NASA Established 50 Years Ago Today: Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Agency (NASA)! NASA turns 50 today. NASA was established July 29, 1958 after the Russians launched Sputnik and the United States decided to step up its efforts to win the space race. Congress allocated $80 million to the task. In 2008, 50 years after NASA was established, the agency has a budget of $17.3 billion.

NASA's 50 year record of accomplishments is lengthy. Most unforgettable for anyone in the world old enough to remember it was the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, when for the first time in human history, humans walked on the surface of Earth's moon.

In May 1973, NASA launched Skylab, the first orbiting workshop, into space.

By 1975, Americans and Russians turned to cooperating, rather than competing, in space exploration with the launch of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.

1981 was the dawning of the Space Shuttle age with the launch of Columbia.

The Hubble telescope got a rocky start, first launched in 1990. Despite its initial failings, Hubble eventually transmitted back to Earth detailed photos of immense scientific value.

Since NASA was established, the agency has many more noteworthy accomplishments in the field of space exploration. But the application of NASA's technological contributions to consumer products cannot be overlooked.

Remember Tang? Some of us would call this sugary orange drink a travesty rather than an accomplishment these days, but it was pretty trendy back in the 1960s. Contrary to popular belief, Tang was not created for space travel at the behest of NASA but for Earthlings to drink on Earth. Poor sales caused its maker, General Foods, to investigate new markets, and they found a market with NASA. Tang was launched into space with the Gemini astronauts beginning in 1965. While NASA may not have created Tang, NASA is responsible for Tang's market success.

Food packaging and freeze dried technology got a boost since NASA was established and investigated efficient means of providing food to astronauts in space. Freeze dried astronaut ice cream is one of the freeze dried NASA-related products familiar to most Americans.

There have been many spinoffs of NASA space technology since NASA was established that have benefited consumers on Earth. One such spinoff is digital imaging used in breast biopsies, derived from the Hubble Telescope.

NASA is also responsible for developing Regenerable Biocide Delivery Units which provide pure water in developing nations.

With dimples and ribs, NASA-derived technology has improved both golf balls and competition swimsuits.

In the 50 years since NASA was established, NASA has been a leader in developing fire resistant materials used in many consumer products and radiation insulation used in home construction.

This is quite a list of accomplishments for one agency, and it's far from complete. May NASA's next 50 years be equally productive.

Sources: 2008 Main NASA Budget Request, ww1.nasa.gov/pdf/168652main_NASA_FY08Budget_Request.pdf; NASA Budget, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_budget; http://history.nasa.gov/Timeline/100flt.html; NASA Spinoffs, http://www.thespaceplace.com/nasa/spinoffs.html; Tang, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_%28drink%29;