ABSTRACT
The general approach was to supplement and convert some of the effort devoted to developing short and long range ballistic missiles to building launch vehicles and spacecraft. The National Space Act created the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NASA) out of the NACA. The most dramatic example of the boldness and pace of the program was a full scale reentry test made using an Atlas "C launch vehicle. In November 1958, the Space Task Group obtained the use of 2 Atlas "C" vehicles for flight tests in 1959. Since preliminary work on a space station was started and terminated many times throughout NASA history, designation of a time for commencement of studies is inappropriate and consequently not shown although studies leading to the present design began in 1981. Multi-center programs requiring strong Headquarter's management, such as Shuttle and Space Station, take too long to complete and weaken NASA's most important assets-its field centers and their experienced personnel.
