Key Documents

History of Space Policy

From the birth of NASA with the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 through recent Presidential Space Directives, below is a collection of key documents directing U.S. space policy.

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

NACA's Special Committee on Space Technology at a meeting at the NACA Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory in Ohio, May 26, 1958. The members are seated around a conference table facing the camera.

NACA’s Special Committee on Space Technology, called the Stever Committee after its chairman, Guyford Stever, meets at the NACA Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory in Ohio, May 26, 1958. Left to right, Edward R. Sharp, Director of Lewis Laboratory; Colonel Norman C Appold, US Air Force, Assistant to the Deputy Commander for Weapons Systems, Air Research and Development Command: Abraham Hyatt, Research and Analysis Officer, Bureau of Aeronautics, Department of the Navy; Hendrik W Bode, Director of Research Physical Sciences, Bell Telephone Laboratories; W Randolph Lovelace II, Lovelace Foundation for Medication Education and Research, S. K Hoffman, General Manager, Rocketdyne Division, North American Aviation; Milton U Clauser, Director, Aeronautical Research Laboratory, The Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation, H. Julian Allen, Chief, High Speed Flight Research, NACA Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, Robert R. Gilruth, Assistant Director, NACA Langley Aeronautical Laboratory, J. R. Dempsey, Manager. Convair-Astronautics; Carl B. Palmer, Secretary to Committee, NACA Headquarters, H. Guyford Stever, Chairman, Associate Dean of Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Hugh L. Dryden (ex officio), Director, NACA; Dale R. Corson, Department of Physics, Cornell University; Abe Silverstein, Associate Director, NACA Lewis; Wernher von Braun, Director, Development Operations Division, Army Ballistic Missile Agency. 26 May 1958

1950s

President Eisenhower signs the National Aeronautics and Space Act

National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958

Unamended

Picture of the building housing NASA's first Headquarters located at 1520 H Street NW in Washington, DC.

National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958

As amended

Recommendations to NASA Regarding a National Civil Space Program

October 1958

Two men reach up to work on a rocket motor for Project Mercury

Long Range Plan of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

December 1959

1960s

Report of the Ad Hoc Panel on Man-in-Space

December 16, 1960

Freedom 7 crew of John Glen, Gus Grissom, and Alan Shepard in their space suits in front of the Redstone rocket.

Report to the President-Elect of the Ad Hoc Committee on Space

The "Wiesner Report" January 10, 1961

President John F. Kennedy speaks before a joint session of Congress, May 25, 1961.

President John F. Kennedy's Special Message to Congress on Urgent National Needs

In this famous May 24, 1961 speech, Kennedy proposed putting a man on the Moon by the end of the decade.

President John F. Kennedy's Address at Rice University on the Nation's Space Effort

In this well-known speech on September 12, 1962, Kennedy stated that we explore space not because it is easy but because it is difficult.

Wernher von Braun explains the Saturn system to President John F. Kennedy at Launch Complex 37 while the president tours the Cape Canaveral Missile Test Annex in 1963.

President John F. Kennedy's Address Before the United Nations

On September 20, 1963, several months before he died, Kennedy proposed a joint lunar mission with the Soviet Union.

The Outer Space Treaty of 1967

The United Nations "Treaty on principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies."

The Post-Apollo Space Program: Directions for the Future

Report of the Space Task Group, September 1969

Space shuttle concept illustrations dated July 1970

NASA

1970s

President Nixon and Administrator Fletcher discuss the Space Shuttle together

President Nixon's Announcement on the Development of the Space Shuttle

January 5, 1972

NASA Investigation Board Report of the Initial Flight Anomalies of Skylab 1

July 13, 1973

frosch_w_carter_and_ksc_direcrtor_lee_r_sherer_on_sts_status_oct_1_1978

Carter Space Program Transition Team Report

January 1977

President Jimmy Carter, with wife Rosalynn and daughter Amy, listen to Lee R. Scherer, center director from 1974 to 1979, explain a model of the crawler-transporter during their tour of Kennedy Space Center.

Presidential Directive/NSC-37

National Space Policy, May 11, 1978 (PDF)

1980s

Report of the Presidential Transition Team, NASA

George M. Low, Team Leader, NASA Transition Team, to Mr. Richard Fairbanks, Director, Transition Resources and Development Group, December 19, 1980, with attached: "Report of the Transition Team, National Aeronautics and Space Administration."

NSDD-42 "National Space Policy"

National Security Decision Directive Number 42, July 4, 1982

NSDD 5-83 "Space Station"

National Security Decision Directive 5-83, "Space Station," April 11, 1983

President Ronald Reagan with George Bush and Thomas "Tip" O'Neil applauding during the State of The Union Address to Congress and The Nation.

