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Leaving Earth: Space Stations, Rival Superpowers, and the Quest for Interpanetary Travel
Charged with the ever-present potential for danger and occasionally punctuated by terrible moments of disaster, the history of space exploration has been keenly dramatic. The recent disaster of the Space Shuttle Columbia was a sad but certain reminder that space travel is an extraordinarily dangerous occupation. Oddly enough, it often takes a tragic accident to remind us that we still have a presence in space.
In the decades between triumph and tragedy we tend to ignore the fact that there have been scores of space pioneers who have risked their lives to explore our solar system. Indeed, the International Space Station is sometimes referred to as a oeAlpha, a a moniker that implies that it is our first real permanent presence in space. But this notion is frowned upon by the Russians a " and for good reason. Prior to the construction of the controversial International Space Station, a host of daring Russian cosmonauts, and a smaller number of intrepid American astronauts, were living in space for months, some of them for over a year.
In this definitive account of mana (TM)s quest to become citizens of the cosmos, noted space historian Robert Zimmerman reveals the great global gamesmanship between Russian and American political leaders that drove us to the stars. Beaten to the Moon by their Cold War enemies, the Russians were intent on being first to the planets. They believed that manned space stations held the greatest promise for reaching other worlds and worked feverishly to build a viable space station program a " one that would dwarf American efforts and allow the Russians to claim the vast territories of space as their own.
Although unthinkable at the time, the ponderously bureaucratic Soviet Union actually managed to overtake the United States in the space station race. Leveraging their propaganda machine and tyrannical politics to launch a series of daring, dangerous, and scientifically brilliant space exploits, their efforts not only put them far ahead of NASA, they also helped to reshape their own society, transforming it from dictatorship to democracy. At the same time, the American space program at NASA was also evolving, but not necessarily for the better. In fact, the two programs were slowly but inexorably trading places.
Drawing on his vast store of knowledge about space travel, as well as hundreds of interviews with cosmonauts, astronauts, and scientists, Zimmerman has superbly captured the excitement and suspense of our recent space-traveling past. For space and history enthusiasts alike, Leaving Earth describes a rich heritage of adventure, exploration, research, and discovery.
In the decades between triumph and tragedy we tend to ignore the fact that there have been scores of space pioneers who have risked their lives to explore our solar system. Indeed, the International Space Station is sometimes referred to as a oeAlpha, a a moniker that implies that it is our first real permanent presence in space. But this notion is frowned upon by the Russians a " and for good reason. Prior to the construction of the controversial International Space Station, a host of daring Russian cosmonauts, and a smaller number of intrepid American astronauts, were living in space for months, some of them for over a year.
In this definitive account of mana (TM)s quest to become citizens of the cosmos, noted space historian Robert Zimmerman reveals the great global gamesmanship between Russian and American political leaders that drove us to the stars. Beaten to the Moon by their Cold War enemies, the Russians were intent on being first to the planets. They believed that manned space stations held the greatest promise for reaching other worlds and worked feverishly to build a viable space station program a " one that would dwarf American efforts and allow the Russians to claim the vast territories of space as their own.
Although unthinkable at the time, the ponderously bureaucratic Soviet Union actually managed to overtake the United States in the space station race. Leveraging their propaganda machine and tyrannical politics to launch a series of daring, dangerous, and scientifically brilliant space exploits, their efforts not only put them far ahead of NASA, they also helped to reshape their own society, transforming it from dictatorship to democracy. At the same time, the American space program at NASA was also evolving, but not necessarily for the better. In fact, the two programs were slowly but inexorably trading places.
Drawing on his vast store of knowledge about space travel, as well as hundreds of interviews with cosmonauts, astronauts, and scientists, Zimmerman has superbly captured the excitement and suspense of our recent space-traveling past. For space and history enthusiasts alike, Leaving Earth describes a rich heritage of adventure, exploration, research, and discovery.
544 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 5, 2018
Soviet space exploration history holds a fascination for me, particularly as the USSR was so secretive about it. This books helps fill some gaps for me with their Salyut and Mir stations plus the Skylab and Apollo/Soyuz descriptions. There's a lot in here that was new to me, and the dynamics of different crews is fascinating. The descriptions of what could have been, or should have been, are food for thought.
My criticisms are that the style makes the book a little less accessible than it could be; things like long sentences broken by a number of commas being a brake on understanding. On top of this there is a very strong undercurrent of flag waving that, at times as a non-American, had me cringing. Finally Mr Zimmerman places the orbital stations firmly in the realm of test craft for interplanetary travel, an assumption that may be overstepping the mark.
Given his conclusions about the Russian and American space programs - and the eye opener for me on NASA behavior past and present - the stars look further away than they have ever been.
My criticisms are that the style makes the book a little less accessible than it could be; things like long sentences broken by a number of commas being a brake on understanding. On top of this there is a very strong undercurrent of flag waving that, at times as a non-American, had me cringing. Finally Mr Zimmerman places the orbital stations firmly in the realm of test craft for interplanetary travel, an assumption that may be overstepping the mark.
Given his conclusions about the Russian and American space programs - and the eye opener for me on NASA behavior past and present - the stars look further away than they have ever been.
June 26, 2021
As a NASA geek from the early 60's, I appreciate this closeup of the Soviet/Russian space program 1970-2001 and its eventual link to the US program. It still breaks my heart that we are still 'here' and not 'out there'. Even 2001: A Space Odyssey is still a dream.
November 30, 2014
The best of the bunch. Interesting to read three different nutshell versions of Korolev's life story.
March 4, 2017
Since I grew up during the space program, I am a fan of its history. Zimmerman is good historian
January 13, 2017
Los buenos libros de astronáutica en castellano prácticamente se cuentan con los dedos de una mano (bueno
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews