Can Democracies Fly in Space?: The Challenge of Revitalizing the U.S. Space Program [Hardcover]

Over the last two decades, the image of the U.S. space program has become seriously tarnished. Its problems have ranged from massive cost overruns to serious program delays to catastrophic mission failures. The space program, once the most prominent symbol of American scientific and technological preeminence, now seems but one more example of government bumbling, extravagance, and waste. In this study, Kay examines the recent problems of the space program and finds that NASA's failures, like its earlier successes, are ultimately traceable to the way the American political system operates. Asking can democracies fly in space?, the author suggests that the traditional workings of democratic politics actually exacerbates those very features of space projectssize, expense, and complexitythat make their development so difficult in the first place.W. D. KAY is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Northeastern University in Massachusetts. In 1993, he served as scholar in residence at the NASA history office.

Introduction: Where Did We Go Wrong?
A Program Adrift
In Search of the Magic Bullet: Critiques of U.S. Space Policy
The Space Program from the Ground Up
NASA: The Eye of the Storm
&and a Cast of Thousands
Shoe Pinching vs. Too Many Cooks
Prospects for Reform
A World Without Borders
From Henry Ford to Captain Kirk
Conclusion: Can Democracies Fly in Space?