JCC Space Race: NASA, 1958
APPROXIMATE COMMITTEE SIZE: 15-20 DELEGATES (SINGLe-Delegation)
NOTE: This committee will run as a Joint Crisis Committee (JCC) with the Soviet committee. Both the NASA and Soviet committees will address the same topics from their respective committee points of view. More explanation of Joint Crisis Committee procedure will be provided in the Background Guide.
On October 4, 1957, amid the height of Cold War tensions over the nuclear threat, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite, igniting concerns in the U.S. about Russian technological and surveillance advances. For many Americans, space was seen as the next frontier, and Sputnik's success fueled fears of Soviet superiority. This spurred immediate support for the establishment of NASA in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Now, both nations have increased their funding in engineering and space exploration in an attempt to demonstrate superior military and technological capabilities. In addition to the question of which country will prove its dominance over the cosmos, issues such as the consequences of rapid, uncontrolled development, the dangers of space surveillance and weaponization, and support of STEM education should be at the forefront of delegates’ minds.
COMMITTE DETAILS
NASA officially has begun operations as of October 1, 1958. Delegates in this committee will collaborate to determine how to allocate their considerable resources in response to the needs of the American public and government. Scientists and officials will strategize to gain an advantage over the Soviet Union, focusing on how to develop their program through education and recruitment efforts.
NASA CHAIR: Elizabeth Koenck
Grand CM: Michelle Giovinazzo
nasa CM: ANna kellY
About the Chair
Elizabeth Koenck is a sophomore in Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service where she studies International Politics with a focus on Human Security. Elizabeth is also pursuing a Certificate in Diplomatic Studies and a Minor in Global Development. On campus, she is involved with the Georgetown University Space Initiative, with Georgetown’s Model UN travel team, and with the University's student-run international affairs newspaper, the Caravel. After high school, Elizabeth lived abroad in Morocco with the National Security Initiative for Youth where she learned Moroccan and Standard Arabic. In her free time, Elizabeth loves to hike in her native Colorado, read fantasy and science fiction novels, and bake exciting new recipes.
About the GRand Crisis Manager
Michelle Giovinazzo is a member of Georgetown College class of 2027, studying the interdisciplinary major of Computer Science, Ethics, and Society and minoring in Spanish and Economics. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where her high school life was defined by public speaking – NSDA speech and debate, mock trial, model UN, and a sketch comedy club called Goats of Denmark. At Georgetown, she has loved competing on the collegiate circuit with GUMUN (especially causing chaos in fictional crisis committees). She has served as the USG of JCCs for NCSC LII and a side CM for the 5-way JCC at NAIMUN LXII. Her hobbies include coding / playing video games, go-karting, and being addicted to boba tea. Michelle is excited to finally be a grand CM for this committee!
About the Crisis Manager
Anna Kelly is a member of the class of 2027, majoring in Computer Science and Government in the College of Arts and Sciences. She grew up in a small town south of Boston, Massachusetts, where she loves going to the beach and seeing her friends and family. Back at Georgetown, Anna is a conference staffer for the Model UN team and previously served as an Under-Secretary General for Georgetown’s collegiate MUN conference, NCSC. Outside of Model UN, Anna is the President of the Georgetown University Space Initiative (GUSI), where she loves researching and writing about space sustainability, cybersecurity, and diplomacy. Feel free to ask her about anything space-related, but be warned: Anna may not stop talking about it! In her admittedly limited free time, Anna loves trying new restaurants and going to the gym. Anna is over the moon to be your Crisis Manager for the Space Race JCC: NASA Side, and she can’t wait to meet you all this April!