This is a full color book. There is no doubt that the last 50 years have witnessed numerous accomplishments in what has often been termed “the new ocean” of space, harkening back to a long tradition of exploration. Earth is now circled by thousands of satellites, looking both upward into space at distant galaxies and downward toward Earth for reconnaissance, weather, communications, navigation, and remote sensing. Robotic space probes have explored most of the solar system, returning astonishing images of alien worlds. Space telescopes have probed the depths of the universe at many wavelengths. In the dramatic arena of human spaceflight, 12 men have walked on the surface of the Moon, the Space Shuttle has had 119 flights, and the International Space Station—a cooperative effort of 16 nations—is almost “core complete.” In addition to Russia, which put the first human into space in April 1961, China has now joined the human spaceflight club with two Shenzhou flights, and Europe is readying for its entry into the field as well. After 50 years of robotic and human space flight, and as serious plans are being implemented to return humans to the Moon and continue on to Mars, it is a good time to step back and ask questions that those in the heat of battle have had but little time to ask. What has the Space Age meant? What if the Space Age had never occurred? Has it been, and is it still, important for a creative society to explore space? How do we, and how should we, remember the Space Age?
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Steven J. Dick is the Chief Historian for NASA and Director of the NASA History Division. He worked as an astronomer and historian of science at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, DC for 24 years before coming to NASA Headquarters in 2003. Among his recent books are Societal Impact of Space Flight (NASA SP 4801, 2007, edited with Roger Launius), Critical Issues in the History of Spaceflight (NASA SP 4702, 2006, edited with Roger Launius), The Living Universe: NASA and the Development o Astrobiology (2004), with James Strick) and Sky and Ocean Joined: The U.S. Naval Observatory, 1830 2000 (2003). Dr. Dick is the recipient of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, two NASA Group Achievements Awards, and the 2006 LeRoy E. Doggett Prize for Historical Astronomy of the American Astronomical Society.
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