Jimmy Carter and NASA's Turning Point

Back in 1977, President Jimmy Carter was having some beef with NASA. He thought the space shuttle program was just a way to keep the agency alive, not a genuine need. Despite his skepticism, Carter ended up saving the space shuttle project, which became one of NASA's most famous vehicles. Plus, his message of peace and hope has been traveling on the Voyager probes for over 45 years. Carter isn't usually remembered for his NASA support, unlike other presidents. But his actions had a big impact. "He's like a secret hero for the space program, " said Valerie Neal, a space history expert. Before Carter took office, NASA was looking into new space ventures. They wanted a space station in Earth's orbit to study microgravity. To make that happen, they needed a new ride – the space shuttle. The shuttle was supposed to do lots of things. It could carry stuff to space, launch satellites, and even be a temporary lab. But by the time Carter became president, people were losing interest in the shuttle program. Carter himself wasn't sure it was worth the effort. Yet, he still ended up supporting it. His decision led to NASA having a reliable way to send astronauts and equipment into space for years to come.