Beyond the Atmosphere; Early Years of Space Science. NASA SP-4211

xviii, 497, [5] pages. Wraps. Color two-page frontis. Illustrations. Figures. Tables. Appendices. Bibliographic Essay. Source Notes. Index. Cover has some wear and soiling. This is one of the NASA History Series. Homer Edward Newell Jr. (March 11, 1915 - July 18, 1983) was a mathematics professor and author who became a powerful United States government science administrator—eventually rising to the number three position at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In the early 1960s, he either controlled or influenced virtually all non-military unmanned space missions for the free world. In 1944 he became an NRL employee. In 1945, the communications security section became the rocket section. Newell became successively head of the theoretical analysis subsection, associate head of the section, and by 1947 headed the section; which performed upper atmosphere research using rockets including German-built V2s, US-built Aerobees and eventually NRL's own Viking. Newell drafted the first national plan for unmanned exploration of the moon and planets, developed NASA's procedure for scientific experiment selection, and was responsible for NASA's university programs. Newell wrote at least eight books. His last book, Beyond the Atmosphere: Early Years of Space Science (NASA SP-4211), is widely referenced as a historical source. From the rocket measurements of the upper atmosphere and sun that began in 1946, space science gradually emerged as a new field of scientific activity. During the period between the orbiting of Sputnik I and the creation of NASA, these activities - scientific research in the high atmosphere and outer space -began to be thought of as space science. This book relates this new activity to the rest of the space program and to science in general. It ranges from the very technical to the political, from the personal to the institutional, from the laboratory to launching pad and from international conference halls to lunar wastelands. Presumed First Paperback Edition, First printing.…