On Thu, 29 Apr 2004 15:58:16 +0000, Charlie Self wrote:


Well, it may have been an afterthought for Quayle, but it was the primary
reason NASA was formed. I think it ended up alphabetical...or they were
afraid of the acronym: NAAS.

NACA was formed in 1915 and dealt primarily with aeronautics until 1958
when it's name was changed to NASA when sputnik forced the US into the
astronautics game. Aeronautics is still an important part of NASA's
charter.

http://history.nasa.gov/centtimeline/index.html

-Doug

--
"A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always
depend on the support of Paul." - George Bernard Shaw