Do you recall NASA’s “Golden Era” of the 1960’s and early 1970’s? Were you involved in any way in these programs? This course takes you back, from the early suborbital flights of the one-man Mercury capsule, through the experimental Gemini flights, to the breathtaking lunar landings of the Apollo missions and beyond. A number of questions will be asked, discussed, and answered: What were the specific goals of each flight and why? What was learned, and what unexpected challenges were faced and overcome? What roles did research universities have in NASA’s success? What about the sociopolitical climate of the time (e.g., Viet Nam, student unrest, program funding)? How was Mission Control organized? What was the management hierarchy of NASA during this era? Which contractors were selected and what did they do? Who were selected as astronauts and what criteria did they need to meet? Who flew which flights and why? What technological advances resulted (directly or indirectly) as a result of these missions?

A chronological review of flights and the rationale for mission planning will be covered, as well as astronaut selection and crew assignments. The course will conclude with a “What did we learn?” and “Where are they now?” summary.