Astronautical Organizations

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was founded in 1958 when it replaced the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). Poul Anderson's The Long Way Home is copyright 1955 and therefore does not refer to NASA. In this novel, the United States Department of Astronautics launches the United States Interplanetary Ship, Explorer, in 2047. The captain and pilot, Edward Langley, is a graduate of Goddard Academy and a captain in the Astronautic Service. The Department, the Academy and the Service do not exist in 2024 and are unlikely to come into existence by 2047 but we appreciate past fictional futures.

In the 1950's British TV series, Quatermass, there was a (British) Experimental Rocket Group. In a 1979 sequel, the ERG was said to have preceded NASA and Apollo. In the 1950's Dan Dare comic strip, the Interplanetary Space Fleet and Astral College were based in London at the end of the twentieth century. No doubt there are other examples.