National Aeronautics and Space Act

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The National Aeronautics and Space Act is the 1958 U.S. federal law that created NASA and established the nation’s civilian space program and aerospace research framework.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal law
space law
abbreviationOfCreatedAgency NASA
abbreviationOfReplacedAgency NACA
codifiedIn Title 51 of the United States Code
contains declaration of national policy and purpose for aeronautics and space
organizational structure for NASA
provisions defining functions of NASA
provisions for transfer of functions from NACA to NASA
reporting requirements to the President and Congress
country United States
createdAgency National Aeronautics and Space Administration
effectiveDate 1958-07-29
emphasizes benefit of all mankind as an objective of U.S. space activities
use of space for peaceful purposes
enactedBy 85th United States Congress
establishes NASA Administrator position
NASA Deputy Administrator position
framework for U.S. civilian space program
framework for aerospace research
excludes military space activities from NASA’s primary responsibility
historicalContext enacted after the launch of Sputnik 1 by the Soviet Union
enacted during the Cold War space race
jurisdiction civilian space activities
legislativeType organic act for NASA
originallyCodifiedIn Title 42 of the United States Code
policyStatement United States policy that activities in space should be devoted to peaceful purposes
United States policy to cooperate with other nations in space activities
United States policy to preserve the role of the United States as a leader in aeronautical and space science and technology
publicLawNumber Public Law 85-568
purpose to conduct aeronautical and space activities devoted to peaceful purposes for the benefit of all mankind
to coordinate U.S. civilian space research and exploration
to establish a civilian national aeronautics and space program
relatedTo United States space policy
history of NASA
replacedAgency National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
requires NASA to arrange for participation of the scientific community in planning scientific measurements and observations
NASA to disseminate information concerning its activities and the results thereof
scope aeronautical research
space exploration
space research
technology development for aeronautics and space
shortName Space Act of 1958
signedBy Dwight D. Eisenhower
signingDate 1958-07-29
statutesAtLargeCitation 72 Stat. 426
title An Act to provide for research into problems of flight within and outside the earth’s atmosphere, and for other purposes
yearOfEnactment 1958

Referenced by (7)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
National Aeronautics and Space Act ("Space Act of 1958")
Public Law 85-568 ("National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958")
shortName
Public Law 85-568
alsoKnownAs
Title 51 of the United States Code ("National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958")
basedOn
NASA
legalBasis
NASA Deputy Administrator
legalFramework
Public Law 85-568 ("An Act to provide for research into problems of flight within and outside the earth’s atmosphere, and for other purposes")
title

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