To Touch the Face of God: The Sacred, the Profane, and the American Space Program, 1957–1975

Title Page, Copyright, Dedication, Quotes

To Touch the Face of God New Series in NASA History To Touch the Face of GOD The Sacred, the Profane, and the American Space Program, 1957–1975 kendrick oliver The Johns Hopkins University Press Baltimore 1 195 9 95 57 7– –1 19 97 7 7 75 5 th t th he Am e e A Am m mer m me er r can c ca an n Spa S Sp pa a ace P a ac ce e P P Prog P Pr ro og g gram g gr ra am m T T T The T Th he e Sac S Sa ac c ed, e ed d,, the t th he e P o P Pr ro ofane f fa an ne m m m, d d e,, an n © 2013 The Johns Hopkins University Press All rights reserved. Published 2013 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 The Johns Hopkins University Press 2715 North Charles Street Baltimore, Maryland 21218-4363 www.press.jhu.edu Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Oliver, Kendrick, 1971– To touch the face of God : the sacred, the profane, and the American space program, 1957–1975 / Kendrick Oliver. p. cm. — (New series in NASA history) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-4214-0788-3 (hbk. : acid-free paper) — ISBN 1-4214-0788-4 (hbk. : acid-free paper) — ISBN 978-1-4214-0834-7 (electronic) — ISBN 1-4214-0834-1 (electronic) 1. Astronautics—United States—History—20th century. 2. Religion and science—United States—History—20th century. 3. Astronautics—Political aspects— United States—History—20th century. 4. Christianity and politics—United States—History—20th century. 5. United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration—History—20th century. 6. United States—Religion—20th century. 7. United States—Politics and government—1945–1989. I. Title. TL789.8.U5O39 2013 629.40973⬘09046—dc23 2012017651 A catalog record for this book is available from the British Library. Special discounts are available for bulk purchases of this book. For more information, please contact Special Sales at 410-516-6936 or specialsales@press.jhu.edu. The Johns Hopkins University Press uses environmentally friendly book materials, including recycled text paper that is composed of at least 30 percent post-consumer waste, whenever possible. For Esmé and Elias This page intentionally left blank The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. —Psalm 19:1 reporter: Do any of them have a particularly strong religious faith, or is it motivation of service to country? What are they hanging on to? schirra: I think I should like to dwell more on the faith in what we have called the machine age. We have the faith in the space age. —NASA Press Conference: Mercury Astronaut Team, April 1959 The sooner we turn our eyes to Him for help, the better it will be, for ourselves, as well as for the objectives we are pursuing. —Wernher von Braun, July 1965 This page intentionally left blank ...