Astronautics Books

Book SynopsisDesigned between 1969 and 1972 and first flown into space in 1981, the NASA Shuttle will have flown almost 140 missions by the time it is retired in 2010. David Baker describes the origin of the reusable launch vehicle concept during the 1960s, its evolution into a viable flying machine in the early 1970s, and its subsequent design, engineering, construction and operation. The Shuttle's internal layout and systems are explained, including the operation of life support, electrical power production, cooling, propulsion, flight control, communications, landing and avionics systems. 'an astrogeek's insider dream' www.sciencebase.comTrade Review'an astrogeek's insider dream' www.sciencebase.com ‘detailed insight...wonderful...An inspiring read.’ Spaceflight ‘a must-have item’ BBC Sky At Night Magazine Table of ContentsDetailed 'how it works' Haynes Manual treatment. A fascinating insight into the design, construction and operation of the NASA Space Shuttle. Expert author who has worked on the Apollo and Shuttle space programmes. Fully illustrated with NASA photographs and drawings. Publication will be at the closure of the Space Shuttle story as the final flight is expected in late 2010.

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Book SynopsisJust read it.' Elon MuskThe dramatic inside story of SpaceX ? the world''s leading edge rocket company, whose charismatic and controversial founder now advises the White HouseSpaceX has enjoyed a miraculous decade. Less than 20 years after its founding, it boasts the largest constellation of commercial satellites in orbit, has pioneered reusable rockets, and in 2020 became the first private company to launch human beings into orbit. Half a century after the space race SpaceX is pushing forward into the cosmos, laying the foundation for our exploration of other worlds.But before it became one of the most powerful players in the aerospace industry, SpaceX was a fledgling startup, scrambling to develop a single workable rocket before the money ran dry. The engineering challenge was immense; numerous other private companies had failed similar attempts. And even if SpaceX succeeded, they would then have to compete for government contracts with titans such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing, who had tens of thousands of employees and tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue. SpaceX had fewer than 200 employees and the relative pittance of $100 million in the bank.In Liftoff, Eric Berger takes readers inside the wild early days that made SpaceX. Focusing on the company's first four launches of the Falcon 1 rocket, he charts the bumpy journey from scrappy underdog to aerospace pioneer. drawing upon exclusive interviews with dozens of former and current engineers, designers, mechanics, and executives, including Elon Musk. The enigmatic Musk, who founded the company with the dream of one day settling Mars, is the fuel that propels the book with a daring vision for the future of space this same bravado has now landed him a role in the second Trump administration.Trade Review‘Berger vividly weaves a tale of technology development at its most heroic …The result is a rousing—and hopeful—saga of hard-won innovation succeeding on an epic scale.’PUBLISHERS WEEKLY STARRED REVIEW ‘Berger writes with the kind of hard-won insider authority that only comes through covering the nuts and bolts of the commercial space industry for the past twenty years’ FORBES ‘Eric Berger does a fine job of telling the white-knuckle story of how SpaceX was created in 2002 and came close to collapse several times. Although Liftoff recounts the experiences of many of SpaceX’s brilliant engineers, the near-maniacal Musk is almost at the heart of the story.’ FINANCIAL TIMES ‘Eric Berger's book uses unparalleled access to Musk and all of SpaceX's early staff to place the reader right among them. It is written with verve and polish to keep you turning the pages.’ SPECTATOR ‘The compelling story of how Elon Musk’s relentless quest to get humans to Marks helped SpaceX succeed against the odds makes great reading’ NEW SCIENTIST “This is a book that will hold your rapt attention from start to finish.” — CHARLES BOLDEN, Former NASA Administrator and Four-Time Astronaut ‘The elegant brilliance of the engineering that allows today’s space rockets to land themselves back on earth – or at sea – right way up, and on target to the inch, is all the doing of the teams assembled by Elon Musk – and the story of how he did it, and how for sure he will get us to Mars whether we like it or not, is told in appropriately stellar fashion by Eric Berger in a book that held me captive, in earth orbit, from prologue to epilogue, countdown to splashdown.’—SIMON WINCHESTER

