Abstract
This paper offers an organizational assessment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The writer of this paper examines NASA's history and mission while also evaluating its goals and objectives. The paper also analyzes NASA's strengths and weaknesses while detailing the organization's strengths and weaknesses.

Tags:NASA

Abstract
This paper relates the beginning of the U.S. space program from Germany's World War II development of intermediate range ballistic missiles to USSR's launching the first satellite Sputnik 1 during the Cold War period to finally the launching of the first U.S.satellite, Explorer 1, in 1958. The paper describes the manned flights, the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the landing on the moon. The paper reports that, in recent years, NASA is focusing less on lunar exploration and more on studying Mars and beyond. The author concludes that the U.S. space program is of great benefit to the country.

From the Paper
"Meanwhile, in the U.S. the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established by the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to plan, direct, and conduct all U.S. aeronautical and space activities, except those that are primarily military ("NASA"). This meant that the Army's, Air Force's, and Navy's space programs were all consolidated into one. The U.S. countered the Vostok missions with their own Mercury program, sending Alan Shepard into space on May 5, 1961, the first American to do so. Soon after, John Glenn became the first American into orbit."

Tags:glenn apollo, cold war, mars, project constellation

Abstract
This paper details a needs assessment for quality improvement at NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). It includes program goal setting, prioritizing program goals, funding and operational decision-making. The purpose of the assessment is to improve quality performance at NASA.

Tags:NASA, Aeronautics, Space

Abstract
On 28 January 1986, the world was shocked by the destruction of the Space Shuttle Challenger, and the death of its crew. This paper examines the processes used in deciding to launch the ill-fated mission. It focuses on the flawed culture within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its associated mismanagement. It analyses how this culture influenced NASA's beliefs, its decision-making process and its performance.
Outline
Background
Engineering
Management Issues
Belief Systems
Conclusion
Bibliography

From the Paper
"President Nixon endorsed the Shuttle during the 1972 election year because it would increase employment. In a crime against the English language, he announced that the vehicle would "revolutionise transportation into near space, by routinising it." He also recognised that it was politically unacceptable not to maintain a manned presence in space. However, the Office of Management and Budget continued to monitor the programme's costs. NASA was forced to make savings in the short term, at the expense of higher operational costs and greater risks. Solid-rocket boosters were chosen because they were less expensive to develop and could be more quickly refurbished than boosters using liquid propellants."

Tags:communication, culture, launch, neurolinguistic, nlp, orbiter, programming, rockwell, rogers, thiokol

From the Paper
"The Nasa Decision-Making Environment
This research examines the decision-making environment within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In part, this examination is based on Case No. 25, The NASA Space Shuttle Disaster (Marx, Stubbart, Traub, & Cavanaugh, 1987, pp. 829-844).


Background
NASA is an organization that owes its beginning to a political crisis in the United States. Early Soviet space successes further fueled Cold War fears among the American population; fears that were maintained at high levels by American politicians at the best of times.


The success of the Soviet Sputnik program caused the American government to rush head-long and ill-prepared into a me too ..."

Abstract
This paper discusses the Apollo 7 and Apollo 8 space missions and their overall effect on the United States' space race. It looks at the history behind the space race and climate in the United States at the time that the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) was first developing these missions. The paper concludes that these missions helped to revive American interest and motivate the public's support for NASA, as well as helped America to take a definite lead in the space race against the Soviets.

From the Paper
"Remembering the Apollo 8 mission, William Anders stated, "The biggest surprise of the mission was to see the first Earthrise over the moon and to realize that the Earth was even more interesting than the moon. I consider the moon voyages a technical feat, a political feat." Apollo 8 was indeed both of these. The Apollo 7 and 8 missions were vital ingredients in the overall victory for America in the space race. They helped to revive American interest and motivate the public's support for NASA. They also helped America to take a definite lead in the space race against the Soviets and use this momentum to continue to the moon. Lastly, they helped to prove that the moon was a feasible goal, and that Kennedy's idea of putting a man on the moon before the decade was out was more than possible."

