Space Stations: Base Camps to the Stars

by Roger D. Launius

This new edition of Space Stations: Base Camp to the Stars, winner of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics History Manuscript Award, has been fully updated to tell the complete story of the vision, technological achievement and political infighting that led to the establishment of the first space stations. From winged rocket ships, to the epic, controversy-wracked sagas of Mir and the International Space Station, this highly original blend of history and popular culture explains why the dream of a permanently occupied space outpost has captivated so many for so long. Ninety-five arresting images, many rare and never before published, illustrate this thought-provoking narrative of the evolution of the space station as cultural icon.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 17, 2003

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Dr. Roger D. Launius earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in history at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge (American frontier and military history).

Dr. Launius was a civilian historian with the United States Air Force, and became Chief Historian for the Military Airlift Command. Since October 1990 he is Chief Historian for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He is also Senior Curator at the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

He is also involved in the study of nineteenth century history and the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church).