Scientists conduct meetings and men work in computer rooms in the late 1950s

In 1959, the US Army successfully launched a new planet into the Solar System, intensifying collaboration with NASA. As America lagged in the space race, the urgency to develop its own solar satellite became a top priority.

Who did the US Army missile men collaborate with for planning?

What was the role of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the context of the text?