C. This dedicated government body demonstrated that the U.S. was serious about extending its influence beyond Earth. This meant the U.S. was willing to compete in the Cold War on every front possible, including in outer space.
The creation of NASA in 1958 highlighted the importance of space exploration in the context of the Cold War, where technological and ideological competition between the U.S. and the USSR shaped much of the global landscape. The U.S. sought to establish itself as a leader in space technology and exploration as a means to demonstrate its technological prowess and ideological superiority over the Soviet Union.