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Breaking the Chains of Gravity: The Story of Spaceflight before NASA
Bloomsbury presents Breaking the Chains of Gravity written and read by Amy Shira Teitel.
The incredible story of spaceflight before the establishment of NASA.
NASA’s history is a familiar story, one that typically peaks with Neil Armstrong taking his small step on the Moon in 1969. But America’s space agency wasn’t created in a vacuum. It was assembled from pre-existing parts, drawing together some of the best minds the non-Soviet world had to offer.
In the 1930s, rockets were all the rage in Germany, the focus both of scientists hoping to fly into space and of the German armed forces, looking to circumvent the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles. One of the key figures in this period was Wernher von Braun, an engineer who designed the rockets that became the devastating V-2. As the war came to its chaotic conclusion, von Braun escaped from the ruins of Nazi Germany, and was taken to America where he began developing missiles for the US Army. Meanwhile, the US Air Force was looking ahead to a time when men would fly in space, and test pilots like Neil Armstrong were flying cutting-edge, rocket-powered aircraft in the thin upper atmosphere.
Breaking the Chains of Gravity tells the story of America’s nascent space program, its scientific advances, its personalities and the rivalries it caused between the various arms of the US military. At this point getting a man in space became a national imperative, leading to the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, otherwise known as NASA.
The incredible story of spaceflight before the establishment of NASA.
NASA’s history is a familiar story, one that typically peaks with Neil Armstrong taking his small step on the Moon in 1969. But America’s space agency wasn’t created in a vacuum. It was assembled from pre-existing parts, drawing together some of the best minds the non-Soviet world had to offer.
In the 1930s, rockets were all the rage in Germany, the focus both of scientists hoping to fly into space and of the German armed forces, looking to circumvent the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles. One of the key figures in this period was Wernher von Braun, an engineer who designed the rockets that became the devastating V-2. As the war came to its chaotic conclusion, von Braun escaped from the ruins of Nazi Germany, and was taken to America where he began developing missiles for the US Army. Meanwhile, the US Air Force was looking ahead to a time when men would fly in space, and test pilots like Neil Armstrong were flying cutting-edge, rocket-powered aircraft in the thin upper atmosphere.
Breaking the Chains of Gravity tells the story of America’s nascent space program, its scientific advances, its personalities and the rivalries it caused between the various arms of the US military. At this point getting a man in space became a national imperative, leading to the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, otherwise known as NASA.
Audible Audio
Published October 23, 2022
About the author
Amy Shira Teitel
5 books164 followersAmy Shira Teitel is an American-Canadian author, popular science writer, spaceflight historian, YouTuber, and podcaster, best known for writing the books Breaking the Chains of Gravity and Fighting for Space. She's also hosts the popular YouTube channel The Vintage Space (previously Vintage Space).
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 17, 2026
Listening to this story about going to the moon in the Author's voice makes this chapter is US space history super thrilling as Amy sounds super enthusiastic about this amazing time in history that led to the US landing on the moon. All the mishaps and lessons learned along the way are told in a super simple narrative that's easy to get pulled into a story I love at any angle and on any medium (documentaries, tv series, movies, books, films). This is for everyone to understand that rockets in space just didn't happen, there are a thousand failures to achieve a dream, and perseverence is part of the equation to achieving any insurmountable goal.
March 17, 2026
I really loved this book. It’s super interesting and easy to get into, even if you’re not a total space nerd. The way it tells the story of early space pioneers before NASA existed is actually really exciting and never feels boring or too technical. I learned a lot without feeling like I was reading a textbook. Definitely recommend if you’re curious about space or just want a great, engaging read!
March 18, 2026
Breaking the Chains of Gravity delivers a richly detailed and engaging account of the pioneers who made spaceflight possible. Amy's storytelling balances technical detail with narrative ease, giving shape to the ambitions, missteps, and breakthroughs that came before the Space Race took form. A fascinating read for anyone curious about the origins of humanity’s journey into space.
March 17, 2026
A fascinating dive into the pioneers of spaceflight before NASA. Amy Shira Teitel brings history to life with vivid storytelling and meticulous research. Inspiring, informative, and impossible to put down truly deserving of 5 stars!
March 17, 2026
An exploration of the early days of rocket science and how it laid the foundation for the NASA we know today.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews