Spaceflight Revolution: NASA Langley Research Center from Sputnik to Apollo (Annotated and Illustrated) (NASA History Series Book 4308) (English Edition)

James Hansen's new book, Spaceflight Revolution, covers the turbulent seventeen-year period from 1958-1975 in great and interesting detail. With his usual thoroughness, Hansen has based this book on careful analysis of hundreds of written records, both published and unpublished, as well as on numerous personal interviews with many of the key individuals involved in the great transition at Langley. One Langley activity that was intentionally omitted from this study is aeronautical research which, as the author mentions, will hopefully be covered in a separate book. Spaceflight Revolution is a very complete and well-researched exposition and interpretation of a period of great change at the Langley Research Center. The main events and trends are clearly and succinctly presented. Although many who worked for Langley during the period covered may not agree entirely with some of Hansen's interpretations and conclusions, sufficient information is given in the text, references, and notes to permit the reader to evaluate the work. In any event, anyone who ever worked for Langley or NACA/NASA or who has any interest in the history of technology will find the book fascinating and thought provoking. In addition, anyone interested in the present and the future of NASA and the American space program will want to pay close attention to the insights found in his epilogue. Readers will see that Jim Hansen has again demonstrated his great abilities as a historian, and he deserves a well-earned "Thank you" for creating what will no doubt prove to be an enduring classic.
664 pages. Over 200 photos and illustrations. Contents hyperlinked for easy navigation.
Chapter Listing:
Foreword
Prologue
1 - The Metamorphosis
2 - The First NASA Inspection
3 - Carrying Out the Task
5 - The "Mad Scientists" of MPD
6 - The Odyssey of Project Echo
7 - Learning Through Failure: The Early Rush of the Scout Rocket Program
8 - Enchanted Rendezvous: The Lunar-Orbit Rendezvous Concept
9 - Skipping "The Next Logical Step"
10 - To Behold the Moon: The Lunar Orbiter Project
11 - In the Service of Apollo
12 - The Cortright Synthesis
Epilogue
Bonus Chapter – Langley Research Center Overview