NASA: A History of the U.S. Civil Space Program

The Anvil

by Roger D. Launius

When future generations review the history of the twentieth century, they will undoubtedly judge humanity's movement into space, with both machines and people, as one of its seminal developments. Even at this juncture, the complex nature of spaceflight and the activity that it has engendered on the part of many peoples and governments make the U.S. civil space program a significant area of study. People from all avenues of experience and levels of education share an interest in the drama of spaceflight. This book is the most up-to-date synthesis of the American civil space program available. Written by NASA's chief historian, it describes the history of this effort from its earliest origins to the early 1990s and offers a powerful analysis of the space program that merges political, economic, technological, scientific, and foreign affairs into a meaningful whole. It has both a sound historical narrative and a set of key documents which suggest other aspects of the story.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

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Dr. Roger D. Launius earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in history at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge (American frontier and military history).

Dr. Launius was a civilian historian with the United States Air Force, and became Chief Historian for the Military Airlift Command. Since October 1990 he is Chief Historian for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He is also Senior Curator at the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

He is also involved in the study of nineteenth century history and the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church).