- Credit: NASA History Division
NASA’s First 50 Years – Historical Perspectives by Steven Dick, editor; NASA Special Publication (SP-2010-4704); U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. ; (hard cover) ; $79.00; 2010
This impressive and scholarly volume is based on a symposium held on October 28-29, 2008 at NASA. The book is a gold mine of perspective – applause, praise and criticism of NASA can be found in this over 700-page book.
Given the reshaping of NASA that’s reached headline status today, this work offers a step back taken by a wide array of scholars. They present astute views on five decades of space agency effort, be they crosscutting themes, aeronautics, human spaceflight and life sciences, space science and Earth science and applications.
That’s a lot of NASA codes to encompass, but this book is a solid contribution to help the reader contemplate the next 50 years of America’s space adventure.
The sweep of times past contained in this volume from NASA’s History Division is striking. Any student of NASA will find great reading here, be it NASA’s role in shaping launch vehicles to international relations in space, as well as the space agency’s long –term planning for human spaceflight – complete with a final chapter written by the editor on exploration, discovery, and culture – NASA’s role in history.
There’s also a thought-provoking look at how NASA sells itself to the public. But as the author of that paper points out, what’s missing in action is the meaning of NASA “for all of its publics” – not just space suited advocates.
As noted, NASA has left a huge wake of monumental achievements since its founding over 50 years ago. Where the space agency finds itself at present is at a crossroads – one that historical perspectives can only help to illuminate. This book sheds valuable light on that history, but also spotlights NASA’s future.
By Leonard David
For obtaining this book, go to:
http://bookstore.gpo.gov/actions/GetPublication.do?stocknumber=033-000-01336-1