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EDITORIAL INFORMATION

This volume is not a full-fledged history of the founding and the subsequent quarter of a century of the American Astronautical Society. Rather, here is an anniversary-prompted collection of memoirs of some of the leading individuals over its brief existence -founders, most of its past presidents, editors, and other activists. It is a direct product of the AAS History Workshop held in conjuction with the Seventeenth Goddard Memorial Symposium in March 1979.

(Extracted from the preface, by Eugene M. Emme).

GENERAL TABLE OF CONTENTS

-Preface. Eugene M. Emme.

-Contents.

-Memoir Papers.

-I. A Genesis on Staten Island - 1952.
-II. Founding of the American Astronautical Society - 1953-1954.
-III. More Ways than One.
-IV. The Formative Years - 1954-1955.
-V. The Early Journal Years - 1954-1955.
-VI. A Tribute to the Second AAS President and Recollections of the Pre-Sputnik Days.
-VII. A Historical Perspective of the American Astronautical Society - 1954-1958.
-VIII. A Few Reflections - 1959-1960.
-IX. Some People and Their Activities - 1960-1962.
-X. Comments on the Presidency of William L. Whitson - 1963.
-XI. People, Ideas, and Opportunities - 1964-1965.
-XII. Years of Growth in the Manned Space Effort - 1966-1967.
-XIII. Comments on the Presidency of Eugene B. Konecci - 1968.
-XIV. The Apollo Lunar Landing Period - 1969-1970.
-XV. The Post-Apollo Challenge - 1971-1972.
-XVI. Comments on the Presidency of J. Ray Gilmer - 1973.
-XVII. Involvement and Commitment - 1974-1976.
-XVIII. Evolution of the AAS Publication Program - 1954-1979.

-Commentaries.

-XIX. Enduring Challenges of Astronautics.
-XX. On the Space Imperatives.
-XXI. Perspectives on the American Astronautical Society.
-XXII. The Present and Future.
-XXIII. Imagination and Technology for the Future Space Program.
-XXIV. Comments from the Floor.

-Appendices.

-A. Biographical Sketches of Participants and Authors.
-B. List of Illustrations.
-C. Presidents of the AAS.
-D. AAS Awards and Recipients.
-E. Fellows of the AAS.
-F. Meetings of the AAS.
-G. Books Published by or for the AAS.
-H. Editors of AAS Journals and Newsletters.
-I. Membership Roster--Renewal Record 1954-1956

-Index.

-AAS History Committee.

OUR REVIEW

Few astronautical associations in the world have acquired the notoriety of the American Astronautical Society. Not only because of their amount of members and associates, but also because of the enormous work done during the various decades of its existence and its role in the popularization of space as well as its efforts to preserve its history and achievements. That's why we want to introduce the review of a book that, even if it is almost sold out in this edition, it continues to be an unforgettable tribute to the figure of the AAS itself, and we do recommend it both to its members and to those readers who are interested in the history of astronautics. Since it was published in 1980, this work does not mention, as is natural, more than ten years of continuous growth and improvements, but just like its publisher clearly states at the preface, it is not a history of this association strictly speaking, but a selection of events, feelings and experiences told by the most noteworthy representatives of the AAS in the period covered by the book.

We can only wish that their leaders may find the time to update it, or to publish a second volume that updates what has happened in these last years, during which other people have accessed the society and new work paths and activities have been opened. Meanwhile, the reading of its pages will no doubt awaken a certain amount of nostalgia in many, and it will help others to get to know the true caliber and importance of an association which will forever remain within the history of modern astronautics.