Ray Castillo
Headquarters, Washington, DC                     April 3, 1998
(Phone:  202/358-4555)

RELEASE:  98-53

NASA HISTORY WINS PRESTIGIOUS PRIZE

     The Organization of American Historians (OAH) has selected 
"To See the Unseen:  A History of Planetary Radar Astronomy," 
written by Andrew J. Butrica and published by NASA, as the winner 
of the 1998 Richard W. Leopold Prize.  The award will be presented 
tonight during the 1998 meeting of the OAH in Indianapolis, IN. 

     The book is part of the NASA History Series produced by the 
NASA Headquarters History Division, Office of Policy and Plans.  
In this book, Butrica has provided a comprehensive history of 
planetary radar astronomy, a little-known but important field of 
space science, which has significantly expanded scientific 
knowledge of the solar system through the use of radar over the 
past 50 years.  The technology involves aiming a carefully 
controlled radar signal at a planet (or some other target -- such 
as a satellite, an asteroid, or a ring system), detecting its 
echo, and analyzing the information the echo carries.

     The OAH is the largest and most prestigious of all 
professional organizations dedicated to the study of American 
history.  It awards the Leopold Prize every two years for the best 
book written by an historian connected with federal, state, or 
municipal government in the areas of foreign policy, military 
affairs, the historical activities of the federal government, or 
biography in one of these areas.

     Copies of the book are available to members of the press from 
NASA.  Media representatives should contact Dr. Roger D. Launius, 
senior NASA Historian, at 202/358-0383.  The book is also 
available to the public from the Superintendent of Documents, 
Government Printing Office (stock number 033-000-01163-6).  For 
more information, call 202/512-1800.

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