October 1978
From The Space Library
NASA issued a press kit in observance of its 20th anniversary, having opened for business October 1, 1958. To commemorate the anniversary, NASA Administrator Dr. Robert Frosch wrote: "By the time a man or a woman has lived for 20 years, a new individuality has been established, physical maturity has been achieved, important experiences have been undergone and digested, there have been some triumphs and some tragedies, the outlines of the individual's role in society are beginning to come into focus, and it becomes possible to do some sensible planning and make some educated guesses about the future. Most importantly, a unique new entity with largely undetermined potential has come to exist in the world.
"On its 20th anniversary, NASA-composed of some 23,000 men and women-is just such an entity. We are a unique agency, mandated by the people of our country through their elected representatives to develop and utilize space technology both for immediate practical application and to expand our knowledge of the earth, its environment, the solar system and the universe. We are charged with assisting the Department of Defense in the use of space to maintain the security of our nation, and with the promotion of international cooperation in space for peaceful purposes. An important part of our charter calls for research and development to maintain U.S. leadership in aeronautics, and to improve civil and military aeronautical vehicles while minimizing their energy consumption and environmental degradation. We are further charged with the dissemination to all potential users of new knowledge and technology acquired in the course of all these activities, and, alone among Federal agencies, we are required by law to `provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of information concerning (our) activities and the results thereof.'. . .
"We have, after all, in just two decades, for the first time ever, put life from the planet earth on another body of our solar system, and in our explorations of the moon learned more about the nature and origins of that system than humanity was able to determine in all the centuries that went before.
"In those two eventful decades we have landed extensions of our intelligence on Mars, begun an automated investigation that will eventually extend to all the planets orbiting the sun, achieved significant increase in our knowledge of sun-earth interactions and relationships, and through remote sensing satellites made order of magnitude improvements in how we view the natural and manmade phenomena of the whole earth, as a first step on the way to better management of all our resources. And we have put astronomy observatories into orbit above the obscuring atmosphere, which are beginning to supply data that may well change our conception of the universe.
"Closer to home we have initiated a communications revolution. Though barely begun, the communications satellite program has tied the nations and peoples of our planet together in a way never before possible, and it promises the benefits of intercommunity contact to the most remote and isolated areas...
"In our 20th year, we are deeply involved in solving the primary problems of our time-through remote sensing, helping to locate new sources of fossil fuels while working with the Department of Energy to develop alternate energy resources.
"With passenger cars alone burning almost a third of all petroleum products used in this country each year and causing most of the air pollution that blights our metropolitan areas, we are applying our scientific and engineering expertise to improving auto efficiency, economy, and environmental acceptability and to developing advanced auto propulsion systems.
"Finally, exactly as is true of a man or a woman, the future from the perspective of 20 years is full of challenge, excitement, and opportunity. Consider, for example, that the 12 months following our 20th anniversary will see, among other events: -launch of the second HEAD to follow up the major astronomical discoveries of its predecessor; -arrival of the Pioneer orbiter and probes at Venus; -exploration of Jupiter and its moons by both Voyagers; and -first orbital test flight of the Shuttle.
"Beyond our 21st year, we can see the Shuttle evolving as the major factor in all our operations in space, facilitating and accelerating progress toward nearly all our goals...
"In short, on our 20th anniversary we at NASA can take pride in what we have already accomplished, satisfaction from the knowledge that we are doing useful work on the frontiers of science and technology for the benefit of our people and our country, and exhilaration at the prospects which lie ahead for the continued expansion of human knowledge and the improvement of the condition of mankind on the planet earth.
"Truly a unique new entity has come to exist in the world, an entity of which each one of us can be proud to be a part." Also included in the press kit was a chronology of major NASA milestones, descriptions of all NASA centers, and NASA's major launch record. (NASA Release 78-133)
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