LibGuides: U.S. Space Program: Background Information

Background Information

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the principal civilian space agency in the United States, and the leading space science agency in the world, and there are many other organizations involved in space exploration and science. Use the following sources to learn more about the U.S. space program and the political, legal, scientific, and engineering issues connected to it.

American Men and Women of Science
Profiles living persons in the physical and biological fields, as well as public health scientists, engineers, mathematicians, statisticians, and computer scientists.

CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
Gives overviews of major topic areas. Includes articles, lists of other resources, and Pro and Con arguments for most topics.

Gale Encyclopedia of Science
Covers all major areas of science, engineering, technology, as well as mathematics and the medical and health sciences, while providing a comprehensive overview of current scientific knowledge and technology. Entries typically describe scientific concepts, provide overviews of scientific areas and, in some cases, define terms.
The Politics and Perils of Space Exploration
This book examines the U.S. space program's triumphs and failures in order to assess what constitutes a successful space policy. Using NASA and the space industry's complex history as a guide, it predicts the trends we can expect from different nations in the next decade and beyond.