President Ford and both the Soviet and American Apollo-Soyuz Test Project crews. NASA PHOTO NO: S74-29892RIP President Gerald Ford, 38th President of the United States. During his term, the Apollo-Soyuz mission was launched - the world’s first international space flight. His presidency saw the landings of the Viking probes to Mars, the unveiling of Shuttle Enterprise, as well as the opening of the National Air & Space Museum. As a congressman, he helped draft the legislation that would form NASA in 1958.