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Book SynopsisWhat happens to you when you can’t walk for a year? When you can’t have sex? Or smell flowers? What happens if you vomit in your helmet during a space walk? Is it possible to survive a bailout at 17,000 miles an hour? Space is a world devoid of the things we need to live and thrive: air, gravity, hot showers, fresh veg, privacy, beer. To answer these questions, space agencies set up all manner of quizzical and startlingly bizarre space simulations, and as Mary Roach discovers, it’s possible to preview space without ever leaving Earth. Packing for Mars takes us on a surreally entertaining voyage into the science of life in space and space on Earth.Trade Review"Such grippingly scatological titbits grace almost every page ... Even readers with a long-term interest in manned exploration should find some new information within ... if you like your space science served with emotion, anecdotes, and excreta, this is for you." ***** * BBC Sky at Night *“Behind the witty mouth is a smart mind that finds out how rocket scientists organise their hardware around irritating organic human needs.” * Saga Magazine *“Roach boldly goes where no author has gone before to bring us puke, zero-gravity, faecal popcorn and flash-frozen rats... Packing for Mars is delightful, one of those rare beasts; a successful humorous science book. It is also one that throws fascinating light on some of the more obscure corners of space travel. Never mind packing it for Mars; pack it for your next long-haul flight and see if you can manage to freak your air-sick neighbour with one of the many amusing chapters on vomiting.” * Fortean Times *“The author of Stiff unravels the scientific hoo-haa and ultimate hubris of the whole enterprise. We all prefer our feet of clay, it seems.” * Belfast Telegraph *Praise for Mary Roach “Terrifically witty…On almost every page she tells you something to make you gasp aloud or snort with laughter.” * Telegraph *Praise for Mary Roach “When Mary Roach is seized by a subject, there is no stopping her: she is full-on, hands-on, and her lab coat is unbuttoned.” * The Times *Praise for Mary Roach “Irresistible…cheerfully scatological,cheekily sceptical.” * Observer Review *Praise for Mary Roach “A bold, tenacious, and insatiable reporter, Roach…could make an earthworm evisceration riveting and a hemispherectomy seem downright jolly.” * Scotsman *“Well-tuned to humour and absurdity…A delightful, illuminating grab bag of space-fl ight curiosities.” * Kirkus Reviews *Praise for Mary Roach “Roach is an original who can enliven any subject with wit, keen reporting, and a sly intelligence.” * Publishers Weekly *Praise for Mary Roach “Roach marries enthusiasm and curiosity with unflagging humour.” * Independent on Sunday *Praise for Mary Roach “Even if there were thousands of science-humour writers,[Roach] would be the sidesplitting favourite.” * Booklist *Praise for Mary Roach “A wonderfully vivid writer…. A celebration of the wide, occasionally crazy spectrum of human pursuit.” * New York Times Book Review *Praise for Mary Roach “One of the funniest and most madcap of science writers" * Kirkus Reviews *Praise for Mary Roach “Roach certainly gets full marks for unflinching commitment to the job in hand.” * The Guardian *Praise for Mary Roach “Bonkers, but brilliant.” * Easy Living *Praise for Mary Roach “Funny, inquisitive, and uncowed by experts, [Roach is] the general reader’s ideal emissary to the arcana of serious science.” * Newsweek *Praise for Mary Roach “One of those rare writers who can tackle the most obscure unpleasantness and distil the data into a hilarious and informative package. I would devour every page…I would laugh out loud…I would be able to dazzle and surprise friends with a newfound knowledge.” * San Francisco Chronicle *Praise for March Roach “She has a huge heart, a strong sense of empathy for the oddball, and she’s willing to go to great lengths to find and report stories from the hinterlands of understanding.” * Chicago Tribune *Praise for Mary Roach “Mary Roach is one of an endangered species: a science writer with a sense of humour.” * Denver Post *Praise for Mary Roach “A joy to read.…wonderful stuff.” * San Franciso Bay Guardian *Praise for Mary Roach “Roach is authoritative, endlessly curious and drolly funny. Her research is scrupulous and winningly presented.” * The Seattle Times *Praise for Mary Roach “A keen eye for observation of unique and ironic details.” * Express-News, San Antonio *“An often hilarious, sometimes queasy-making catalog of the strange stuff devised to permit people to survive in an environment for which their bodies are stupendously unsuited… Wonderfully slapstick.” * New York Times Book Review *"[A] truly funny look at the majestic aspects of the space program... Supremely accessible." * Entertainment Weekly *"Smart, smirky stuff." * San Francisco Chronicle *“[Roach’s] fluffily lightweight style is at its most substantial – and most hilarious – in the zero-gravity realm that Packing for Mars explores… As startling as it is funny.” * The New York Times *"An accomplished journalist with boundless curiosity, Roach complements her historical research with an equally eccentric investigation of space travel… As funny as Roach can be, she brings serious insight to her subject." * New Scientist *"Like a sassier - ie. ruder - version of Bill Bryson…” * Daily Mail *"She has a knack for translating the dry and arcane stuff of science in a way that is eminently readable, informative, and eye-openingly hilarious." ***** * Time Out *"Roach's book details the gritty biological reality of astronaut life." * Reader's Digest *"It achieves the double whammy of being both entertaining and educational, and though it starts off good, it gets even better as it goes along." * Bookbag - www.bookbag.com *"If you don't already know Mary Roach, famously the author of Bonk and Stiff, don't miss this third outing into space where no one can hear you scream with laughter... As a science writer Roach is seriously funny. She asks the right questions and provides answers like the best deadpan stand-up comic." * The Times *"In this often extremely funny book she reveals just what it’s like to be crammed in a space ship with your fellow man or woman - and their various bodily functions." * Lovereading.co.uk *"As Roach has shown in earlier books she is completely embarrassment-proof. There is no biological situation she will not visualise, no anatomical question she will not ask. So Packing for Mars is as startling as it is funny, even if its strategic aim is to tell you more than you need to know." * Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisBack on the earth after three spaceflights, Chris Hadfield's captivating memoir An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth reveals extraordinary stories from his life as an astronaut, and shows how to make the impossible a reality. This edition contains a new afterword.Colonel Chris Hadfield has spent decades training as an astronaut and has logged nearly 4,000 hours in space. During this time he has broken into a Space Station with a Swiss army knife, disposed of a live snake while piloting a plane, been temporarily blinded while clinging to the exterior of an orbiting spacecraft, and become a YouTube sensation with his performance of David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' in space. The secret to Chris Hadfield's success – and survival – is an unconventional philosophy he learned at NASA: prepare for the worst – and enjoy every moment of it.In his book, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, Chris Hadfield takes readers deep into his years of training and space exploration to show how to make the impossible possible. Through eye-opening, entertaining stories filled with the adrenaline of launch, the mesmerizing wonder of spacewalks and the measured, calm responses mandated by crises, he explains how conventional wisdom can get in the way of achievement – and happiness. His own extraordinary education in space has taught him some counter-intuitive lessons: don't visualize success, do care what others think, and always sweat the small stuff.You might never be able to build a robot, pilot a spacecraft, make a music video or perform basic surgery in zero gravity like Colonel Hadfield. But his vivid and refreshing insights in this book will teach you how to think like an astronaut, and will change, completely, the way you view life on Earth – especially your own.Trade ReviewHouston, we have a superstar * Washington Post *Hadfield has done more than probably any astronaut since the Apollo missions to transform the image of space exploration . . . Space has rarely seemed to close, or the world so astonishing * Daily Telegraph *Table of ContentsIntroduction - i: Introduction: Mission Impossible Unit - Part 1: PRE-LAUNCH Chapter - 1: The Trip Takes a Lifetime Chapter - 2: Have an Attitude Chapter - 3: The Power of Negative Thinking Chapter - 4: Sweat the Small Stuff Chapter - 5: The Last People in the World Chapter - 6: What’s the Next Thing That Could Kill Me Unit - Part 2: LIFTOFF Chapter - 7: Tranquility Base, Kazakhstan Chapter - 8: How to Get Blasted (and Feel Good the Next Day) Chapter - 9: Aim to Be a Zero Chapter - 10: Life off Earth Chapter - 11: Square Astronaut, Round Hole Unit - Part 3: COMING DOWN TO EARTH Chapter - 12: Soft Landings Chapter - 13: Climbing Down the Ladder Acknowledgements - ii: Acknowledgments Index - iii: Index Section - iv: Illustrations

