Archives Library Information Center (ALIC)

Space

Information about the United States’ space flight programs, including NASA missions and the astronauts who participate in the efforts to explore space.

Guide to the Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Describes the records of NASA held by the National Archives.
Guide to the Records of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Astronautics: Explains the types of records available on the House Committee on Science and Astronautics and its predecessor committees from 1958 to the present.

Picture of Mars taken by Hubble Space Telescope
Mars taken by Hubble Space Telescope.
(Courtesy of NASA and the Hubble Heritage Team)

Presidential Libraries

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Library And Museum: Space Sources

The Early History and Development of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): Provides digital images of records related to the establishment and development of NASA.
Sputnik and the Space Race: Provides digital images of records on Sputnik held at the Eisenhower Library, including press conferences, presidential addresses, and minutes to cabinet meetings.

John F. Kennedy Library & Museum: Space Sources

1962-09-12 Rice University: "Video of the National Aeronautic Space Administration's (NASA) coverage of President John F. Kennedy's address at Rice University, Houston, Texas, concerning the nation's efforts in space exploration." Includes a transcript of the speech.
JFK in History: Space Program: This is a multimedia web site that offers audio and transcriptions of President Kennedy’s important speeches about space exploration.
Media Gallery: Space: A collection of photographs related to President Kennedy's interest in the space program.
Remarks in San Antonio, Texas at the Dedication of the Aerospace Medical Health Center, 21 November 1963: Given by Kennedy on the day before his assassination, this speech discusses the role of medicine and health research in space exploration. The page provides a link to audio of the speech.
Why Choose the Moon? Debating the Decision to Go to the Moon: Lesson plan designed for grades 6-9.

Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum: Space Resources

Cooperation with the U.S.S.R. on Outer Space Matters, March 3, 1964: Memo from Johnson to the Administrator of NASA endorsing cooperation with the Soviet Union in space.
Oral History Project: Interview with James E. Webb, Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1961-1968: Recalls Webb’s tenure at NASA.
Remarks at the Signing of the Treaty on Outer Space: Celebrates the treaty which prohibited installation of "implements of war" in space, and the use of space or any celestial body for military purposes.

Richard Nixon Library: Space Resources

FG 164 (National Aeronautics and Space Administration): Information about documents related to NASA in the Nixon Presidential Library.

Gerald R. Ford Library and Museum: Space Resources

Telephone Conversation of President Gerald R. Ford With Apollo-Soyuz Test Project Crews Following Rendezvous and Docking of the Spacecraft: This conversation was broadcast live on radio and television on July 17, 1975.

Picture of the Trifid Nebula taken by Gemini North 8-meter Telescope.
(Courtesy of the Gemini Observatory/GMOS Image)

Jimmy Carter Library and Museum: Space Resources

Civil and Further National Space Policy, October 10, 1978: This directive established national policies on space programs and activities in compliance with the National Space Policy.
A Coherent U.S. Space Policy, March 28, 1977: Directs the Policy Review Committee to develop an overall statement of national goals in space.
National Space Policy, May 11, 1978: Explains the national policies in regard to the conduct of space-related programs and activities.

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: Space Resources

Address to the Nation on the Explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger: Text of the speech President Reagan delivered after the Challenger disaster.

George Bush Presidential Library and Museum: Space Resources

Beyond the Moon: NASA’s Continuing Mission: Web page describing an exhibit which ran from September 19, 2008 to August 23, 2009 at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum. Includes links to further information, such as songs used to awaken astronauts on space missions.
Remarks to the Crewmembers of the Space Shuttle Atlantis and the Winners of the Orbiter-Naming Competition: Transcript of a speech made by President Bush on May 16, 1989.
Remarks to the Young Astronaut Council and a Teleconference with the Crew of Space Shuttle Discovery: Drawn from the Public Papers of the President, this web page provides the transcript of a speech made by President Bush and a teleconference with shuttle astronauts on January 24, 1992.

William J. Clinton Presidential Library: Space Resources

Fact Sheet: National Space Policy, September 19, 1996: Details the goals and guidelines of the future of America’s space policy.
The Future Management and Use of the U.S. Space Launch Bases and Ranges: This report examines the role of government agencies and the U.S. commercial space sector in the policy and management issues of space launches.
Joint Statement of the Space Station Partnership, December 6, 1993: Announces the invitation to Russia to join the international Partnership.
Remarks by the President and Colonel Eileen Collins at the Announcement of First Woman Shuttle Commander, March 5, 1998: Includes the text of the comments of the first woman shuttle commander, Col. Eileen Collins, and President Clinton.
Space Station, June 19, 1998: Staff paper prepared for the President’s Commission to Study Capital Budgeting, describes the investment needed for a space station.
Space Station Redesign, July 17, 1993: History of the redesign of the Space Station programs under President Clinton, includes the pertinent reports.
Statement on National Space Transportation Policy, August 5, 1994: Outlines a clear course for the nation’s space program, providing a coherent strategy for supporting and strengthening U.S. space launch capability.

Picture of Neptune taken by Voyager spacecraft
Neptune taken by Voyager spacecraft.
(Courtesy of NASA, JPL, and CALTech)

General Space Exploration Resources

Apollo to the Moon: Extensive site by the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, covers the history of spaceflight.
Astronaut Fact Book: Gives information on astronaut candidate selection and astronaut alma maters; lists former and current astronauts.
A Brief History of Animals in Space: Information about the use of animals to test the effect of space flight on living organisms.
Congressional Research Service Reports on Space Policy: A selection of CRS Reports complied by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).
Encyclopedia Astronautica: Entries on all things space-related.
Johnson Space Center (JSC) Digital Image Collection: Image database of NASA’s flights.

Picture of Jupiter's red spot taken by Voyager spacecraft
Jupiter’s red spot taken by Voyager spacecraft.
(Courtesy of NASA, JPL, and CALTech)

Legislative Origins of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Act of 1958: Chronicles the history of the act creating NASA, includes oral histories of those who were instrumental in its creation.
NASA Human Spaceflight: Contains extensive information about the various space programs, including the shuttles and the space station, plus a look behind the scenes of manned space missions.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS): "Provides access to aerospace-related citations, full-text online documents, and images and videos." Can be browsed or searched.
NASA Multimedia: This web site provides access to NASA's image galleries, video, TV, interactive features, podcasts, and 3D resources.
National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958: Public Law #85-568, 72 Stat. 426, establishes NASA and is designed to "provide for research into problems of flight within and outside the earth’s atmosphere."
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): Official site, full of historical and up-to-date information on the space program.
SkyView: Provided by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, "SkyView is a Virtual Observatory on the Net generating images of any part of the sky." Includes images, a blog, and a non-astronomers page.
Solar System: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory site, gives information about and images from NASA’s unmanned spacecraft. Includes links to missions exploring objects in the solar system.
Space Exploration Timeline: Documents achievements in space since the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957.
Space Station: Based on the PBS program, examines the financial, technical and political challenges of creating the International Space Station through questions, interactive activities, and images.
Space Today Online: Covers general space topics, including current events, history, and lesson plans.
StarDate: Maintained by the University of Texas McDonald Observatory, offers tips for stargazers, astronomy education, and lesson plans.
Views of the Solar System: Photos and scientific information, including history of space exploration, rocketry, early astronauts, space missions, spacecraft through the use of text, graphics, images, and videos.
Windows to the Universe: Features interactive resources on Earth and space sciences; graphics intensive site.

Fireworks at star formation taken by Hubble Space Telescope.
(Courtesy of NASA and the Hubble Heritage Team)

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