4352374Aeronautics and Astronautics Chronology 1915-19601961Eugene M. Emme
Aeronautics
and
Astronautics
An American Chronology of Science and Technology in the Exploration of Space 1915—1960
by Eugene M. Emme, NASA Historian
Foreword by Hugh L. Dyrden, Deputy Administrator
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - 1961
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington 25, D.C. - Price $1.75
Foreword
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is charged by Congress with the responsibility for conducting the U.S. civilian program for the exploration and scientific investigation of space, as well as for the peaceful utilization of space for the benefit of all mankind. It also is responsible for the conduct of aeronautical research. NASA is scarcely two years old, having come into being on October 1, 1958.
Space exploration is an exciting and an important part of the total challenge presented to mankind in these last decades of the 20th century. With its brief history, NASA is quite aware that man's effort to navigate in space has considerable background. NASA's organizational nucleus was the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics which spearheaded aeronautic research and development for 43 years. Many of NASA's programs, facilities, and personnel have come from activities long associated with pioneering developments in rocketry and the space sciences.
Research and development in the conquest of space in the United States has involved scientists, engineers, civil and military activities in Government, universities, and industry. Liquid-fuel rocket propulsion, as is well known, was first demonstrated in the laboratory and in flight by Prof. Robert H. Goddard of Clark University. Rocket propulsion then came to worldwide notice in the German V-2, while subsequent ballistic missile development provided the propulsion making possible earth satellites and space probes. NASA's mission is one of joining all governmental agencies, the academic community, and industry in a national program for the peaceful conquest of space for the benefit of all mankind.
Man's exploration of three-dimensional space above the surface of the earth, first in and now beyond the life-giving atmosphere, has been a dramatic experience. In the scientific era in which we live, the fundamental knowledge will determine our destiny more than ever before in human history. Exploration of space has provided important tools and new impetus in our scientific quest for knowledge concerning the nature of matter, time, motion, and even life processes. We are learning hard data about many extraterrestrial realities for the first time. Unpredictable benefits for men on earth
seem inevitably to result from developing the technology to explore and to learn on the newly available frontier of space. Technological progress spurts on.
Spectacular and exciting events in aerospace affairs have generally been rather well publicized and widely noted, at least after the achievement of the Wright brothers became known. Behind the well-known milestones of practical flight, however, have been less publicized achievements in scientific research and engineering development making such progress possible. This volume helps to provide a fuller appreciation of events and activities already behind us. Perspective on the ever-quickening pace of events, provided by this chronology, helps provide some insight into the meaning of the events of tomorrow. The inevitability and swift pace of technical change, for example, can be more clearly appreciated.
The people everywhere must retain a reliable perspective from which to discern better the future scientific, social, economic, political, and strategic consequences of dynamic advances now underway. Obviously the manner of the impact of technology upon society in the future will partly result from the broadest possible appreciation of its full significance.
Hugh L. Dryden, Deputy Administrator,
National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
December 18, 1960
Contents
Page
Foreword by Dr. Hugh L. Dryden, Deputy Administrator
