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 (IGY).
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. The historical records of the Space
Science Board can be found in the Archives of the National Academy
of Sciences-National Research Council; e-mail archives@nas.edu for
further information.
Text copied by permission of the National Academy of Sciences.