The Meaning and Value of Spaceflight

Public Perceptions
Softcover Nachdruck of the original 1. Auflage 2015
ISBN: 978-3-319-38106-0
Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Buch, Englisch, 225 Seiten, Paperback, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 3693 g

Reihe: Space and Society

This book presents the most serious and comprehensive study, by far, of American public perceptions about the meaning of space exploration, analyzing vast troves of questionnaire data collected by many researchers and polling firms over a span of six decades and anchored in influential social science theories. It doesn't simply report the percentages who held various opinions, but employs sophisticated statistical techniques to answer profound questions and achieve fresh discoveries.

Both the Bush and the Obama administrations have cut back severely on fundamental research in space science and engineering. Understanding better what space exploration means for citizens can contribute to charting a feasible but progressive course. Since the end of the Space Race between the US and the USSR, social scientists have almost completely ignored space exploration as a topic for serious analysis and this book seeks to revive that kind of contribution.

The author communicates the insights in a lucid style, not only intelligible but interesting to readers from a variety of backgrounds.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Bainbridge, William Sims

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Wissenssoziologie, Wissenschaftssoziologie, Techniksoziologie
• Naturwissenschaften Astronomie Raumfahrt
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Regierungspolitik Kultur-, Wissenschafts- & Technologiepolitik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Part I Factors.- The Space Race.- The General Social Survey.- Goals in Space.- Part II Correlations.- Events.- Sciences.- Technologies.- Part III Culture.- Literature.- Popular Media.- Simulation.- Conclusion.- The Final Frontier.

Über Autor(innen)

William Sims Bainbridge is an experienced researcher on the history and sociology of space development and a leader in developing new computational methods of questionnaire administration and analysis, as well as a writer who knows how to communicate clearly to readers interested in spaceflight or science and technology more broadly.