Skip to main content

Dreams, Rockets, Rivalries, and Jobs

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Social Foundations of Human Space Exploration

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Space Development ((BRIEFSSPACE))

  • 1038 Accesses

Abstract

In this chapter, we will see that dreams, rockets, rivalries, and jobs combined to lead humanity into the space age – to actual spaceflight and space exploration. Some of the main people and processes that led humans finally to leave their cradle, Earth, and to begin to explore their neighborhood, the inner Solar System, and a bit beyond will be introduced. We will also consider why some of us seem to have chosen to crawl back into our cradle, pull up our blankie, and contentedly suck our thumbs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • R. Bonnet, V. Manno, International Cooperation in Space: The Example of the European Space Agency (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1994)

    Google Scholar 

  • S.J. Dick (ed.), NASA’s First 50 Years: Historical Perspectives (NASA SP-2010-4704, Washington, DC, 2010)

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Harford, Korolev: How One Man Masterminded the Soviet Drive to Beat America to the Moon (Wiley, New York, 1997)

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Johnson-Freese, The Chinese Space Program: A Mystery Within a Maze (Krieger, Malabar, 1998)

    Google Scholar 

  • R.D. Launius, A.K. Johnston, Atlas of Space Exploration (HarperCollins, New York, 2009)

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Logsdon, John F. Kennedy and the Race to the Moon (Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2010)

    Google Scholar 

  • W. McDougall, The Heavens and the Earth: A Political History of the Space Age (Basic Books, New York, 1985)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Dator, J.A. (2012). Dreams, Rockets, Rivalries, and Jobs. In: Social Foundations of Human Space Exploration. SpringerBriefs in Space Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3094-0_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3094-0_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-3093-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-3094-0

  • eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics