Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
Overview
Since the first rocket-technology experiments of the early 20th century, space exploration has captivated the world. Recent advances and setbacks have included the new discoveries from the Galileo mission, the Mars Global Surveyor's revelation that water once existed on the Red Planet, the International Space Station, the advent of space tourism, and the devastating Space Shuttle disasters. This one-stop guide to space exploration provides a wealth of information for student researchers.
A substantial 'Chronology of Events' and a narrative history outline the key events and people in the progression of space research and activity. Five topical essays—including a look at the Space Shuttle—examine several significant issues related to the politics and technology of space exploration from an international perspective. These chapters elucidate several sets of documents that give shape and substance to the larger story. Primary documents in this volume are organized by theme and represent the variety of materials available to anyone seeking a better understanding of the rise of space exploration. Also included are biographical sketches of key people associated with space flight, a listing of the human space flight missions undertaken since 1961, and an annotated bibliography of additional reading.
Synopsis
This one-stop guide to space exploration provides a wealth of information for student researchers.
Children's Literature
Launius, historian for NASA, and an assembled a group of experts offers an historical perspective on the space program as part of the "Guides to Historic Events of the Twentieth Century" series. The book begins with a chronology of events, beginning with Oberth's paper on rocket propulsion in 1923 through late 1997 when the space shuttle Atlantis docked with the space station Mir. Next, there are four highly readable chapters that offer an historical overview, discuss the race to the moon, recap scientific explorations, and discuss a permanent presence in space. In addition, there are 24 biographies, including American as well as Soviet astronauts and the some of the NASA officials and scientists behind the development of rocket technology. A sampling of 20 primary documents related to the development of the space program (including the U.S. Policy on Outer Space (1958), President Kennedy's paper which called the space program an "urgent national need", and flight crew recollections of Apollo 11) along with a discussion regarding further Mars exploration rounds out this book. The appendix contains a listing of American space flights from 1961 through 1997, giving the spacecraft name, launch date, crew, flight time, and highlights. An annotated bibliography of books, film and video works, in addition to the comprehensive index, will spur the reader to further exploration.\
Editorials
Children's Literature -
Launius, historian for NASA, and an assembled a group of experts offers an historical perspective on the space program as part of the "Guides to Historic Events of the Twentieth Century" series. The book begins with a chronology of events, beginning with Oberth's paper on rocket propulsion in 1923 through late 1997 when the space shuttle Atlantis docked with the space station Mir. Next, there are four highly readable chapters that offer an historical overview, discuss the race to the moon, recap scientific explorations, and discuss a permanent presence in space. In addition, there are 24 biographies, including American as well as Soviet astronauts and the some of the NASA officials and scientists behind the development of rocket technology. A sampling of 20 primary documents related to the development of the space program (including the U.S. Policy on Outer Space (1958), President Kennedy's paper which called the space program an "urgent national need", and flight crew recollections of Apollo 11) along with a discussion regarding further Mars exploration rounds out this book. The appendix contains a listing of American space flights from 1961 through 1997, giving the spacecraft name, launch date, crew, flight time, and highlights. An annotated bibliography of books, film and video works, in addition to the comprehensive index, will spur the reader to further exploration.\Library Journal
This reference work provides a basic introduction to the history of space exploration at a time when the two former antagoniststhe United States and Russiaare embarking on the multinational Space Station program. Organizing the book in four sections, Launius chief NASA historian presents a chronology of major events, four essays that provide a historical overview of space exploration, biographies of major space pioneers, and dozens of primary documents relating to major space policy decisions. Additionally, two appendixes list all manned spaceflights from 1961 through 1997, and an annotated bibliography covers major space history titles. Despite several minor errors in the chronology section, Launius does an excellent job summarizing the early history of spaceflight with his essaysthe real meat of the bookand the inclusion of the primary documents provides interesting insights into how major policy decisions were reached, from Kennedy's Apollo decision to the building of the space shuttle. Recommended for public and academic libraries.Thomas J. Frieling, Bainbridge Coll., GA\The chief historian at the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration surveys the entire history of space exploration from the first experimentation with rocket technology in the early 20th century to troubles at the Mir space station and the low-cost Mars Pathfinder mission of 1997. He includes chronologies of events and US flights, historical narratives, biographies, primary documents, and an annotated bibliography. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.\