DOCUMENT RESUME ED 252 377 SE 045 294 AUTHOR Thorne, Muriel M., Ed. TITLE NASA, The First 25 Years: 1958-83. A Resource for Teachers. A Curriculum Project. INSTITUTION National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, D.C. REPORT NO EP-182 PUB DATE 83 NOTE 132p.; Some colored photographs may not reproduce clearly. AVAILABLE FROMSuperintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. PUB TYPE Books (010) -- Reference Materials - General (130) Historical Materials (060) EDRS PRICE MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS. DESCRIPTORS Aerospace Education; *Aerospace Technology; Energy; *Federal Programs; International Programs; Satellites (Aerospace); Science History; Secondary Education; *Secondary School Science; *Space Exploration; *Space Sciences IDENTIFIERS *National Aeronautics and Space Administration ABSTRACT This book is designed to serve as a reference base from which teachers can develop classroom concepts and activities related to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The book consists of a prologue, ten chapters, an epilogue, and two appendices. The prologue contains a brief survey of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, NASA's predecessor. The first chapter introduces NASA--the agency, its physical plant, and its mission. Succeeding chapters are devoted to these NASA program areas: aeronautics; applications satellites; energy research; international programs; launch vehicles; space flight; technology utilization; and data systems. Major NASA projects are listed chronologically within each of these program areas. Each chapter concludes with ideas for the classroom. The epilogue offers some perspectives on NASA's first 25 years and a glimpse of the future. Appendices include a record of NASA launches and a list of the NASA educational service offices. (JN) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *************************************************%********************* NASA, The First 25 Years U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER IERICI 1958 -1983 This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organoiation originating it Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality Points of view or opinions slated in this docu mpnt do not necessarily represent official NIE position or policy if .LSE iA A Resource for Teachers NASA, The First 25 Years 1958-1983 A Resource for Teachers A curriculum project NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration Washington, D.C. 1983 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Table of Contents 4 Introduction 7 Preface 9 Foreword 10 Prologue National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics 18 Chapter I National Aeronautics and Space Administration 26 Chapter II Aeronautics 36 Chapter III Applications Satellites 48 Chapter IV Energy Research 56 Chapter V International Programs 64 Chapter VI Launch Vehicles 72 Chapter VII Space Flight 88 Chapter VIII Space Science 104 Chapter IX Technology Utilization 110 Chapter X Tracking and Data Systems 118 Epilogue Perspectives, Plarg, Prospects 126 Appendix I NASA Major Launch Record, 1958-1983 132 Appendix II NASA Educational Services Introduction In 1958 a unique Federal agency Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), activities to college and university was established with a mandatefrom and the first materials for the class- engineering and science students. the Congress to "plan. direct, and room teacher, K-12, were produced. Our ISEF program soon added conduct aeronautical and space ac- As NASA's projects were devel- NASA awards for affiliated state and tivities." That simply stated charge to oped, conducted, and completed. our regional science fairs. Next, there the National Aeronautics and Space educational office and programs grew were Youth Science Congresses fol- Administration began 25 years of apace. The staff now encompasses a lowed by the Skylab Student Project aeronautical and space programs branch in the Public Affairs Division which enabled 19 high school stu- and projects that brought dreams to at NASA Headquarters in Washing- dents to fly experiments on the reality, made engineering ideas into ton, D.C. and educational programs spacecraft, and a Viking Student technological accomplishments, de- officers in seven NASA Centers that Project to select an emblem for the veloped practical applications of nerve specific geographic regions. In Viking Lander spacecraft. Since 1980 space research, presented ever-new 1983, the Spacemobile is but one the Shuttle Student Involvement Proj- frontiers of science, and at last part of the Aerospace Education ect has given high school students effected regular operational service Services Project (AESP) and now an opportunity to develop experi- of the Shuttle. These 25 years of provides lecturers who work in class- ments for Shuttle flights. At several space ventures and discoveries and rooms as well as assembly halls: the NASA Centers there are academic the excitement they engendered were simple experiments and scale mod- year and summer programs for se- shared by millions. For the new els of space hardware used in their lected local students, and career agency had another mandate: to lectures have changed through the information related to NASA and "provide for the widest practicable years with each new NASA activity. aerospace industry has been made and appropriate dissemination of in- There is also an Aeronauticsmobile available. formation concerning its activities that visits schools to discuss NASA Through the years we have also and the results thereof." research and development in that responded to the community, making Thus, in 1960. NASA established field. Two years ago the AESP both educational staff and AESP an office to serve the educational introduced two new programs: the specialists available for civic clubs community. Our staff was small, the Urban Community Enrichment Pro- and professional organizations. Au- programs few. Aerospace specialists gram (UCEP) to stimulate learning at diovisual consultants assist in the travelled to schools with the Space the middle school level in large Tities, programming of materials for radio mobiles assembly program and as- and CLASS (College Lecturers on and television. and we provide sup- sisted aerospace education summer Aeronautics and Space Sciences), to port to programs operated by plane- workshops for teachers. there were bring a better understanding of the tariums, m iseums. and science NASA awards at the International agency's research and development centers. On invitation from individual 4 communities, our "Community In- and folders has come a wide range historical overview of NASA's first 25 volvement Programs" involve the en- of materials. There are curriculum years, the growth and scope. tire spectrum of the local populace in supplements, bibliographies, single The Shuttle has fostered a new an aerospace event. resource units, reprints from profes enthusiasm and interest among We have developed a strong audio- sional journals, and explanatory school students who have grown up visual program over the years, which briefs. There are teacher's guides for with daily satellite weather maps and now includes the production of films, specific publications as well as class- with the Moon and planets as places with teaching guides, for specific room films, and the NASA Report to to visit. We hope this compilation of classroom use; full-length planetari- Educators, a quarterly newsletter. outstanding events since 1958 not um programs; and curriculum mate- Often, publications have been sug- only celebrates NASA's 25th anniver- rials on videotape. We attempt to gested by teachers searching for sary, but also contributes to today's stay in the forefront in the use of pertinent up-to-date information with classrooms a sense of the un- educational technologylast year, which to enrich their programs. paralleled wonder and excitement the laser disc was added to the NASA, The First 25 Years is a that accompanied each succeeding lecture programs and aerospace a:- response to such requests. A record event. It may even serve as a tivities for microcomputers have been book of aerospace facts, it differs springboard for the imaginations of developed for teacher workshops. from earlier publications in both sub- youngsters whose ideas will become Another special program devel- ject and form. Today's high school reality in their future, the next 25 oped for teachers is the Lunar students were born after the first years. Sample Educational Packet, a lunar satellites discovered the Van Allen NASA's Technical Monitor and and planetary sciences teaching aid radiation belts and revolutionized editor for this project was Muriel M. using samples of lunar material en- communications and meteorology, Thorne, Educational Programs capsulated in a clear plastic disc. and after men had orbited Earth; Officer, under the general direction of And several Vis :tor Information Cen- today's elementary students did not William D. Nixon, Chief of Education ters at NASA installations have 9s- watch the lunar landings. For their Services, NASA. tablished resource rooms for teachers, this is a summary of the educators. important dates, projects, goals, and National Aeronautics and From the outset, our educational achievements that are history for Space Administration