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From an early age it was apparent that Dryden was gifted. By the age of 22 he held a PhD in physics and mathematics and was the director of the Aerodynamics Division at the National Bureau of Standards. His aptitude with mathematics and aerodynamics saw him become a member of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the precursor agency to NASA, in 1939, and ten years later he was its director. During his time at NACA he oversaw, among other things, the hugely successful X-15 rocket plane program.
With the launch of the Soviet Sputnik 1 on 4 October 1957, the American space program, and the lack of a dedicated space agency, shot to the top of the national agenda. Dryden was vilified in the press for allowing the Soviets to beat the Americans into space, something that had been completely out of his control. Over the next 12 months, Dryden would ultimately be deprived of his desired role of leadership at the new American space agency, despite his obvious qualifications and experience.