NASA Recording History
NASA has a long tradition of documenting and sharing its history through books, reports, and other publications. The NASA History Office maintains an extensive collection spanning the agency’s origins in the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) established in 1915, through NASA’s founding in 1958, and covering over six decades of space exploration.
NASA’s e-book collection is a key part of this effort to record and disseminate the agency’s history. With over 200 titles in the NASA History Series alone, these e-books cover the breadth of NASA’s activities and achievements, including:
- The early days of human spaceflight with Project Mercury and Gemini
- The historic Apollo program that landed humans on the Moon
- The first US space station Skylab
- The beginnings of US-Soviet cooperation with the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
- The Space Shuttle program which made spaceflight more routine
- The International Space Station program representing unprecedented global cooperation in space
Beyond the NASA History Series, additional e-books highlight the discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope, spinoff technologies from NASA research that benefit life on Earth, and much more. By making these resources freely available to the public, NASA ensures its history is accessible to all.
NASA E-Books’ Relevance to the Space Economy
NASA’s e-books don’t just chronicle the past – they also demonstrate the immense economic impact and societal benefits generated by the agency’s research and space exploration efforts. NASA activities support tens of thousands of jobs and billions in economic output across the United States.
E-books like “Benefits for Humanity” and “International Space Station Benefits for Humanity” detail how technologies originally developed for space find valuable commercial applications and even save lives here on Earth. From improvements in aviation safety and efficiency to advances in health and medicine, NASA spinoffs and research translate into a significant return on investment for the economy.
The e-books also highlight how NASA partnerships with industry are enabling the growth of a robust commercial space sector. By making its research and data available through these publications, NASA fosters innovation and encourages participation in the space economy.
Importance of E-Books
NASA’s commitment to publishing e-books and providing them to the public for free reflects the agency’s core mission to expand human knowledge and provide benefits to humanity. The e-book format makes it easy for people worldwide to access information on NASA’s programs and projects.
For students and educators, NASA e-books are a valuable STEM resource, bringing the excitement of space exploration into homes and classrooms. Interactive and multimedia elements engage learners of all ages.
Researchers also benefit from the wealth of scientific and technical information contained in NASA e-books. The publications provide detailed insights into the results of NASA research that can inform and inspire new investigations.
Perhaps most importantly, NASA e-books give the public a direct connection to the agency’s work. By transparently sharing its activities, discoveries, and plans for the future, NASA increases awareness, understanding and support for its mission. The e-books allow every person to take part in the grand adventure of space exploration.
NASA History Series E-Books
The NASA History Series includes over 200 books on aerospace history topics, many available to download. Notable titles include:
- This New Ocean: A History of Project Mercury
- Chariots for Apollo: A History of Manned Lunar Spacecraft
- Living and Working in Space: A History of Skylab
- The Partnership: A History of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
- Exploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in the History of the U.S. Civil Space Program
- Stages to Saturn: A Technological History of the Apollo/Saturn Launch Vehicles
- Suddenly, Tomorrow Came: A History of the Johnson Space Center
Browse the full NASA History Series.
Hubble Space Telescope E-Books
The Hubble Space Telescope has a series of downloadable e-books focusing on its discoveries:
- Hubble Focus: Dark Universe
- Hubble Focus: Strange New Worlds
- Hubble Focus: The Lives of Stars
- Hubble Focus: Galaxies through Space and Time
- Hubble Focus: Our Amazing Solar System
- Hubble Space Telescope Discoveries
- A Quarter-Century of Discovery with the Hubble Space Telescope
See more Hubble e-books here.
James Webb Space Telescope E-Books
- James Webb Space Telescope: Science Guide – Explains how the Webb telescope will reveal mysteries of the universe
NASA Aeronautics E-Books
- NASA Aeronautics Book Series – A collection of e-books on various aeronautics topics
Other NASA E-Books
- Earth
- Earth at Night
- Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration
- NASA’s Contributions to Aeronautics Volume 1 & Volume 2
- The Saturn System Through the Eyes of Cassini
- Cosmos & Culture: Cultural Evolution in a Cosmic Context
- When Biospheres Collide: A History of NASA’s Planetary Protection Programs
NASA offers an extensive collection of free e-books covering space science, astronomy, aeronautics, Earth science, NASA history, and more. The clickable titles above provide direct links to download these fascinating reads from NASA’s websites.
