Organized Collections
Space Science Board, 1958-1974
The NAS Space Science Board (SSB) was appointed in spring 1958 at the request of the Executive Committee of the US National Committee for the International Geophysical Year. The Board's mission was to survey the scientific aspects of the human exploration of space. Accordingly, the SSB provided advice on the continuation and expansion of the IGY's rocket and satellite program, and later advised NASA, the Department of Defense, and the National Science Foundation on aspects of interplanetary probes and space stations, potential problems of manned spaceflight, the exploration of Venus and Mars, and other matters related to space.
The Space Science Board collection covers the years 1958-1974 and contains correspondence, reports, and meeting minutes for a span of 20 linear feet.
Available online:
SSB’s 31 March 1961 letter report to NASA, “Man’s Role in the National Space Program”
INDEX to Space Science Board Collection
ADMINISTRATION
COMMITTEES & Boards
Committee on Atmospheric Sciences: 1961-1962
Space Science Board
Biological Coordinating Group: 1962
Space Science Board Committees
Atmosphere of Earth & Planets: 1961
Chemistry of Space & Exploration of Moon & Planets
Meetings: Fourth: 1961
General: 1961-1962
Environmental Biology
Membership: 1961-1962
Meetings: 1961-1962
Panel on Circadian Rhythms: 1961
Panel on Closed Ecological Systems: 1962
Panel on Gravity: 1962-1964
Panel on Magnetic Radiofrequency & Other Field Effects: 1962-1963
Panel on Radiation Biology: 1962-1963
Panels: General: 1961-1963
Report: 1961-1962
General: 1961-1963
Exobiology: 1961-1962
Geodesy: 1961
High Altitude Rocket & Balloon Research
Meetings: 1962
Membership: 1962-1964
General: 1962-1964
International Relations: 1961-1966
Life Sciences: 1963-1965
Lunar Sample Handling Facility: Ad hoc: 1965
Man in Space
Conference on Radiation Problems Associated with Manned Lunar Landing Program: 1961
End of Program: 1962-1963
Meetings: 1961-1962
Membership: 1961-1962
Planning Group: 1961-1962
Policy & Program: Discussions: 1961-1962
Relationships: NASA: 1961-1962
Relationships: PSAC: 1961-1962
Study of Role of Scientist in Scientific Activities in Space: 1961
Working Group on Gaseous Environment for
Manned Spacecraft: 1962-1964
Working Group on Nutrition & Feeding Problems: 1962-1963
Working Group on Problem of Weightlessness in Space
Flight: 1962-1963
Working Group on Radiation Problems in Spaceflight: 1961-1963
Working Group on Temperature Problems: 1962-1963
General: 1962-1963
Meteorological Aspects of Satellites: 1961
NASA-University Relations: Ad hoc: 1965
NASA/University Relationships: Ad hoc: 1961-1962
Optical & Radio Astronomy: 1961-1962
Physics of Fields & Particles in Space: 1961-1962
Potential Contamination & Interference from Space
Experiments: 1963-1966
Project West Ford: Ad hoc: 1961-1964
Scientist-Astronaut Selection: Ad hoc: 1965
Surface & Interior of Moon & Planets: 1963
Upper Atmosphere Rocket Research: 1961
Space Science Board
Conferences: Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life
Green Bank WVA: 1961-1962
Executive Committee: 1962-1964
Executive Director: Addresses
International Cooperation in Space Science: 1961
Funding: 1961-1965
Meetings: 9th-21st: 1961-1966
Membership: 1962-1965
Memoranda: Nos 191-414: 1961-1966
Panels
Data & Publications: 1961
Planetary Atmospheres: Ad hoc: 1961-1962
Tracking & Orbit Computation: Ad hoc: 1961
Policy: 1961-1966
Reorganization: 1961-1962
Reports: 1961-1966
Scientific Programs
Cooperation with COSPAR: 1961-1966
Launching Announcements: 1964-1965
Policy: 1961-1966
Study of Contamination of US by Fallout from USSR Atmospheric Atomic Tests: Proposed: 1961
General: 1961-1966
Study Group on Advanced Orbiting Astronomical Observatory: 1962-1964
Summer Studies: 1967 Program
Proposed: 1966
Summer Studies: 1966 Program
