On July 29, 1958, President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. When it began operations on October 1, 1958, NASA consisted mainly of the four laboratories and some 80 employees of the government's 46-year-old research agency, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). Goddard Space Flight Center was established on May 1, 1959 as NASA's first space flight center.
In celebration of its 60th year, we look back at the innovations and scientific impacts the women and men of Goddard have made throughout its history.