectives can only help to illuminate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>NASA SP-4704<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-featured-link-list bg-spacesuit-white padding-x-2 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-4 padding-y-5 desktop:padding-y-6 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-featured-link-list\">\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-22\">\n\t\t\t\tDownload the e-Books\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/nasa_50-cover.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Cover design for NASA's First 50 Years: Historical Perspectives\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 36%; object-position: 50% 36%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/nasa_50-cover.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/nasa_50-cover.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/nasa_50-cover.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/nasa_50-cover.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">Fixed Layout<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black\">PDF format (9.5 MB)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/607087main_NASAsFirst50YearsHistoricalPerspectives-ebook.pdf?emrc=3e2a2a\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\">\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path>\n                            <\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/nasa_50-cover.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Cover design for NASA's First 50 Years: Historical Perspectives\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 36%; object-position: 50% 36%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/nasa_50-cover.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/nasa_50-cover.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/nasa_50-cover.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/nasa_50-cover.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">e-Book Readers<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black\">EPUB format (12.5 MB)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/607085main_NASAsFirst50YearsHistoricalPerspectives-ebook.epub?emrc=71b179\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\">\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path>\n                            <\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-card-grid padding-top-7 padding-bottom-3 padding-x-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-card-grid\">\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-card-grid-header grid-container grid-container-block\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-start margin-bottom-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"section-heading-sm line-height-sm\">More History Publications<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"margin-0 padding-0\">Explore more titles in the NASA History Series.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col display-flex flex-align-center desktop:flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"button-primary button-primary link-external-true\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"line-height-alt-1 \" >\n\t\t\t\tAll NASA History Publications                \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"button-primary-circle\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-card-grid-cards grid-container grid-container-block\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cards-included grid-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/naca-to-nasa-to-now\/\" class=\"hds-card-topic hds-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-5 mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 margin-bottom-6\"><div class=\"hds-card-inner\"><div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper z-300 display-flex flex-direction-column flex-align-end flex-justify-end\"><div class=\"hds-card-content padding-3\"><h3 class=\"heading-29 hds-topic-card-heading color-spacesuit-white\"><span>NACA to NASA to Now<\/span><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><\/h3><\/div><\/div><div class=\"hds-card-thumbnail\"><div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\"><\/div><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"674\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/NACA-NASA-Now-cover.jpg?w=674\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/NACA-NASA-Now-cover.jpg 938w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/NACA-NASA-Now-cover.jpg?resize=197,300 197w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/NACA-NASA-Now-cover.jpg?resize=768,1167 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/NACA-NASA-Now-cover.jpg?resize=674,1024 674w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/NACA-NASA-Now-cover.jpg?resize=263,400 263w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/NACA-NASA-Now-cover.jpg?resize=395,600 395w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/NACA-NASA-Now-cover.jpg?resize=592,900 592w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/NACA-NASA-Now-cover.jpg?resize=790,1200 790w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 674px) 100vw, 674px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/a-history-of-near-earth-objects-research\/\" class=\"hds-card-topic hds-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-5 mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 margin-bottom-6\"><div class=\"hds-card-inner\"><div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper z-300 display-flex flex-direction-column flex-align-end flex-justify-end\"><div class=\"hds-card-content padding-3\"><h3 class=\"heading-29 hds-topic-card-heading color-spacesuit-white\"><span>A History of Near-Earth Objects Research<\/span><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><\/h3><\/div><\/div><div class=\"hds-card-thumbnail\"><div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\"><\/div><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"674\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?w=674\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg 1875w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=197,300 197w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=768,1167 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=674,1024 674w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=1011,1536 1011w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=1347,2048 1347w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=263,400 263w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=395,600 395w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=592,900 592w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=789,1200 789w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=1316,2000 1316w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 674px) 100vw, 674px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/origins-of-21st-century-space-travel\/\" class=\"hds-card-topic hds-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-5 mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 