Established on July 29, 1958, by the National Aeronautics and Space Act, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was created as a civilian agency to lead U.S. space exploration, succeeding the NASA research committee. It was formed in response to the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik, aiming to advance human and robotic spaceflight.
NASA is immensely popular, consistently holding a highly favorable public image and ranking as one of the most respected federal agencies in the U.S.. About 75–80% of Americans view NASA favorably, appreciating its scientific advancements and viewing it as a source of national pride. It also enjoys strong international admiration as a premier global space agency.
