Astronautics: Book 1 - Dawn of the Space Age - Softcover

In the two volume set Astronautics Ted Spitzmiller has written the definitive books on the history of space exploration. Yet his style is so comfortable that it reads more like a story than a history. Space enthusiasts will learn things they never knew before. I did. As a NASA Astronaut - Space Shuttle Pilot and Commander- I lived the Shuttle program, still I found my understanding of the program changing as I read Ted's chapters on the subject. Not only will you learn new things, but the author places them in a context that helps you understand the issues as if you were there. For people who recall gathering around the old black and white TV to witness a Mercury launch, this book will answer all your questions about how we got there, what was happening while we waited for the countdown to resume, and where we are going in the future. Literally, to Mars or beyond? For readers who missed those early days, this book will help you understand mankind's great engineering and scientific achievements in the exploration of Space. This is a book that will be read again and again. --Sid Gutierrez - Pilot of the Columbia, STS-40, Commander of the Endeavour, STS-59

Chronicling the history of space rocketry, this resource details the discoveries and engineering innovations that have occurredin both the United States and the former Soviet Unionfrom World War II to the early 1970s. From European war missiles to multibillion dollar spacecraft that orbit the earth today, this sourcebook covers the evolution of rocketry in great detail and discusses the impact rocket science has had on other areas of humanity. Filled with fascinating facts from history without technical jargon and specialized language, this reference will interest both space enthusiasts and general readers alike.