Federal Documents for Air & Space Month

In celebration of Air & Space Month, the South Carolina State Library invites you to explore a fascinating selection of federal publications that showcase the history, science, and innovation behind our nation’s air and space exploration.

From the personal diary of NASA’s first administrator to visual journeys of Earth and interactive tactile astronomy books, these documents reflect the incredible breadth of the United States’ contributions to space science and discovery. Whether you're interested in the early days of spaceflight, the evolution of satellite technology, or the stunning imagery captured by telescopes and spacecraft, this collection has something to inspire every reader.

To dive even deeper into the world of air and space, visit the official NASA website for the latest news and mission updates. You can also tune into NASA Podcasts for behind-the-scenes stories, interviews, and insights from scientists and astronauts. And if you’re eager to explore even more federal science and space resources, don’t miss the DiscoverGov portal, your gateway to government documents from agencies across the U.S. government.

Federal Documents

Cover of A Century at Langley: The Storied Legacy and Soaring Future of NASA Langley Research Center

A Century at Langley: The Storied Legacy and Soaring Future of NASA Langley Research Center

Chambers, Joseph R.

A Century at Langley" is a pictorial history book celebrating the 100th anniversary of NASA's Langley Research Center. Written by Joseph R. Chambers, the book chronicles the center’s evolution from its early days as Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in 1917 to its current status as a key player in aeronautics and space exploration. The book spans multiple decades, highlighting milestones such as breakthroughs in airplane design, the birth of NASA, and contributions to space exploration. Richly illustrated, it provides a detailed visual history of Langley’s contributions to the U.S. aeronautical and astronautical achievements.

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Cover of Not Yet Imagined: A Study of Hubble Space Telescope Operations

Not Yet Imagined: A Study of Hubble Space Telescope Operations

Gainor, Christopher

Dr. Christopher Gainor's Not Yet Imagined documents the history of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (HST) from launch in 1990 through 2020. This is considered a follow-on book to Robert W. Smith's the Space Telescope: A Study of NASA, Science, Technology, and Politics, which recorded the development history of HST. Dr. Gainor's book will be suitable for a general audience, while also being scholarly. Highly visible interactions among the general public, astronomers, engineers, government officials, and members of Congress about HST's servicing missions by Space Shuttle crews is a central theme of this history book. Beyond the glare of public attention, the evolution of HST becoming a model of supranational cooperation amongst scientists is a second central theme. Third, the decision-making behind the changes in Hubble's instrument packages on servicing missions is chronicled, along with HST's contributions to our knowledge about our solar system, our galaxy, and our universe. A fifth theme of the book covers the impact of HST and the images it produces on the public's appreciation for the universe.

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Cover of Earth at Night: Our Planet in Brilliant Darkness

Earth at Night: Our Planet in Brilliant Darkness

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

: Dazzling photographs and images from space of our planet's nightlights have captivated public attention for decades. In such images, patterns are immediately seen based on the presence or absence of light: a distinct coastline, bodies of water recognizable by their dark silhouettes, and the faint tendrils of roads and highways emanating from the brilliant blobs of light that are our modern, well-lit cities. These lights and the darkness tell stories about our planet. Earth at Night shows how humans and natural phenomena light up the darkness, and how and why scientists have observed Earth's nightlights for more than four decades using both their own eyes and spaceborne instruments.

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Cover of Understanding Small Worlds in the Solar System: A Tactile View.

Understanding Small Worlds in the Solar System: A Tactile View

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

A tactile Braille edition that provides an interactive exploration of small worlds in the solar system, including planets and other celestial bodies. Written and edited by Cassandra Runyon, David Hurd, and Joseph Minafra, this book features tactile illustrations embossed on thermoform paper with captions in both Braille and print. It includes a QR code for accessing additional audio and text resources.

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Cover of Getting a Feel for Lunar Craters: A Tactile View.

Getting a Feel for Lunar Craters: A Tactile View

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

A tactile Braille edition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo program, offering a hands-on exploration of lunar craters. Written and edited by Cassandra Runyon, David Hurd, and Joseph Minafra, this work features tactile graphics embossed on thermoform paper, allowing visually impaired readers to explore lunar terrain.

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Cover of Discovery Tour: Children Grades Pre-school through 3

Discovery Tour: Children Grades Pre-school through 3

National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

This booklet has been developed to assist the museum visitor in preparation for the Disco very Tour of the National Air and Space Museum. For those persons not able to actually visit the museum, the information contained here serves as a basic introduction to flight through air and space.

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Cover of Earth.

Earth

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA studies Earth in novel ways and with ingenious tools, examining it from beneath the crust to the edge of the atmosphere. This book provides a visual journey of our beautiful and compelling planet as viewed from above.

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Cover of Space Pioneers and Where They are Now

Space Pioneers and Where They are Now

Montoya, Earl J. and Fimmel, Richard O.

Space Pioneers and Where They Are Now" by Earl J. Montoya and Richard O. Fimmel is a 20-page publication that highlights the pioneering efforts in space exploration, focusing on the history of the Pioneer spacecraft and their missions. The book covers various milestones in the exploration of outer space, including the first space pioneers, interplanetary and planetary missions, and the future of space exploration. It provides an overview of the Pioneer spacecraft, their achievements, and the significant "firsts" in space exploration.

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Cover of 50 Years of Solar System Exploration: Historical Perspectives.

50 Years of Solar System Exploration: Historical Perspectives

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first successful planetary mission, Mariner 2 sent to Venus in 1962, the NASA History Program Office, the Division of Space History at the National Air and Space Museum, NASA's Science Mission Directorate, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory organized a symposium. "Solar System Exploration @ 50" was held in Washington, D.C., on 25-26 October 2012. The purpose of this symposium was to consider, over the more than 50-year history of the Space Age, what we have learned about the other bodies of the solar system and the processes by which we have learned it. Symposium organizers asked authors to address broad topics relating to the history of solar system exploration such as various flight projects, the development of space science disciplines, the relationship between robotic exploration and human spaceflight, the development of instruments and methodologies for scientific exploration, as well as the development of theories about planetary science, solar system origins and implications for other worlds. The papers in this volume provide a richly textured picture of important developments - and some colorful characters - in a half century of solar system exploration. A comprehensive history of the first 50 years of solar system exploration would fill many volumes. What readers will find in this volume is a collection of interesting stories about money, politics, human resources, commitment, competition and cooperation, and the "faster, better, cheaper" era of solar system exploration

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Cover of The birth of NASA: the diary of T. Keith Glennan

The Birth of NASA: The Diary of T. Keith Glennan

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The Birth of NASA: The Diary of T. Keith Glennan, is a personal account of the early history of NASA, written by T. Keith Glennan, the agency's first administrator. This diary offers a firsthand look into the challenges and triumphs that defined NASA's early years. The book, edited by J.D. Hunley and with an introduction by Roger D. Launius, provides an in-depth narrative of NASA's formation, its struggles, and its successes in establishing the United States' space program. The text includes references to Glennan's daily thoughts and experiences, offering invaluable insights into the early stages of the space race.

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Upcoming Event

A helicopter in the SC Military Museum.

Heather McPherson, SC Military Museum Curator of Collections, Discusses Aviation and Space in SC

July 16, 2025, 2:30 PM

The Center for the Book, Speaker at the Center series, will welcome Heather McPherson, Curator of Collections at the SC Military Museum, on Wednesday, July 16th, at 2:30 pm. Heather will present South Carolina stories of aviation and space exploration.

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