By Nomi Prins
When the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957, it was a blow to Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower’s ego.
President Eisenhower couldn’t just stand by as the Soviets beat America into the new frontier of outer space.
So, he asked Congress to create a civilian space agency in the U.S. And he got his wish in 1958 when Congress voted to establish NASA.
The Space Race was on.
Next came Project Mercury, which sent America’s first astronaut into space in 1961 – and returned him safely home. And in 1969, Apollo 11 landed humans on the Moon for the first time.
Since then, the U.S. Space program has grown into a pillar of U.S. defense and scientific prowess. Today, the worldwide space industry is worth over $420 billion.
I’m telling you this because we stand at a similar inflection point today.