margin-bottom-6\"><div class=\"hds-card-inner\"><div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper z-300 display-flex flex-direction-column flex-align-end flex-justify-end\"><div class=\"hds-card-content padding-3\"><h3 class=\"heading-29 hds-topic-card-heading color-spacesuit-white\"><span>Origins of 21st-Century Space Travel<\/span><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><\/h3><\/div><\/div><div class=\"hds-card-thumbnail\"><div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\"><\/div><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/origins-of-21st-c-cover-w-2awards.jpg?w=700\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/origins-of-21st-c-cover-w-2awards.jpg 1435w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/origins-of-21st-c-cover-w-2awards.jpg?resize=205,300 205w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/origins-of-21st-c-cover-w-2awards.jpg?resize=768,1124 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/origins-of-21st-c-cover-w-2awards.jpg?resize=700,1024 700w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/origins-of-21st-c-cover-w-2awards.jpg?resize=1050,1536 1050w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/origins-of-21st-c-cover-w-2awards.jpg?resize=1399,2048 1399w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/origins-of-21st-c-cover-w-2awards.jpg?resize=273,400 273w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/origins-of-21st-c-cover-w-2awards.jpg?resize=410,600 410w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/origins-of-21st-c-cover-w-2awards.jpg?resize=615,900 615w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/origins-of-21st-c-cover-w-2awards.jpg?resize=820,1200 820w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/origins-of-21st-c-cover-w-2awards.jpg?resize=1367,2000 1367w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/50-years-of-solar-system-exploration-historical-perspectives\/\" class=\"hds-card-topic hds-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-5 mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 margin-bottom-6\"><div class=\"hds-card-inner\"><div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper z-300 display-flex flex-direction-column flex-align-end flex-justify-end\"><div class=\"hds-card-content padding-3\"><h3 class=\"heading-29 hds-topic-card-heading color-spacesuit-white\"><span>50 Years of Solar System Exploration: Historical Perspectives<\/span><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><\/h3><\/div><\/div><div class=\"hds-card-thumbnail\"><div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\"><\/div><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/solar_system_dust_jacket-front-cover_0.jpg?w=700\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/solar_system_dust_jacket-front-cover_0.jpg 1688w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/solar_system_dust_jacket-front-cover_0.jpg?resize=205,300 205w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/solar_system_dust_jacket-front-cover_0.jpg?resize=768,1123 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/solar_system_dust_jacket-front-cover_0.jpg?resize=700,1024 700w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/solar_system_dust_jacket-front-cover_0.jpg?resize=1050,1536 1050w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/solar_system_dust_jacket-front-cover_0.jpg?resize=1400,2048 1400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/solar_system_dust_jacket-front-cover_0.jpg?resize=273,400 273w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/solar_system_dust_jacket-front-cover_0.jpg?resize=410,600 410w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/solar_system_dust_jacket-front-cover_0.jpg?resize=615,900 615w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/solar_system_dust_jacket-front-cover_0.jpg?resize=820,1200 820w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/solar_system_dust_jacket-front-cover_0.jpg?resize=1367,2000 1367w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Edited by Steven J. Dick On 29 July 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which became operational on 1 October of that year. Over the next 50 years, NASA achieved a set of spectacular feats, ranging from advancing the well-established field […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":131670,"parent":163226,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[11793,2671],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[4962,11519,12369],"coauthors":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"NASA’s First 50 Years: Historical Perspectives","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/nasa-50th-anniversary-proceedings-nasas-first-50-years-historical-perspectives\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/nasa-50th-anniversary-proceedings-nasas-first-50-years-historical-perspectives\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/nasa_50-cover.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/nasa_50-cover.jpg"},"articleSection":"E-Books","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Michele Ostovar"}],"creator":["Michele Ostovar"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA History","E-Books"],"dateCreated":"2012-05-31T19:47:00Z","datePublished":"2012-05-31T19:47:00Z","dateModified":"2023-07-25T15:26:12Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"NASA’s First 50 Years: Historical Perspectives\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/nasa-50th-anniversary-proceedings-nasas-first-50-years-historical-perspectives\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"index\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/nasa_50-cover.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2012-05-31T19:47:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"E-Books\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA History,E-Books\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Michele Ostovar\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":2,"time_ago":"12 years","featured_image":{"id":131670,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/nasa_50-cover.jpg","title":"nasa_50-cover","alt":"Cover design for NASA's First 50 Years: Historical Perspectives","caption":"Cover design for NASA's First 50 Years: Historical Perspectives"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/130034"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/topic"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/130034\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":406915,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/130034\/revisions\/406915"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/163226"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/131670"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=130034"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=130034"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=130034"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=130034"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=130034"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}