The
author discusses how NASA was created
partly out of the need for new frontiers and partly out of fear that Soviets would
become militarily superior to the United States after the launch of Skylab in 1957. The
author describes some of its early struggles and credibility problems as NASA put a man on the moon before the end of the 1960s. The author explores how NASA survived the budget cuts and changing political climate of the 1970s by pushing forward, culminating in the launch of the Space Shuttle in 1981. The paper concludes in 1985 with NASA's plans for a manned space station and re-evaluation of its mission, key functions and tasks it will have to accomplish as we move into the 21st century.