Beginning of Program: 1966
Group on Cardiovascular Physiology: 1966
Group on Respiratory Physiology: 1966
Preparation: 1966
General: 1966
Summer Studies: 1965 Program
Background Data: 1965
Beginning of Program: 1964-1965
Committee on Rocket-Satellite Research: 1965-1966
Meetings: 1965
Participants: 1965
Preparation: 1965
Recommendations: 1965
Report: 1965-1966
Working Group on Biology: 1965
Working Group on Internation Cooperation: 1965
Working Group on Medicine & Physiology: 1964-1965
Working Group on NASA-University Relations: 1965
Working Group on Optical Astronomy: 1965
Working Group on Physical Sciences: 1965
Working Group on Planetary & Lunar Exploration: 1964-1965
Working Group on Radio & Radar Astronomy: 1964-1965
Working Group on Role of Man in Space Research: 1965
Working Group on Solar Astronomy: 1965
Working Group on X-Ray & Gamma-ray Astronomy: 1965
Summer Studies: 1964 Program
Beginning of Program: 1964
Meetings: Plenary: 1964-1965
Participants: 1964
Preparation: 1964
Report: 1964-1966
Steering Commitee: 1964
Summer Studies: 1963 Program
Proposed: 1962
Summer Studies: 1962 Program
Agenda: 1962
Evaluation: 1962-1963
Final Briefing: 1962
NASA Briefings for Study Participants: 1962
NASA Summary: 1964
Participants: 1962
Preparation: 1961-1962
Press Relations: 1962-1963
Proceedings [4 Vols]: 1962
Relations with Committee on Man in Space: 1962
Report: 1962-1963
Working Groups: 1962
General: 1962-1963
Symposia
Gravity & Organism: 1965-1966
Nutrition in Space: 1962-1963
General: 1961-1964
INSTITUTIONS Associations Individuals
American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics: 1965
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: 1960
Columbia U Council on Atomic Age Studies: 1959
George Washington U Policy Studies Program: 1965
Seminar on Soviet Space Activities: 1965
Symposium on Possible Uses of Earth Satellites: 1958
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Scientific Programs
Project West Ford: 1961-1964
National Conference on Peaceful Uses of Space
Fifth (St Louis): 1965
State U of Iowa Dept of Physics & Astronomy
Scientific Program: INJUN Satellite: 1961
Symposium on Challenge of Nuclear Power & Outer Space to Political Control: 1958
INTERNATIONAL Relations
Committee on International Organizations & Programs: 1963-1966
Institutions Associations Abroad: 1958-1974
International Congresses: 1959-1974
International Geophysical Year
Scientific Program: Rockets & Satellites: 1958-1962
General: 1958-1963
International Organizations
International Assn of Geodesy: 1960-1974
International Assn of Geomagnetism & Aeronomy: 1960-1966
International Assn of Meterology & Atmospheric Physics: 1963-1966
International Astronautical Federation: 1959-1962
General: 1958-1966
International Unions: Geodesy & Geophysics: 1960-1965
International Unions: ICSU
Bureau: 1958-1959
CETEX (Com on Contamination by Extraterrestrial Exploration): 1958-1959
International Unions: ICSU: COSPAR
Beginning of Program: 1958-1959
Bureau: Meetings [1st-13th]: 1960-1966
Charter & Bylaws: 1959-1966
Committee on Constants & Ephemerides: Ad hoc: 1962-1963
Committee on Polar Cap Absorption Experiments: Ad hoc: 1960-1962
Consultative Group on Potentially Harmful Effects of Space Experiments: 1962-1967
Executive Committee: 1958-1959
Executive Council: 1960-1966
Finance Committee: 1958-1966
Information Bulletin [Nos 1-71, incomplete set]: 1960-1974
Meetings [1st-5th]: 1958-1966
Membership: 1962
National Committees: 1958-1974
Relations with ICSU Unions & Committees: 1958-1967
Reports: 1962-1974
Scientific Program on International Rocket Interval: 1960-1961
Scientific Program on International Rocket Weeks: 1959-1960
Scientific Program on Study of July 1959 Event: 1960
Symposium on Extraterrestrial Biology & Organic Chemistry: 1963
Symposium on Meteorological Uses of Rockets & Satellites: 1960-1962