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Book SynopsisSpace debris and asteroid impacts pose a very real, very near-term threat to Earth. In order to help study and mitigate these risks, the Stardust program was formed in 2013. This training and research network was devoted to developing and mastering techniques such as removal, deflection, exploitation, and tracking. This book is a collection of many of the topics addressed at the Final Stardust Conference, describing the latest in asteroid monitoring and how engineering efforts can help us reduce space debris. It is a selection of studies bringing together specialists from universities, research institutions, and industry, tasked with the mission of pushing the boundaries of space research with innovative ideas and visionary concepts.Topics covered by the Symposium: Orbital and Attitude Dynamics Modeling Long Term Orbit and Attitude Evolution Particle Cloud Modeling and Simulation Collision and Impact Modelling and Simulation, Re-entry Modeling and Simulation Asteroid Origins and Characterization Orbit and Attitude Determination Impact Prediction and Risk Analysis, Mission Analysis-Proximity Operations, Active Removal/Deflection Control Under Uncertainty, Active Removal/Deflection Technologies, and Asteroid Manipulation Table of ContentsPreface.- Section 1: Mission to Asteroids.- Chapter 1: Optimization of Asteroid Capture Missions using Earth Resonant Encounters.- Chapter 2: Evaluating Proximity Operations through High-fidelity Asteroid Deflection Evaluation Software (HADES).- Chapter 3: Prediction of Orbital Parameters for Undiscovered Potentially Hazardous Asteroids Using Machine Learning.- Section 2: Orbit and Uncertainty Propagation.- Chapter 4: Exploring Sensitivity of Orbital Dynamics with Respect to Model Truncation. The Frozen Orbits Approach.- Chapter 5: A Parametric Study of the Orbital Lifetime of Super GTO and SSTO Orbits Based on Semi-Analytical Integration.- Chapter 6: On the Use of Positive Polynomials for the Estimation of Upper and Lower Expectations in Orbital Dynamics.- Section 3: Space Debris Monitoring, Mitigation, and Removal.- Chapter 7: Trajectory Generation Method for Robotic Free-Floating Capture of a Non- Cooperative, Tumbling Target.- Chapter 8: Taxonomy of LEO Space Debris Population for ADR Capture Methods Selection.- Chapter 9: Remote Sensing for Planar Electrostatic Characterization using the Multi-Sphere Method.- Chapter 10: Active Debris Removal and Space Debris Mitigation using Hybrid Propulsion Solutions.- Chapter 11: The Puzzling Case of the Deep-Space Debris WT1190F: A Test Bed for Advanced SSA Techniques.- Chapter 12: Development of a Debris Index.- Section 4: Re-Entry Analysis and Design for Demise.- Chapter 13: A Multidisciplinary Approach of Demisable Tanks’ Re-Entry.- Chapter 14: Design-for-Demise Analysis using the SAM Destructive Re-Entry Model.- Chapter 15: Low-Fidelity Modelling for Aerodynamic Characteristics of Re-Entry Objects.- Chapter 16: Re-Entry Predictions of Potentially Dangerous Uncontrolled Satellites: Challenges and Civil Protection Applications.- Chapter 17: Uncertainty Quantification for Destructive Re-Entry Risk Analysis – JAXA Perspective.

