Final answer:
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the agency responsible for administering the Aviation Safety Reporting Program, focusing on safety improvements and data collection in aviation. Option D is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The agency that administers the Aviation Safety Reporting Program is D. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NASA is commonly associated with space exploration and aeronautics research.
Although this might seem counterintuitive, NASA manages this program which allows aviation professionals to voluntarily report safety issues in confidentiality without fear of legal repercussions.
This helps the industry to collect valuable data to improve safety measures. The program's main purpose is to identify and address issues in the aviation system and enhance the overall safety of flight operations.
NASA was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958 with a focus on civilian and peaceful applications of space science. The National Aeronautics and Space Act was passed on July 29, 1958, and transformed the prior National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) into the new operational agency NASA, starting from October 1, 1958.