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Exploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in the History of the U.S. Civil Space Program, Volume I: Organizing for Exploration
John M. Logsdon, General Editor, with Linda J. Lear, Jannelle Warren-Findley, Ray A. Williamson, and Dwayne A. Day
This valuable reference work is the first in a series of volumes tracing the
history of the US civil space program. Exploring the Unknown
presents more than 150 key documents, each introduced with a headnote
providing useful background information. Introductory essays to the
book's four sections-by Roger D. Launius, R. Cargill Hall, John M. Logsdon,
and Sylvia K. Kraemer-place the documents within a broader historical
context. The book begins with the nineteenth century prelude to the
space age and ends with the 1990 Augustine Commission report on the
future of the space program. Documents include:
- Robert Goddard's "A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes"
- The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958
- President Kennedy's 1961 speech to Congress announcing his goal of putting a man on the Moon before the end of the decade
- Excerpts from the Rogers Commission report on the Challenger accident
- Early planning documents on the Space Shuttle and Space Station programs
A detailed table of contents, an index, and biographical sketches make the book easy to use. 795 pages, hardcover with dustjacket.
"Exploring the Unknown should be considered indispensable for anyone interested in the space program and space policy."
Thomas J. Frieling, Bainbridge College
GPO #033-000-01160-1 $43.00 |
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