Speculating Space is a scholarly monograph in the field of science and technology studies (STS) that focuses on the Atlas ICBM from its beginnings as the MX-774 at Convair, all the way through to its modern incarnation as the ULA Atlas V. I’m interested in how 'science fictional thinking' might have guided and informed engineers and scientists to imagine complex and highly integrated technologies, as well as to talk about them to non-technical audiences.

What I mean by ’science fictional thinking’ is that what we consider science fiction or, more broadly, speculative fiction, is best characterized not by some specific set of tropes (e.g. spaceships, laser guns, nanotechnology, etc.) but rather by a particular stance toward the future. More than just a genre, science fiction is a way of thinking about what might be possible. It refers to a set of beliefs about the value of science, the role of technology in human life, and the promise of the future. I am interested in how this kind of thinking—this kind of stance toward the future—may help to account for the ambitious scope and scale of the Atlas.

Plenty of other writers with much more expertise in the field have already immortalized the technical aspects of the remarkable work done at Convair/GD. As someone approaching the Atlas from a humanities and social sciences angle, I’m interested in hearing and preserving the not-so-technical: informal histories, shop talk, social circles, the feeling on the ground. If you worked on the Atlas or Centaur systems between 1945–2000, either for Convair/GD directly or through a subcontractor, I would be thrilled to incorporate your stories and memories to this project. Please fill out the form at this link and I will be in touch shortly to discuss your answers.

P.S.: If you recognize this booklet and are in possession of an original copy, please contact me!