Space Exploration: A Research Guide

Space exploration began in the 1950s and it was during this time that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was established on October 1, 1958. Its successor was the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, which was created in 1915. In earlier years, the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union fueled much of the advances we see today—its successes and failures. The resources below will assist researchers and students find out more about this fascinating topic. The terms and phrases listed in the subject headings below can be used to search for more materials in the library's catalog and research databases. If you need further assistance, please ask a librarian.

The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Space by Fernand Verger, et al. New York : Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN: 0521773008.
Provides information on the occupation and use of space for scientific, industrial, commercial, technical, or military purposes. Includes many illustrations, maps, and graphs.

The Complete Book of Spaceflight: From Apollo 1 to Zero Gravity by David J. Darling. New York : Wiley, 2003. ISBN: 0471056499.
Includes 3,000 entries covering cultural development of spaceflight, including its history, science, and technology, the people involved, spaceflight's role in popular culture, and much more.

Journey into Space: The First Three Decades of Space Exploration by Bruce C. Murray. New York : W. W. Norton, 1989. ISBN: 0393026752.
Murray provides a personal account of the nation's planetary exploration program from the “golden age” of the 1960s and early 1970s.

Space Exploration by Christopher Mari. New York : H. W. Wilson, 1999. ISBN: 082420963X.
Covers John Glenn's return to space, the exploration of Mars, the International Space Station, private enterprise and space exploration, and new technologies and discoveries.

The Vision for Space Exploration. Washington, DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Febraruary 2004. Available at http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/55583main_vision_space_exploration2.pdf. (PDF).
Report discusses current and future plans for space exploration activities.

“Kennedy's Space Policy Reconsidered: A Post-Cold War Perspective,” by Roger D. Launius. Air Power History, Winter 2003, v50, i4, p16.

“Return to Mars: How NASA plans to use its two rovers to roam the Red Planet looking for signs of Martian life,” by Jeffrey Kluger. Time, January 19, 2004, v163, i3, Special Issue p52.

“So, You Want to Go to Mars: Sorry, you can't pack your toothbrush yet. But in January 2004, two NASA rovers will bring you closer than ever to our planet next door,” by Mona Chiang. Science World, December 8, 2003, v60, i6, p8.

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Johnson Space Center
www.jsc.nasa.gov
The Johnson Space Center was established in 1961 in Houston , Texas . This Web site includes everything from the early Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab projects to the Space Shuttle and International Space Station Programs.

Kennedy Space Center
www.ksc.nasa.gov
NASA's launch headquarters 45 minutes from Orlando .

Key Documents in the History of Space Policy
www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/spdocs.html
Full-text documents from the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to President George W. Bush's Space Exploration Program (2004).

NASA Multimedia Gallery
www.nasa.gov/multimedia/highlights/index.html
Find images and audio files about space exploration.

NASA Space Shuttle Launches
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/missions.html
Provides details on all shuttle launches from 1981 to 2003.

Stennis Space Center
www.ssc.nasa.gov
Responsible for NASA's rocket propulsion testing and for partnering with industry to develop and implement remote sensing technology.

The Mars Society
www.marssociety.org
Promotes the vision of pioneering Mars and assists in support of mars exploration programs.