Throughout the mid-1900s, the United States was involved in the Cold War. The United States fought against the Soviet Union to contain the spread of communism throughout the world. When it was discovered that nuclear weapons could be launched from space, countries raced to develop ways to do so. The accessibility of each country from space was a new concept that was interesting for aeronautical scientists to learn more about. And thus, the birth of the National Aeronautic Space Association (NASA). NASA was created during the Cold War when the United States competed with the Soviet Union to discover a world beyond our knowledge. NASA was an association created to "unite" the Soviet Union in the 1960s. As the Cold War captured public attention, scientists searched for a more effective way to use the atomic bomb. It was soon discovered that by launching a rocket from space you could easily reach any nation on earth and so the "space race" began. This created a completely new aspect of the idea of ​​war. “Both the United States and the USSR believed that having superior technology would increase respect for their power and prestige on earth” (Moser, 14). However, the US government was reluctant to let its scientists participate in this space race (Moser). Despite conflicting opinions from governments, NASA was created to increase research and known information about space. After the development of the organization, the focus was less on using space as an advantage in warfare, but rather on discovering a new world. Effective October 1, 1958, NASA replaced the NACA (National Aeronautics Advisory Committee). The association has become an incredibly successful organization reaching an annual budget of $14.2 billion in 1995. With it... middle of paper... engineers and scientists, there is nothing stopping NASA from continue your research and find incredible results. Over the years, NASA has proven itself to the world. During the 1960s, this spontaneously created association blossomed into something no one expected. NASA surprised the public with every new invention and discovery. Although it was developed during the Cold War to compete with the Soviet Union, the United States cooperated with it. Today, many of the ships sent into space consist of both American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts. The goal of discovering the outside world was a topic of interest to both countries. In the minds of the Soviets and the American people, no one has even come close to achieving the level that NASA worked so hard to achieve. NASA has proven to be a very successful organization that will continue to develop.