Tags:NASA, moon, voyage, astronaut, lunar, landing

Abstract
This first part of this paper examines the current structure of NASA, and the problems that are spawned by its fragmented structure. The paper then looks at the goals, obstacles and potential benefits of the One NASA program, paying special attention to the Integrated Financial Management Project (IFMP). It examines whether the IFMP -- an agency-wide effort to overhaul NASA's financial and administrative systems and processes can have a positive effect in building a more integrated organizational culture within the space agency.

From the Paper
"NASA is not a single monolith. Instead, it is composed of several field centers scattered across the country. Each center has its own staff, origin and research focus (Bromberg 1999). Ideally, these field centers work together with their headquarters, situated in Washington, DC. After all, as seen in the following description of their responsibilities and duties, many of the centers have overlapping mandates, duties and projects. However, more often than not, Headquarters and the individual centers are in conflict, resulting in duplication of effort and a waste of resources."

Tags:space, national, aeronautics, administration

Abstract
This paper analyzes Chapters 6 and 7 of the "Columbia Accident Investigation Board Report". Specifically, it discusses the issues that surfaceed about NASA and its organization and answers the question: If you were designing a new organization to change the core processes what would be your priorities for change? It examines how the National Air and Space Agency (NASA) ultimately is a business organization, just like any other, and how it faces the same funding issues, internal power struggles, and management concerns that any other business faces.

From the Paper
"The need for change in the organization is clear, and the priorities need to be established and followed. Clearly, the first priority should be either a general housecleaning in management, or at least a re-evaluation of the current management mission, and how it must contribute to change and safety, rather than deadlines and appearances. The second priority must be communication, because the communication streams are flawed, and it seems some staff are afraid to communicate concerns or problems. It also seems budgetary concerns are also a major issue with NASA. These concerns must be addressed, but they should never come ahead of Shuttle safety, and it seems from the start, they have."

Tags:nasa, communication, mission, challenger

Abstract
The paper discusses how, in the 1950s, the two superpowers of world affairs, the United States and the United Soviet Socialist Republic, engaged in a quest for ultimate power that would in time become known as the Cold War. The paper examines the competition between the nations, known as the Space Race. The paper further explores the meaning of the Space Race and its accomplishments within the context of the Cold War.

Outline:
Abstract
The Purpose of the Space Race
Time Well Spent and Energy Used Wisely?
Larger Purpose of the Space Race
Does Society Need This Kind of Enterprise?
Conclusion
Works Cited

From the Paper
"From the point of view of the Americans, the Space Race also took on a much more significant purpose than simply showing that space exploration was possible; early in the consideration of the potential of space exploration and travel, it was realized that the technology and science that could be derived from an effective space program would have many uses, and in light of the possibility of Assured Destruction, defense was one of the most important. In the minds of the American government, the demise of communism was the key to winning the Cold War outright."

Tags:nuclear, weapons, moon, national, pride, Hitler, communism

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that at the end of World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States were locked into a bitter battle of military positioning and propaganda known as the Cold War. Stemming from this, as technology advancements showed the world the military capabilities of space exploration, the two nations began a fierce competition to rule space. The writer notes that while the competition was closely aligned with the arms race between the two countries during the Cold War, space technology also became an important part of the technological, cultural, ideological, and military rivalry between the two countries. The writer points out that while the space race developed from a vicious Cold War, the race ended in cooperation between two powerful nations. The writer then concludes that while the space race certainly advanced technology far beyond what would have occurred without such competition, the race also fostered and developed the technological, cultural, ideological, and military mindsets of both countries forever.

Outline:
Abstract
References

From the Paper
"Space exploration clearly offered numerous solutions to these issues for both superpowers. Space exploration and satellites could, scientists and military annalists believed, be used to spy on other countries, gathering photographic and location specific information regarding any technologies, military movements, or weapon storage. Additionally, the leaders of these countries believed that to beat the other to space would promote a concept of superiority, prowess, and military superiority. As the development of rocket technology increased, and as that technology advanced, space exploration became a feasible goal.
In 1947, the citizens of the United States had one of their first experiences with space, further fueling the flames for the Space Race. In July of that year, farmers in Roswell, NM discovered a crash site nearly three-fourths of a mile in width, consisting of metal, and other unfamiliar debris. A local sheriff called the military, who declared a few days later that a "flying disk" had crashed. Shortly thereafter, the statement was retracted, and replaced with stories of a downed weather balloon."

Tags:satellites, moon, rivalry, exploration, rocket