Most people know that NASA is the agency of the United States that pursues space activities. Though sounding simple enough, this statement can lead to pitfalls just like in moving mountains. First off, what, or more precisely, where exactly does space begin and end? Further, what are the space activities and equipment for which NASA is responsible? Should this include all launch vehicles, launch pads, and space stations? Are only they responsible for earth observation, traveling to other planets and understanding the meaning of life? As Kay succinctly points out, there is a fine and constantly changing line that delegates duties to NASA, other parties, or to no one at all.

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NASA really began it's days in the sun with the space race with the Soviet Union. In October 1957 the Soviet Union launched the first orbiting earth satellite. This was before the United States was even scheduled to launch their first one. Then the Soviet Sputnik was so big. Then the Vanguard rocket NASA was using lifted off, went up beautifully for a few feet then beautifully went back down for several feet before blowing up.
Then John Kennedy gave NASA a mission - to take a man to the moon and return him saftly to the earth. It was a beautiful time. The country was filled with pride as one accomplishment after another took us to the moon. Since then it almost seems as if NASA has been floundering. The big question has been between unmanned equipment and sending men up. Another argument centers around the entire concept of a big agency like NASA. For a cost in the $20 million range, Burt Rutan (www.scaled.com) built Space Ship One and successfully flew it into space. NASA couldn't even write a proposal to buy such a ship for $20 million.
This book talks about the trouble NASA has had in defining a mission and makes a few guesses about the future.

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Большинство людей знает, что НАСА - это американское агентство, занимающееся космической деятельностью. Несмотря на то, что это заявление звучит достаточно просто, оно может привести к неверным выводам. Во-первых, где именно начинается космос и где он заканчивается? Во-вторых, какой именно космической деятельностью занимается НАСА и за какое оборудование оно отвечает? Входят ли сюда все ракеты-носители, стартовые площадки и космические станции? Занимается ли оно только наблюдением за Землёй, полётами на другие планеты и осознанием смысла жизни? Автор лаконично показывает, что существует тонкая и постоянно меняющаяся черта, которая наделяет обязанностями НАСА, другие организации или вообще никого.