The Americans would then consider exploring space while ensuring they do not lose to the Soviets. The United States in 1958 made sure to launch its own satellite called Explorer 1 and designed by the military. An ordinance was signed that saw the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the main description of which was space exploration and the development of several programs that would assist the military in exploring space potential . The Soviets were still ahead of the Americans when their first man went into space in 1961. The Americans intensified the competition by sending their first man to the moon in 1969, making them heroes in the space competition. (Masuda,