NASA emerged in 1958, as a result of Cold War rivalries with the Soviet Union. After the launching of Sputnik, Americans were eager to surpass the Soviets in the exploration of space, and the race for space went into full swing.
This volume of documents highlights several of the many achievements—and a few of the disastrous failures—of the space program developed by NASA. Dr. Roger D. Launius, historian for NASA, sets the excerpts from government documents and scientific reports within the framework of what was happening on the American scene at the time of each new program and launch. The written documents and photographs take us from the early un-manned launches to key Kennedy and Nixon decisions, lunar landings, the Challenger accident, the Apollo 13 movie, and to the very recent Mars Pathfinder mission. Launius also introduces the "Quest for Extraterrestrial Intelligence," in an article by Carl Sagan.
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