Eisenhower Praises NASA’s Achievements and Outlines the Future of American Space Exploration (1960)

Date: December 29, 1960

Created By: Dwight D. Eisenhower

Original or Replica: Original

Era: The Presidency, The Space Race

Collection: Eisenhower Presidential Library

Citations: DDE’s Papers as President, Administration Series, Box 15, Dr. Keith Glennan-NASA; NAID #12042606

In this December 29, 1960 letter, President Dwight D. Eisenhower thanks outgoing NASA Administrator T. Keith Glennan for his leadership of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration since the agency began operations in October 1958. As Glennan prepared to leave office at the end of the Eisenhower administration, Eisenhower praises NASA for establishing an effective organization and developing an ambitious program of nonmilitary space exploration intended to expand scientific knowledge and benefit humanity.

Eisenhower highlights several accomplishments achieved during NASA’s first two years. He points to the successful launches of the Tiros I and Tiros II meteorological satellites, which promised improvements in weather forecasting, and the Echo I communications satellite, which demonstrated the feasibility of global satellite communications. He also praises the scientific discoveries made by the Van Allen radiation belts research and NASA’s deep-space probes, which traveled farther than any previous human-made objects. Eisenhower notes that the agency had also made significant progress toward the goal of manned spaceflight.

Looking ahead, Eisenhower predicts an extraordinary future for American space exploration. He specifically anticipates astronauts orbiting Earth, humans landing on the Moon, the launch of the enormous Saturn rocket, and eventual manned exploration of Mars and Venus. He credits Glennan with helping create the organization and programs that made such achievements possible and closes by expressing his personal appreciation, respect, and friendship.

The letter provides a valuable assessment of NASA’s early accomplishments and Eisenhower’s vision for the future of the American space program as his presidency drew to a close.