Orders of magnitude: A history of the NACA and NASA, 1915-1990

This edition brings up to date the history of U.S. agencies for space exploration, the NACA and NASA, from 1915 through 1990. Early aviation and aeronautics research are described, with particular emphasis on the impact of the two world wars on aeronautics development and the postwar exploitation of those technologies. The reorganization and expansion of the NACA into NASA is described in detail as well as NASA's relationship with industry, the university system, and international space agencies such as the ESA. The dramatic space race of the 1950 and 1960s is recounted through a detailed histroy of the Gemini and Apollo programs and followed by a discussion of the many valuable social/scientific application of aeronautics technologies, many of which were realized through the launching of successful satellite projects. The further solar system explorations of the Voyager missions are described, as it the Challenger tragedy and the 1988 return to space of the Shuttle program. Future plans are outlined for a cooperatively funded international space station to foster the ongoing study of space science

Stages to Saturn

Part one of this report is intended to bring back into focus some of the facts, circumstances, and background of space exploration. A recapitulation of the flight of Apollo 11, the first lunar landing missions, provides an opportunity to introduce some of the hardware and nomenclature of the Apollo-Saturn program. An historical overview of rocketry, including the main threads of Saturn's origins, provides a background for the scope and boldness of Apollo 11 and the Saturn adventure. The management structure developed by NASA to implement the Apollo-Saturn missions is described in some detail

"Stagesto SaturnA Technological History of the Apollo/Saturn Launch Vehicles"

the program still relied st) much on existing hardware? Part of the answerinvolves the uniqueness of dimensions. Even a proven component, to beused in the huge Saturn, had to be scaled up in size. The largercomponent had to withstand a similar increase in the amount ofpunishment inflicted on it, and this fact opened up a whole new regimeof operational headaches. The scaling up of components and systems forlunar missions seemed to involve geometrical progressions rather thansimple arithmetic progressions. The F-1 engines for the S-IC first stagegraphically illustrate this difficulty. The size of the Saturn stages andengines also called for enlargement o[" test stands and other facilities, withattendant increases in time and costs. The logistical challenge assumedgargantuan proportions. The managers of the Apollo-Saturn programsalso discovered unanticipated expenses in storing and maintaining exotichardware that was subject to degradation unless constantly monitored,refurbished, and attended by additional cadres of technicians.This book is a technological history. To many contemporaries thenarrative, may read too much like a technical manual, but the author'sconcern is for posterity, when the technical manuals may be lost ordispersed (as many are already) and knowledgeable participants havelong since died. The narrative approach was largel