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Book SynopsisHow One Man Masterminded the Soviet Drive Beat America to the Moon. "Fascinating... packed with technical and historical detail for the space expert and enthusiast alike... Great stuff!"-New Scientist "In this exceptional book, James Harford pieces together a most compelling and well-written tale... Must reading.Trade Review"In this exceptional book, James Harford pieces together a most compelling and well-written tale . . . must reading."-Space News "A fascinating and perceptive history of the Russian space program.... Avid space enthusiasts will find this story a necessary addition to their knowledge of space exploration."-Christopher C. Kraft, Jr., former Director of Flight Operations, NASA "His erudite and meticulously researched charting of the life and times of Korolev provides unique insights. . . . This is a fascinating book . . . for the space expert and enthusiast alike. Great stuff."-New ScientistTable of ContentsPreface ix A Note about Russian Names xvi Abbreviations xvii Prologue The Anonymous Chief Designer 1 Chapter 1 Kibalchich to Korolev 8 2 Growing Up in Ukraine: Broken Family, Bolsheviks, Gliders 16 3 To Moscow: Tupolev, Tukhachevsky, First Rockets 29 4 The Gulag and Sharaga Years 49 5 The German V-2: Bedrock Technology 64 6 The World's First ICBM: Aimed at the USA 91 7 Sputnik: No Big Deal to Khrushchev-At First 121 8 Unmanned Firsts: Hitting the Moon and Venus 139 9 Gagarin First, Shepard an Anti-climactic Second 159 10 Voskhod: A "Circus Act" 180 11 Spy Sats and Com Sats 190 12 The Organization: Korolev Up and Down 201 13 The Technology: Simple but Reliable 219 14 The Party, the Paranoia 230 15 Racing Apollo: The Odds Were Enormous 246 16 The End of Anonymity: Burial in the Kremlin Wall 276 17 After Korolev: Demise of the Circumlunar and Lunar Landing Missions 286 18 Ironic Epilogue 313 Appendix A Chronology of the Moon Race, 1957-1974 324 Notes 340 Bibliography 372 Index 377

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Book SynopsisThe essential autobiography of the second man on the moonTrade Review‘Exciting and moving' * DAILY EXPRESS *'Thrilling. Forty years on, the raw facts of the adventure remain beguiling and the bravery of the astronauts compelling' * SUNDAY TIMES *'Buzz Aldrin might not have been the first man to walk on the Moon, but of all the astronauts to have been there, none of them has articulated their predicament with quite such wisdom and sensitivity' * MAIL ON SUNDAY *

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Book SynopsisThis book describes the most complex machine ever sent to another planet: Curiosity. It is a one-ton robot with two brains, seventeen cameras, six wheels, nuclear power, and a laser beam on its head. No one human understands how all of its systems and instruments work. This essential reference to the Curiosity mission explains the engineering behind every system on the rover, from its rocket-powered jetpack to its radioisotope thermoelectric generator to its fiendishly complex sample handling system. Its lavishly illustrated text explains how all the instruments work -- its cameras, spectrometers, sample-cooking oven, and weather station -- and describes the instruments' abilities and limitations. It tells you how the systems have functioned on Mars, and how scientists and engineers have worked around problems developed on a faraway planet: holey wheels and broken focus lasers. And it explains the grueling mission operations schedule that keeps the rover working day in and day out. Trade Review“It is a fascinating read … . Emily does a great job making the book easy to understand … . I think this is a great book and any engineer who develops (or wants to develop) systems should read it. … I think this is the only book that I am aware of that presents all the required engineering elements to design and build a complex robot system. ... For experienced engineers it is also useful to read.” (David Kohanbash, robotsforroboticists.com, February 2, 2022)“This book presents an in-depth explanation of how ‘the most complex machine ever sent to another planet’ works. … There are in-depth discussions on wheel design and degradation as well as complete listings of the drill and scoop sampling campaign. Beautifully written and illustrated, Ladawalla’s essay is truly encyclopaedic.” (Richard McKim, The Observatory, Vol. 138 (1267), December, 2018)“The Design and Engineering of Curiosity is a comprehensive look at how the Mars Curiosity mission became a reality. Lakdawalla, an independent scholar, begins with an overview of the various iterations of the mission, starting with the goal of developing a bigger lander, and shows how the designers converged on the final mission and spacecraft design. … The book has a broad audience, ranging from general readers to the technical community.” (D. B. Spencer, Choice, Vol. 56 (03), 2018)​Table of ContentsDedication.- Foreword.- Acknowledgements.- Preface.- Chapter 1: Mars Science Laboratory.- Chapter 2: Getting to Mars.- Chapter 3: Mars Operations.- Chapter 4: How the Rover Works.- Chapter 5: SA/SPaH: Acquisition, Processing, and Handling.- Chapter 6: The Mast, Engineering Cameras, Navigation, and Hazard Avoidance.- Chapter 7: Curiosity's Science Cameras.- Chapter 8: Curiosity's Environmental Sensing Instruments.- Chapter 9: Curiosity's Chemistry Instruments.- Epilogue: Back on Earth.- Appendix.- About the Author.- Index.

