The Space Age Generation: Lives and Lessons from the Golden Age of Solar System Exploration

by William Sheehan (Editor), Klaus R. Brasch (Editor)

In 1957 Sputnik launched toward the stars. President Kennedy then announced that the United States would send men to the Moon and then return them to Earth.These pivotal moments sparked an unequaled bound forward in human innovation and scientific exploration.

At the heart of this momentous time were the men and women working behind the scenes. Scientists, historians, and astronomers share their memories and contributions from this unparalleled era in essays told in their own words. They are the remarkable generation who witnessed and contributed to some of space science’s most stunning achievements. Here they have recorded their memories—their childhood inspirations, their challenges, failures, and triumphs—for future generations.

A unique and authoritative record of a momentous period in human history, The Space Age Generation highlights the golden age of space exploration and the people who made it happen.

Contributors
Leo Aerts
Alexander Basilevsky
Klaus Brasch
Clark R. Chapman
Dale P. Cruikshank
William K. Hartmann
William Leatherbarrow
Baerbel Koesters Lucchitta
Yvonne Pendleton
Peter Schultz
William Sheehan
Paolo Tanga
Charles A. Wood

336 pages, Hardcover

Published March 5, 2024

About the author

Dr. William Sheehan is a neuroscientist and amateur astronomer who is also a research fellow of the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizon.

Reviews

[Don Lago · Rating 5 out of 5]

In history books, Sputnik changed the worlds of technology and politics. In this book, the beginning of the Space Age changed the lives of some kids who already had more than average sense of wonder about the universe. For them, rockets were not about technology but about exploration: a huge window opening on the solar system. In 1957 remarkably little was known about the moon or other planets--basic questions were still being debated, such as whether moon craters resulted from meteor impacts or volcanoes. Suddenly, the planets were within reach. The contributors in this book started out as backyard astronomers--but at a time when "amateur" astronomers were making significant, original contributions, such as mapping the moon or tracking meteors and Sputnik itself. Some of them went on to become leading planetary astronomers, making major discoveries, either through telescopes or by organizing space probes. Other career tracks led to biology, literature, psychiatry, or history, but with continuing involvement in astronomy. This book is a record of an amazing era, but it is more universal--pun?--in relating how young people get excited about the universe.

[Padraig Houlahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

We live in a world where we mainly hear about the extremely successful or noteworthy, whether they be politicians or artists, and very occasionally scientists. This book presents a collection of personal stories of scientists and researchers who were passionate about Solar System exploration, dedicating much of their life to its pursuit. Most are products of the Space Age, where they grew up in a world where technology and science was seen as being critical to all nations and most have lived dedicated lives behind the scenes, out of the limelight.

I do know some of the contributors personally, and like that their stories are being told. In an age where young people see being an influencer as being the hip way to live one's life, I think it is important other less socially fashionable paths be articulated and held up as being emotionally and intellectually rewarding.