STUDY OF THE HISTORY OF ROCKETRY AND ASTRONAUTICS IN THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF ASTRONAUTICS

摘要

A review is presented of the origin and evolution of studies of the history of rocketry and astronautics within the International Academy of Astronautics. The question of undertaking studies in these areas first arose in 1961 shortly after the founding of the Academy. During its first regular meeting on 3 October 1961, Chairman of the Founding Committee and first President Theodore von Karman was "authorised to establish within the Academy a Committee on the History of the Development of Rockets and Astronautics, whose task would be the stimulation of the preparation of scholarly studies of various aspects of these developments in different countries from earliest times." The paper examines some of the considerations that faced members of the new committee: (1) how best to stimulate historical research in the fields of rocketry and astronautics; (2) how such research should be coordinated; (3) what would be the most effective way to exchange information on the state of research in different countries; and (4) would the regular exchange of books and articles prove feasible? The first session of the Committee took place in Paris in October 1963 and the second in Athens two years later. It was there that the decision was made to organize henceforth regular symposia on the history of rocketry and astronautics. From 1967 in Belgrade, such symposia have been held on a yearly basis. This paper reviews 30 years of progress during which hundreds of history presentations have been given covering subjects ranging from the development of rockets in antiquity to their use centuries later in the exploration of the Moon and planets. The paper concludes with a review of the annual History of Astronautics Symposia according to subject, period of focus, countries represented and trends in content during the past three decades.