President Reagan's Remarks on the Space Station

Excerpts of President Reagan's State of the Union Address, January 25, 1984

Pioneering the Space Frontier

The Report of the National Commission on Space (commonly called the NCOS or Paine Report), May 1986. Please note that no graphics are included due to copyright issues.

Fletcher testifying with Truly to the House Science and Technology Committee

Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident

Commonly called the Rogers Commission Report, June 1986, and Implementations of the Recommendations, June 1987

Leadership and America's Future in Space

A Report to the Administrator by Dr. Sally K Ride (the Ride Report), August 1987

Presidential Directive on National Space Policy

February 11, 1988

Space shuttle mission STS-26 crew members pose with Vice President George H.W. Bush on Oct. 3, 1988

President Bush's Remarks on the 20th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing

George H. W. Bush's Space Exploration Initiative speech, July 20, 1989

Infographic for NASa's Future of Exploration

Space Exploration Initiative Resources

Summary and resources on George H. W. Bush's Space Exploration Initiative (SEI).

View of Space Shuttle Atlantis coming in for landing

National Space Policy Directives and Executive Charter

NSPD-1. November 2, 1989

Front cover for NASA Leadership and America’s Future in Space

NASA

1990s

National Space Policy Directive 2

NSPD-2. Commercial Space Launch Policy, September 5, 1990

The Augustine Commission Report

December 1990

The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-E), leaves the payload bay of the earth-orbiting Atlantis

National Space Policy Directive 3

NSPD-3. U.S. Commercial Space Policy Guidelines, February 11, 1991

America at the Threshold: America's Space Exploration Initiative

Commonly known as the Stafford Report or Synthesis Group, May 1991 (PDF)

View of the crescent Earth rising above the lunar horizon over the Ritz Crater.

Exploring the Moon and Mars: Choices for the Nation

This report by the Congressional Office of Technology and Assessment was published in July 1991. (PDF)

National Space Policy Directive 4

NSPD-4. National Space Launch Strategy, July 10, 1991

National Space Policy Directive 5

NSPD-5. Landsat Remote Sensing Strategy, February 13, 1992

National Space Policy Directive 6

NSPD-6. Space Exploration Initiative, March 13, 1992

The Landsat 8 satellite caught this image of the Camp Fire on Nov. 8. 2018

National Space Policy Directive 7

NSPD-7. Space-Based Global Change Observation, May 28, 1992

The Future of the U.S. Space Industrial Base

November 1992 (A Task Group Report)

A Post Cold War Assessment of U.S. Space Policy

December 1992

Final Report to the President on the U.S. Space Program

January 1993

Establishment of Presidential Review and Decision Series/NSTC

National Space Technology Council Presidential Decision Directive 1 (NSTC-1) January 25, 1994

Two hurricanes over Pacific Ocean imaged from orbit

Convergence of U.S.-Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite Systems

National Space Technology Council Presidential Decision Directive 2 (NSTC-2) May 5, 1994

Landsat Remote Sensing Strategy

National Space Technology Council Presidential Decision Directive 3 (NSTC-3), May 5, 1994

Space Shuttle Columbia at the launchpad prior to STS-4

National Space Transportation Policy

National Space Technology Council Presidential Decision Directive 4 (NSTC-4) August 5, 1994

National Space Policy

National Space Technology Council Presidential Decision Directive 8 (NSTC-8) September 19, 1996 (PDF)

Space Act Study Agreement on General Public Space Travel and Tourism

February 1997

Cost and Validation Task Force Assessment

Also known as the Chabrow Report, April 1998 (PDF)

Dr. Joseph Allen is seen looking out the Space Shuttle window with a spot meter floating next to him

Analysis of Potential Alternatives to Reduce NASA's Cost of Human Access to Space

Hawthorne Report, September 1998 (PDF)

International Space Station with Earth in the background

Commercial Development Plan for the International Space Station

November 1998 (PDF)

2000s

Backdropped by a blue and white part of Earth, space shuttle Discovery is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 26 crew member as the shuttle approaches the International Space Station during STS-133 rendezvous and docking operations. Docking occurred at 2:14 p.m. (EST) on Feb. 26, 2011.