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Book SynopsisDespite aircraft coming in many shapes and sizes, they all utilize the same basic aerodynamic principles that have not changed much since the early days of flight. Whether you are a new pilot that is exploring aerodynamics in greater detail, or a commercial pilot who has been flying for countless years, it is essential to understand the aerodynamics of flight.From the author of the hugely popular Principles of Flight for the Private Pilot, this book takes the reader deeper into the world of aerodynamics. This book follows closely the syllabi of Aerodynamics for the Commercial Pilot from a range of aviation authorities around the world, with a particular focus on practical aviation, thereby linking science with the real world.

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Book SynopsisHow the twenty-one-layer Apollo spacesuit, made by Playtex, was a triumph of intimacy over engineering. When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the lunar surface in July of 1969, they wore spacesuits made by Playtex: twenty-one layers of fabric, each with a distinct yet interrelated function, custom-sewn for them by seamstresses whose usual work was fashioning bras and girdles. This book is the story of that spacesuit. It is a story of the triumph over the military-industrial complex by the International Latex Corporation, best known by its consumer brand of Playtex—a victory of elegant softness over engineered hardness, of adaptation over cybernetics. Playtex's spacesuit went up against hard armor-like spacesuits designed by military contractors and favored by NASA's engineers. It was only when those attempts failed—when traditional engineering firms could not integrate the body into mission requirements—that Playtex, with its intimate exper

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"[A] tour de force of a text. . . . An ambitious and important work. . . . [It] brings the material up to the minute, tackles more topics with more depth, buttresses its analysis with MATLAB examples, and still does a superb job of stimulating and informing the reader. . . . Its push toward computational synthesis does open a new door for this type of text."---John Hodgkinson, AIAA Journal"This book provides a significant addition to the existing literature on flight mechanics. It deserves to be part of the library of scholars and practicing flight mechanics engineers alike."---Eric Feron, IEEE Control Systems

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Book SynopsisBig Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised has been developed in collaboration with Wandle Learning Trust and Little Sutton Primary School. It comprises classroom resources to support the SSP programme and a range of phonic readers that together provide a consistent and highly effective approach to teaching phonics.

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Book SynopsisHistory, evolution and packaging.- Machine organization.- Interpretive instructions.- The executive program.- Important background routines.- Display and keyboard (DSKY).- I/O devices and interfaces.- Application programs.- Erasable memory programs.- Interaction with the ground.- Selected case studies.- Epilogue.Trade ReviewFrom the reviews:“This exceedingly valuable work will give present day Computer Science students the background to understand how the dramatic breakthroughs in Logical Design, Computer Architecture, Computer Language Interpreters and Real-Time Executive Software was invented, and how it worked in practice. … This excellent reference will form a model for teaching and learning historical Computer Architectures and Software so that future Computer Scientists can understand and learn the original ideas that today guide their field.” (Ira Laefsky, Amazon, September, 2010)Table of Contents-History, evolution and packaging. -Machine organization. -Interpretive instructions. -The executive program. -Important background routines.-Display and keyboard (DSKY). -I/O devices and interfaces. -Application programs. -Eraseable memory programs. -Interaction with the ground. -Selected case studies. -Epilogue.

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Book SynopsisSpace is far bigger than humanity can conceive. Although our ancestors visually examined the skies to make sense of the Universe for centuries, space exploration in its truest sense is just a moment in this historical timeline, yet it is how we've significantly improved our understanding of the cosmos. This book begins with the evolution of astronomy, including notable characters, scientific breakthroughs and pinnacle moments. It delves into the development of robotic spacecraft and what uncrewed and crewed missions have uncovered. It questions how this knowledge will aid us in our future space adventures, and highlights the myriad questions that remain unanswered. From stargazing to stepping on the Moon, and from space stations to the prospect of commercial spaceflight, learn more in Dhara Patel's concise history of space exploration.

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Book SynopsisForeword by Dr. Roger D. Launius, Former NASA Chief Historian For the past 75 years, the U.S. government has invested significant time and money into advanced aerospace research, as evidenced by its many experimental X-plane aircraft and rockets. NASA's X-Planes asks a simple question: What have we gained from it all? To answer this question, the authors provide a comprehensive overview of the X-plane’s long history, from the 1946 X-1 to the modern X-60. The chapters describe not just the technological evolution of these models, but also the wider story of politics, federal budgets, and inter-agency rivalries surrounding them. The book is organized into two sections, with the first covering the operational X-planes that symbolized the Cold War struggle between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R, and the second section surveying post-Cold War aircraft and spacecraft. Featuring dozens of original illustrations of X-plane cross-sections, in-flight profiles, close-ups, and more, this book will educate general readers and specialists alike.Table of ContentsChapter 1. High-speed and high-altitude flight: The first X-planes.- Chapter 2. Specific improvements: Technology demonstrators.- Chapter 3. Prelude to the High Frontier: Early space vehicles.- Chapter 4. Flight testing for combat: Military vehicles.- Chapter 5. Aerodynamics and engines: NASA’s research agenda.- Chapter 6. Beyond the horizon: Access to space.- Index.

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Book SynopsisThe objective of this textbook is to provide the mathematical models and algorithms needed to develop a thorough understanding of all control system functions of a rigid body spacecraft. Relatively simple, but practically applicable algorithms are presented rather than recent advances. We try to avoid detailed and specialized issues that are of less importance for the fundamental understanding, such as detailed environment models, etc. Furthermore, control problems that can be cast in standard formulations and solved with existing methods are not treated here. Instead, we intend to provide an understanding of the principles, put them in an engineering context, and try to give all explanations as concise as possible. Besides conventional three-axis attitude control systems, the following topics are treated in this book:• Control of agile rotation maneuvers using control moment gyros • Precise pointing control with error classes for pointing instruments • Control systems with accelerometers and free-flying test masses, which provide low-disturbance or disturbance-free environments We believe that these topics are of considerable relevance for the design of future spacecraft control systems, especially in the field of science and Earth observation missions.Table of ContentsSystem Engineering Basics.- Satellite Motion Models.- Rotational State Determination.- Actuator Commanding.- Attitude and Momentum Control.- Accelerometers and Drag-Free Control.- Closing Remarks.

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Book SynopsisThis third book of the Gemini mission series focuses on the flight that simulated in Earth orbit the duration of an eight-day Apollo mission to the Moon. After the proof-of-concept test flights Gemini 1, 2 and 3 (as described in GEMINI FLIES!) and the success of the first American EVA as well as the four-day U.S. mission (GEMINI 4), NASA gained the confidence to gradually increase mission time spent in orbit. This is the first known book to focus solely on the Gemini 5 mission and its challenges with equipment failures and difficult living conditions. The mission was targeted to double the endurance of the previous one, and as such was an integral stepping stone for an even more audacious mission four months later. Attempting the eight- and then fourteen-day durations would be an opportunity for America to gain the lead in space exploration over the Soviets. This mission pioneered the duration of a flight to the Moon and back three years before Apollo 8 made that journey, without a lunar landing, for the first time.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Pushing the envelope.- Chapter 2. Gordo and Pete.- Chapter 3. Apollo, MOL and the Soviets.- Chapter 4. Preparations.- Chapter 5. “We’re on our way”.- Chapter 6. Gemini 5’s Two Little Rascals.- Chapter 7. “When are we gonna get the fuel cell back?”.- Chapter 8. Chasing a phantom.- Chapter 9. “Right in that same nice big black void”.- Chapter 10. “Still clanking along in the old, covered wagon”.- Chapter 11. Another Bright Day.- Chapter 12. One hundred down, twenty-two to go.- Chapter 13. A 300-coffee-cup-per-shift mission.- Chapter 14. “Everything is just peachy keen”.- Chapter 15. Somersaults on the flight deck.- Chapter 16. Post-flight, presidents, and parades.- Chapter 17. Afterwards.

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Book SynopsisIn September 1969, several months after the Apollo 11 lunar landing, President Richard M. Nixon established the Space Task Force to chart NASA’s path for the decades to come. This imaginative vision was shattered less than six months later when, on January 13, 1970, NASA Administrator Dr. Thomas Paine announced that, owing to funding cuts, only the reusable Space Shuttle could be afforded -- there would be no space station, no return to the Moon, and no missions to Mars. This is a story never before told about the missions and technologies that NASA had begun to plan but never fully realized. The book is a companion to the author’s previous two works on the Space Shuttle. Whereas the first two books showed how the Space Shuttle flew in space and what the program accomplished, this book explains what more the Space Shuttle could have achieved and how the space transportation system could have further matured if circumstances had been otherwise. A final chapter also discusses how some of these plans might be resurrected in future programs. Table of ContentsChapter 1: Space Shuttle 101.- Chapter 2: Making the most of the External Tank.- Chapter 3: Boosting the boosters.- Chapter 4: Improving performance.- Chapter 5: Outposts for the development of space.- Chapter 6: Orbital hopping.- Chapter 7: Unflown satellite servicing capabilities.- Chapter 8: In-space assembly: a potential not fully exploited.- Chapter 9: Factories in space.- Chapter 10: The unfulfilled potential of the External Tank.- Chapter 11: Space Shuttle freighter.- Chapter 12: The quest for a worthy successor.- Chapter 13: An impossible schedule.- Chapter 14: Space Shuttle and Skylab: a missed opportunity.- Chapter 15: Unflown science.- Chapter 16: Space Shuttle in Uniform: A lost collaboration.- Chapter 17: Too high a dream?.

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Book SynopsisHuman space journeys are awe-inspiring but risky and immensely expensive. Donald Goldsmith and Martin Rees argue that science calls for leaving space exploration to AI-guided robots, since robots range more widely and see more than any human can. Humanity’s future in space must await decisions based on results from our ever-better machines.Trade ReviewThe End of Astronauts offers exquisitely formulated arguments in support of robotic exploration in space. Along the way, Goldsmith and Rees occasionally tell us what we don’t want to know, but in the end we find ourselves compelled to agree with them. -- Neil deGrasse Tyson, author of Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate FrontierA must-read for anyone wishing to debate about the human future in space. With clarity, wit, and breathtaking knowledge, Goldsmith and Rees tell of the dangers never hinted at in idyllic images of human settlement. There is a more direct route to the stars and this fascinating book plots that course with powerful, reasoned argument. -- Ann Druyan, Emmy Award–winning writer, director, and producer of CosmosA delightfully lucid and succinct manifesto for reforming science policy…Evidently passionate in their conviction that robots should be the ones to boldly go where no man (or woman) has gone before, they present their case soberly and systematically, carefully evaluating counterarguments. -- Patricia Fara * Literary Review *Informs us about the full cost of human space exploration and how AI and robotic missions deserve their place in this story. It’s a terrific read and an invaluable reference in the debate of human versus robotic spaceflight. * BBC Sky at Night *Explain[s] why we should give up on manned space exploration…For anyone seriously interested in space exploration, this slaughter of impractical ideas in The End of Astronauts will be welcome. -- Simon Ings * The Times *Argue[s] that, given the vast distances and the dangers involved in space travel, it is robots, not humans, that will lead us to the stars. * New Scientist *Make[s] a convincing case that blasting humans into space has become a wasteful indulgence. Far more can be accomplished by robotic missions of scientific discovery. -- John Thornhill * Financial Times *Thought-provoking…Goldsmith and Rees make a compelling case for robotics over astronauts. -- Bruce Dorminey * Forbes *In this refreshingly no-nonsense brief, [Goldsmith and Rees] take a sharp-focused look at the hyperbolic aspirations of space enthusiasts who promote colonies on the Moon and Mars as the next great step for mankind…In the half century since the last footprint on the Moon, humans haven’t boldly gone any further, while robot explorers have been very busy. -- Laurence A. Marschall * Natural History *A provocative primer on the future of space travel. * Publishers Weekly *A readable and useful contribution to this longstanding debate. -- James B. Meigs * Wall Street Journal *Martin Rees has always thought outside the box, and now he and Donald Goldsmith are thinking outside the boundaries of Earth. Just the way a telescope can let us see across a vast distance without leaving where we are, they show how modern machines and machine learning will take us across the solar system without having to phone home. -- Alan Alda, actor, author, and advocate for science communication[A] thought-provoking vision of the coming decades in space exploration. -- Andrew Robinson * Physics World *One big advantage of crewed space missions is the human intelligence embodied by the astronauts—but does this benefit outweigh the costs? How far are robots from catching up to human capabilities in space? These are the sorts of questions that astrophysicists Donald Goldsmith and Martin Rees ask in The End of Astronauts, examining the pros and cons of proposals for human exploration in the Solar System. * Nature Astronomy *What is so interesting about this book is how it constructs or deconstructs, depending on your view, the evidence for continuing the process of sending astronauts into space…It is exceptionally well written and cleverly split into well thought out chapters. It most importantly provides evidence without siding one way or the other. * Physics Education *Is there a balance to be struck between our species’ obsession with space and the constraints, dangers, and cost of human exploration? This utterly fascinating yet soberly realistic examination lays out our options for how to explore the solar system in the coming decades. -- Jim Al-Khalili, author of The World According to PhysicsA thoughtful, clear, and informed opinion on how space science and space exploration should be conducted in the future. Goldsmith and Rees treat the question of whether there will still be a role for humans in crewed spacecraft thoroughly and methodically, and the result is a fascinating read. -- Mario Livio, author of Galileo and the Science DeniersA boom in space tourism may loft more people into the heavens than ever before. But robotic probes powered by artificial intelligence are already more capable—and improving fast. Donald Goldsmith’s excellent writing draws on deep insights from renowned astrophysicist and futurist Martin Rees, making this the most thoughtful, provocative book yet about humanity’s future in space. -- Nathan Myhrvold, Founder and CEO, Intellectual Ventures, and former Chief Technology Officer, MicrosoftMeticulous and vivid. Goldsmith and Rees paint a striking picture of the future of space exploration, one that might surprise you! -- Jaan Tallinn, cofounder of the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk and the Future of Life InstituteA provoking argument for space exploration sans astronauts…A tour de force of well-written, compelling rationales. The authors believe that beyond low-Earth orbit, space exploration should proceed without humans. -- Leonard David * Inside Outer Space *Imagines a future where frugal humans can have their cosmic cake and eat it too—as long as they don't mind robot bakers…The book's main argument is convincing. Robots offer more bang for the buck, not just because they cost less but also because they can do a lot. If, eventually, robots are able to do nearly everything astronauts currently can, sending people into space may well become pure vanity. -- Mike Riggs * Reason *

