
The Secret of Apollo
Systems Management in American and European Space Programs
Stephen B. Johnson(Author)
Johns Hopkins University Press
Published on 26. December 2006
Book
Paperback/Softback
312 pages
978-0-8018-8542-6 (ISBN)
Description
How does one go about organizing something as complicated as a strategic-missile or space-exploration program? Stephen B. Johnson here explores the answer-systems management-in a groundbreaking study that involves Air Force planners, scientists, technical specialists, and, eventually, bureaucrats. Taking a comparative approach, Johnson focuses on the theory, or intellectual history, of "systems engineering" as such, its origins in the Air Force's Cold War ICBM efforts, and its migration to not only NASA but the European Space Agency. Exploring the history and politics of aerospace development and weapons procurement, Johnson examines how scientists and engineers created the systems management process to coordinate large-scale technology development, and how managers and military officers gained control of that process. "Those funding the race demanded results," Johnson explains. "In response, development organizations created what few expected and what even fewer wanted-a bureaucracy for innovation. To begin to understand this apparent contradiction in terms, we must first understand the exacting nature of space technologies and the concerns of those who create them."
Reviews / Votes
Soundly based on the secondary literature and on archival research in the United States and Europe and provides an excellent overview of the topic within Johnson's chosen boundaries... I can highly recommend Johnson's book to historians of both the Cold War military and civilian space programs. Journal of Military History Johnson has been inspired by engineering to write good history. -- Jon Agar British Journal for the History of Science 2004 A book for general readers interested in business and management issues in the space program. Choice 2003 Johnson's in-depth, nuts-and-bolts manual sheds much light on a seldom studied secret of our recent space history. Space Review 2006 Well written and engaging in style. Satellite Evolution Group 2007More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Baltimore, MD
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
6 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder, 20 s/w Zeichnungen
20 Line drawings, black and white; 6 Halftones, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
512 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8018-8542-6 (9780801885426)
DOI
10.1353/book.3214
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
06/2003
Johns Hopkins University Press
€22.49
Available for download
Book
09/2002
Johns Hopkins University Press
€59.62
Article exhausted; check different version
Person
Stephen B. Johnson is an associate professor of space studies at the University of North Dakota.
Content
Contents: Introduction: Managment and the Conrol of Research Social and Technical Issues of Spaceflight Creating Concurrency From Concurrency to Systems Managment JPL's Journey from Missiles to Space Organizing the Manned Space Program Organizing ELDO for Failure ERSO's American Bridge across the Managment Gap Coordination and Control of High-Tech Research and Development