Space Shuttle Independent Assessment Team Report

To the Associate Administrator for the Office of Space Flight (McDonald Report), March 2000

Enhancing Mission Success

A Framework for the Future, A Report by the NASA Chief Engineer and the NASA Integrated Action Team, January 2001 (PDF)

Astronaut Chris Cassidy conducts a spacewalk to set up the Tranquility module for the future installation of a NanoRacks airlock

The Independent Management and Cost Evaluation (IMCE) Task Force for the International Space Station

The Young Report, November 2001 (PDF)

The International Space Station is seen in orbit around Earth

Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry Final Report

November 2002 (PDF)

The Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) Report

2003

George W. Bush and Administrator O'Keefe at the VSE announcement on January 14 2004

President George W. Bush's Vision for Space Exploration

January 2004

Revised Return to Flight Implementation Plan

January 30, 2004

Earth's atmosphere glimmers above the Pacific Ocean

A Renewed Commitment to Excellence

An Assessment of the NASA Agency-wide Applicability of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board Report (The Diaz Report), January 30, 2004

View of STS-114 backdropped by Earth's oceans and clouds as seen by the International Space Station crew

The Journey to Inspire, Innovate, and Discover

The Aldridge Commission Report, June 2004

A 3 dimensional image of the Orion Nebula. It looks like clouds in various shades of pink.

National Space Policy

2006

Norman Augustine sits with a panel for a press conference in 2009

The Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee Summary Report

Headed by Norman Augustine, September 2009 Summary Report

The Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee Full Report

Headed by Norman Augustine, October 2009 Full Report

President Barack Obama gives a speech at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in 2010

President Barack Obama delivers a speech at the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. on Thursday, April 15, 2010. Obama visited Kennedy Space Center to deliver remarks on the bold new course the Administration is charting for NASA and the future of U.S. leadership in human space flight.

NASA/Bill Ingalls

2010s

Artistic illustration showing the Moon with Mars rising behind it.

A Bold New Approach for Space Exploration and Discovery

Office of Science and Technology Policy, National Aeronautics and Space Administration—Fact Sheet, February 1, 2010 (PDF)

President Obama Visits Kennedy Space Center

Launching a New Era in Space Exploration

Office of Science and Technology Policy, National Aeronautics and Space Administration statement, February 1, 2010 (PDF)

President Obama delivers a speech at a podium at Kennedy Space Center

President Obama's Speech Before a Space Conference at NASA's Kennedy Space Center

Announcing that astronauts will soar spaceward in commercial spacecraft while NASA develops technology so humans can venture to Mars and out into the solar system. April 15, 2010 (PDF)

President Obama speaks in front of an American flag

National Space Policy

June 28, 2010

The Vehicle Assembly Building is seen at sunset as preparations continue for the NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission.

National Space Transportation Policy

November 21, 2013

Space Launch System is seen with the full Moon prior to launch

Space Policy Directive 1

Presidential Memorandum on Reinvigorating America's Human Space Exploration Program. Amendment to the June 28, 2010 National Space Policy, December 11, 2017

Aerial view of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on top of a rocket.

Space Policy Directive 2

On Commercial Space, May 24, 2018

Graphic of Earth's atmosphere showing the various vehicles at different distances from Earth's surface.

Space Policy Directive 3

On Space Traffic Management, June 18, 2018

The United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket launches NASA's Parker Solar Probe to touch the Sun, on Aug. 12, 2018 at 3:31 a.m. EDT from Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Parker Solar Probe is humanity's first-ever mission into a part of the Sun's atmosphere called the corona. Here it will directly explore solar processes that are key to understanding and forecasting space weather events that can impact life on Earth.

Space Policy Directive 4

On the Establishment of the U.S. Space Force, February 19, 2019

2020s

Cybersecurity graphic showing technical-looking patterns overlain on a photo of a person with a laptop computer

Space Policy Directive 5

Cybersecurity for Space Systems, September 4, 2020

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop the mobile launcher at Launch 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Artemis I mission is the first integrated test of the agency’s deep space exploration systems: the Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, and supporting ground systems. The mission is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions to the Moon. Launch of the uncrewed flight test is targeted for no earlier than Sept. 3 at 2:17 p.m. ET. With Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before.

National Space Policy

December 9, 2020

Illustration of a conceptual spacecraft enabled by nuclear thermal propulsion.

Space Policy Directive 6

National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion, December 16, 2020

Space Policy Directive 7

U.S. Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Policy, January 15, 2021

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Key Documents

History of Space Policy

1950s

National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958

National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958

Recommendations to NASA Regarding a National Civil Space Program

Long Range Plan of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

1960s

Report of the Ad Hoc Panel on Man-in-Space

Report to the President-Elect of the Ad Hoc Committee on Space

President John F. Kennedy's Special Message to Congress on Urgent National Needs

President John F. Kennedy's Address at Rice University on the Nation's Space Effort

President John F. Kennedy's Address Before the United Nations

The Outer Space Treaty of 1967

The Post-Apollo Space Program: Directions for the Future

1970s

President Nixon's Announcement on the Development of the Space Shuttle

NASA Investigation Board Report of the Initial Flight Anomalies of Skylab 1