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Space Flight: History, Technology, and Operations
Space exploration has fascinated us since the launch of the first primitive rockets more than 3,000 years ago, and it continues to fascinate us today. The data gathered from such exploration has been hugely instrumental in furthering our understanding of our universe and our world. In Space History, Technology, and Operations , author Lance K. Erickson offers a comprehensive look at the history of space exploration, the technology that makes it possible, and the continued efforts that promise to carry us into the future.
Space Flight goes through the history of space exploration, from the earliest sub-orbital and orbital missions to today's deep-space probes, to provide a close look at past and present projects, then turns its attention to programs being planned today and to the significance of future exploration. Focusing on research data gleaned from these exploration programs, the book's historical perspective highlights the progression of our scientific understanding of both the smallest and largest entities in our universe, from subatomic particles, to distant stars, planets, and galaxies. Both the novice and the advanced student of space exploration stand to profit from the author's engaging and insightful discussion.
Space Flight goes through the history of space exploration, from the earliest sub-orbital and orbital missions to today's deep-space probes, to provide a close look at past and present projects, then turns its attention to programs being planned today and to the significance of future exploration. Focusing on research data gleaned from these exploration programs, the book's historical perspective highlights the progression of our scientific understanding of both the smallest and largest entities in our universe, from subatomic particles, to distant stars, planets, and galaxies. Both the novice and the advanced student of space exploration stand to profit from the author's engaging and insightful discussion.
668 pages, Hardcover
First published March 15, 2010
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April 18, 2017
This is one of those books which is the distillation of a lifetime of learning, analysis and assimilation. By reading just one book the reader can know the how, why, and history of space flight from A to Z for two countries. A background in science or engineering is recommended. The author injects some humor and personality into the text, but it is still quite a hard slog at times. Yet fifty years experience in one book which can be read in a year is a bargain that I am grateful for. The detail and intricacies of the diagrams is wonderfully illuminating.
I think before I read this book I never truly understood the extreme amount of preparation, trial and error, and incremental progress that goes into the space industry. Sure, one can be impressed at the caliber of the Soviet/Russian space program and its achievements, but they have gone through a lot of failures to attain them.
Since Erickson's perspective is mostly scientific and technical, the perfect companion for the humanistic perspective is Eugene Cernan's _The Last Man On the Moon_ . I am so glad I read it prior to starting this book. While Erickson reports on the size, technical specifications, ergonomic features of a piece of equipment, Cernan' s impressions would be that it looked a lawn chair on wheels or that an interior space was ridiculously cramped.
The only complaint I have about the book is the lack of a book-wide list or table of acronyms. I have seen government reports that have them. And books written prior to the Internet would routinely include them. However, now with the computers making such an item easier to include, people have become lazier and omit them altogether. Since not all of the acronyms are included in the index at the back of the book, I started keeping a list of them as I read, but by the time I was past the halfway point the list became unwieldy and needed alphabetization.
Other than that, this book is well worth the time. If you have a deep interest in the topic, it is a chance to stand on the shoulders of giants.
I think before I read this book I never truly understood the extreme amount of preparation, trial and error, and incremental progress that goes into the space industry. Sure, one can be impressed at the caliber of the Soviet/Russian space program and its achievements, but they have gone through a lot of failures to attain them.
Since Erickson's perspective is mostly scientific and technical, the perfect companion for the humanistic perspective is Eugene Cernan's _The Last Man On the Moon_ . I am so glad I read it prior to starting this book. While Erickson reports on the size, technical specifications, ergonomic features of a piece of equipment, Cernan' s impressions would be that it looked a lawn chair on wheels or that an interior space was ridiculously cramped.
The only complaint I have about the book is the lack of a book-wide list or table of acronyms. I have seen government reports that have them. And books written prior to the Internet would routinely include them. However, now with the computers making such an item easier to include, people have become lazier and omit them altogether. Since not all of the acronyms are included in the index at the back of the book, I started keeping a list of them as I read, but by the time I was past the halfway point the list became unwieldy and needed alphabetization.
Other than that, this book is well worth the time. If you have a deep interest in the topic, it is a chance to stand on the shoulders of giants.
Displaying 1 of 1 review