Symposium on Space Science [1st-7th]: 1960-1966
Symposium on Terrestrial Life in Space: 1963
Working Group on Application of Space Techniques to Atmospheric Circulation: Proposed: 1964-1965
Working Group on Data & Publications: 1959-1966
Working Group on Design & Coordination of Experiments: 1966
Working Group on Education: Ad hoc: 1962-1963
Working Group on International Reference Atmosphere: 1961-1965
Working Group on IQSY (Internatl Years of Quiet Sun): 1962-1965
Working Group on Numeration & Names: 1958-1974
Working Group on Permanent Working Groups: 1958
Working Group on Physics & Chemistry of Near Space: 1963-1965
Working Group on Procedures Rules & Organization and Rotating Membership: 1958
Working Group on Properties of Upper Atmosphere: 1966
Working Group on Scientific Experiments: 1958-1961
Working Group on Space Biology: 1963-1966
Working Group on Tracking: 1958-1966
Working Group on Troposphere & Stratosphere Experiments: 1965-1966
General: 1958-1974
International Unions: ICSU
Executive Board: 1958-1963
Executive Committee: 1964-1967
Federation of Astronomical & Geophysical Services: 1961
General Assemblies: 1958-1966
International Unions: ICSU: Inter-Union Commissions
Atmospheric Sciences: 1962-1964
Frequency Allocations for Radio Astronomy & Space Science: 1959-1974
Solar-Terrestrial Physics: 1965-1968
Solar-Terrestrial Relationships: 1964-1966
General: 1965-1972
International Unions: ICSU
Working Group on Solar-Terrestrial Physics: 1963-1965
World Data Centers: 1960-1976
General: 1958-1974
International Unions: Radio: 1959-1966
International Unions: General: 1958-1974
NAS
Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Research: Ad hoc: 1966-1967
ORGANIZATION: NAS: Space Science Board
Beginning of Program: 1958
Chairman (Berkner L V)
Addresses: National Science Policy for Space Age: 1958
ORGANIZATION: NAS: Space Science Board: Committees
Atmospheres of Earth & Planets
Meetings: 1960
Report: 1960
General: 1960
Chemistry of Space & Exploration of Moon & Planets
Meetings: 1958-1960
Membership: 1958-1960
Report: 1959-1960
Subcommittee to Study Mass Spectrometry: 1958-1959
General: 1958-1960
Consideration of Relativistic Clock Experiments: Ad hoc: 1958
Exobiology: 1960
Future Vehicular Development: Proposed: 1958
General Engineering Service & Coordination: 1958-1959
Geodesy: 1959-1960
Immediate Problems: 1958
International Relations: 1958-1960
Interplanetary Probes & Space Stations: Ad hoc: 1958
Ionospheres of Earth & Planets
Meetings: 1958-1960
Membership: 1958-1960
Report: 1958-1960
Working Groups: 1958
General: 1959-1960
Man in Space: 1960
Meteorological Aspects of Satellites
Meetings: 1958-1960
Membership: 1958-1960
Report: 1958-1960
Optical & Radio Astronomy
Meetings: 1958-1960
Membership: 1958-1960
Report: 1958-1960
General: 1958-1960
Physics of Fields & Particles in Space
Meetings: 1958-1960
Membership: 1958-1960
Report: 1958-1960
Subcommittee on Emulsion Blocks: 1958-1960
Programming: 1958-1969
Project West Ford: Ad hoc: 1960
Psychological & Biological Research
Meetings: 1960
Membership: 1958-1960
Reorganization: 1960
Report: 1958-1960
General: 1958-1960
Space Projects: 1958-1960
Upper Atmosphere Rocket Research
Meetings: 1960
Membership: 1959-1960
General: 1959-1960
WESTEX: Ad hoc: 1959-1960
ORGANIZATION: NAS: Space Science Board
Conferences
Analysis of Meteorites: 1959-1960
Photochemistry of Far Ultraviolet: 1959
Planetary Atmospheres: 1960
Radar Astronomy: 1959
Group on Physics of Planetary Surfaces & Atmospheres
Jt with Armed Forces-NRC Committee on Bio-Astronautics: Proposed: 1959-1960
Group on Space Probe Sterilization: Ad hoc: 1959
Meetings
High Altitude Photography: Jt with Air Force: 1960
Problems of Detecting Extraterrestrial Life: 1958-1959
Relations with COSPAR: 1960
[1st-8th]: 1958-1960
Membership: 1958-1960
Memoranda: Nos 1-190: 1958-1960
Panels
Data & Publications: 1959-1960
Planetary Atmospheres: Ad hoc: 1960
Tracking & Orbit Computation: Ad hoc: 1960
Relationships
Armed Forces-NRC Committee on Bio-Astronautics: 1958-1960
Reports
Science in Space: 1959-1960
General: 1958-1960
Requests for Support
Proposals: 1958-1959
Recommendations: 1958-1959
Scientific Programs
Policy: 1958-1960
Ten Year Program Proposed: 1959
General: 1958-1960
Working Groups
Planetary Atmospheres: Ad hoc: 1960
Upper Atmosphere Rocket Research: Ad hoc: 1959
DIVISIONS OF THE NRC
MATHEMATICS
Committee on Space Mathematics: Ad hoc
Meetings: 1960-1962
Report to Space Science Board: 1962-1963
Survey of Mathematicians & Mathematical Problems in Connection with Space Activities: 1960-1961
General: 1960-1963
MEDICAL Sciences
Armed Forces-NRC Committee on Bio-Astronautics: 1959-1962
PHYSICAL Sciences
Space Science Board: Committees
Annual Review of COSPAR Sterilization Objectives: Ad hoc: 1967
International Relations: 1967-1969
Large Space Telescope: Ad hoc: 1969
Life Sciences: 1967-1968
Space Biology & Medicine: 1971-1973
Space Medicine: 1969-1971
Water Quality Standards for Long-Duration Manned Space Missions: Ad hoc: 1967
Space Science Board: Meetings
Possible Approaches to Soviet Union on Sterilization of Mars Spacecraft: 1968
Relations with COSPAR: 1968
[22nd-32nd]: 1967-1970
Space Science Board
Membership: 1967
Memoranda: 1969-1972
Memoranda: Nos 415-171: 1967-1968
Panel on Earth-Orbital Astronomy: Ad hoc: 1968
Panel on Quarantine of Venus: Ad hoc: 1967
Reports: 1967-1973
Scientific Programs: 1967-1972
Studies: Human Factors in Long-Duration Spaceflight: 1967-1972
Space Science Board Summer Studies: 1973 Program
Space Science Board Summer Studies: 1971 Program
Space Science Board Summer Studies: 1970 Program
Space Science Board Summer Studies: 1969 Program
Microbiology: 1969-1970
Physics of Outer Solar System: 1969
Space Biology: 1968-1970
Space Science Board Summer Studies: 1968 Program
Space Science Board Summer Studies: 1966 Program
Group on Cardiovascular Physiology: 1968
Group on Respiratory Physiology: 1967-1968
Report: 1967-1968
Space Science Board: Symposia
Gravity & Organism: 1967-1971
FINANCE & ACCOUNTING
CONTRACTS
Space Science Board Studies
Human Factors in Long-Duration Spaceflight: 1967-1972
Space Science Board Summer Studies
1969 Program
1964 Program
1962 Program
FINANCE
Funds: Grants: 1960-1966
GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES & Departments
Air Force: 1958-1974
Commerce
Weather Bureau: 1958-1961
Defense
Inter-range Instrumentation Group: 1960-1962
General: 1958-1964
Federal Communications Commission: 1959
NASA
Aeronautics & Astronautics Coordinating Board: 1960-1964
Conferences: 1959-1965
Cooperation with COSPAR: 1958-1964
Offices: 1960-1965
Reports: 1959-1965
NASA Scientific Programs
Apollo: 1961-1968
Cooperation w Great Britain: 1959-1960
Cooperation w IQSY: 1961-1963
Cooperation w USSR: 1959-1965
Funding: 1959-1967
Life Sciences: 1960-1970
Manned Space Flight: 1961-1969
Mercury: 1959-1962
Planetary Exploration: 1960-1967
Policy: 1958-1965
Rocket Soundings: 1960-1964
Satellites: 1959-1965
Summaries: 1959-1965
General: 1959-1969
NASA Working Groups
Follow-on Surveyor Instrumentation: Ad hoc: 1963-1964
NASA-University Relationships: 1961
NASA General: 1958-1968
CONGRESS
Committee on Science & Astronautics
Panel on Science & Technology: 1962
EXECUTIVE
National Aeronautics & Space Council: 1959-1965
President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC): 1958-1965
General: 1958-1966
INTERNATIONAL Relations
International Agreements: 1960-1965
Treaties: US-USSR: Space Treaty Proposed: 1966
United Nations
Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space: 1958-1974
International Cooperation Year: 1965
International Telecommunications Union: 1958-1963
World Meteorological Organization: 1962-1974
