A system-level view of space projects

Abstract

Until well after World War II, with no meaningful definition distinguishing the terminology, the fields of aerospace, aeronautics and astronautics were synonymous. Indeed even today, the terms are widely misunderstood and misused. However, the great Hungarian aeronautical engineer and physicist, Theodore von Kármán (original Hungarian name: Szöllöskislaki Kármán Tódor; 1881-1963) believed a clear distinction between aeronautics and astronautics could, and should be made. Therefore, in the early 1950s, and in consultation with the International Federation of Astronautics (IAF), founded 1951, and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), von Kármán undertook the task of defining the respective terms.