Frontiers of Space Exploration

by Roger D. Launius

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313325243
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	03/30/2004
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.69(d)
Age Range:	14 Years

About the Author

ROGER D. LAUNIUS is chair of the Division of Space History of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. He has written or edited several books on aerospace history, including Space Stations: Base Camps to the Stars (2003), To Reach the High Frontier: A History of U.S. Launch Vehicles, with Dennis R. Jenkins (2002), Imagining Space: Achievements, Predictions, Possibilities, 1950-2050, with Howard E. McCurdy (2001), and Innovation and the Development of Flight (1999).

Table of Contents

Preface
Chronology of Events
Space Exploration Explained
Historical Overview of Space Exploration
The Race to the Moon
Scientific Explorations in the Space Age
The Space Shuttle: Reusable Access to Space
A Permanent Presence in Space
Biographies: A Gallery of Space Exploration Pioneers
Primary Documents of Space Exploration
Appendix: American Space Flights
Annotated Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

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

Library Journal

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.

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