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Book SynopsisThe most comprehensive guide to aircraft powerplantsâfully updated for the latest advances and regulationsThis up-to-date guide contains all the information you need to master the operation and maintenance of aircraft engines and achieve FAA Powerplant certification. The book offers plain-language explanations of all current engine components, mechanics, and technologies. This tenth edition features expanded coverage of turbine engine theory, operational procedures, maintainability, engine systems operation, and propeller systems. You will get new examples, exercises, and practice exam questions as well as revised content to align with 2022 FAA regulations. Hundreds of detailed diagrams and real-world examples throughout illustrate each topic. In addition, an up-to-date solutions manual is available online.Aircraft Powerplants: Powerplant Certification, Tenth Edition covers: Aircraft powerplant classification and progress Reciprocating-

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Book SynopsisFirst flown in 1969, Concorde was the first supersonic aircraft to go into commercial service in 1976 and made her final flight in 2003. She was operated primarily by British Airways and Air France. British Airways'' Concordes made just under 50,000 flights and flew more than 2.5 million passengers supersonically. A typical London to New York crossing would take a little less than three and a half hours compared to around eight hours for a subsonic flight. In November 1986 a Concorde flew around the world, covering 28,238 miles in 29 hours, 59 minutes.Today, Concordes can be viewed at museums across US, including in New York, Seattle, and Washington D.C. However, there have been recent reports suggest that a Concorde may start operating commercially again. Through a series of key documents the book tells the story of how the aircraft was designed and developed, as well as ground-breaking moments in her commercial history.

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Book Synopsis"Of all the men who attacked the flying problem in the 19th century, Otto Lilienthal was easily the most important. His greatness appeared in every phase of the problem. No one equaled him in power to draw new recruits to the cause; no one equaled him in fullness and dearness of understanding of the principles of flight; no one did so much to convince the world of the advantages of curved wing surfaces; and no one did so much to transfer the problem of human flight to the open air where it belonged." These words were spoken by Wilbur Wright, who successfully accomplished the first powered flight together with his brother Orville in 1903 on the sand dunes of the Outer Banks off the coast of North Carolina. Wilbur was talking about the most important of their predecessors, Otto Lilienthal. Lilienthal attracted worldwide attention due to the spectacular photographs showing him in flight, made possible by technology that had only just been developed by him. This fortuitous union between a pioneer of aviation and the pioneers of so-called “instantaneous photography” is responsible for the immense contemporary popularity of Lilienthal’s flights around the globe, the first ever free flights performed by man. This book traces the life of the German aviation pioneer, focusing on the designs of his many aircraft and the photographic documentation that has survived. The presentation ends with a remarkable research project conducted by one of the authors, right up to and including his own training exercises with Lilienthal’s “normal soaring apparatus” and “large biplane”. This project offered new insight into Lilienthal’s work, and also led to a spectacular aerial meeting of Lilienthal's 1895 biplane and the Wright brothers’ 1902 biplane at a historic location on the Outer Banks. The book provides access to video material, largely stemming from this project.Table of ContentsThe beginning of an era.- The skies over Pomerania.- From a poor student to good scholar.- Bed lodger – engineer – manufacturer.- Life goal: inventor.- From the dream of flight to aerodynamics.- From theory to flying apparatus.- 1891 – the leap into a new century.- Captured in mid-air.- Modelled after a bat – the path to serially produced aircraft.- Practical flying – training and records.- An engine – again inspired by birds.- The Fliegeberg – a real airfield.- Flying machine customers and flight students.- More difficult than anticipated: steering.- A rich idea: the biplane.- Unfinished ideas and August 9, 1896.- To fly is everything – Lilienthal 125 years later.

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Book SynopsisThirty years ago when Sir Richard Branson called up Boeing and asked if they had a spare 747, few would have predicted the brash entrepreneur would so radically transform the placid business of air travel. But today, Branson flies airlines on six continents, employs hundreds of jets and, in 2014, was predicting that his spaceship company – Virgin Galactic – would soon open the space frontier to commercial astronauts, payload specialists, scientists and space tourists. With more than 600 seats sold at $250,000 each, what started off as a dream to send people just for the excitement to look back and marvel at Earth, was on the cusp of finally being turned into a business. Then, on October 21, 2014, tragedy struck. SpaceShipTwo was on its most ambitious test flight to date. Seconds after firing its engine, Virgin Galactic’s spaceship was breaking through the sound barrier. In just the three seconds that it took for the vehicle to climb from Mach 0.94 to Mach 1.02, co-pilot Mike Alsbury made what many close to the event believe was a fatal mistake that led to his death and the disintegration of SpaceShipTwo. Miraculously, the pilot, Peter Siebold, survived the 16-km fall back to Earth. Soon after the event Branson vowed to continue his space tourism venture in spite of this. Already a second SpaceShipTwo is being built, and ticket-holders eagerly await the day when Virgin Galactic offers quick, routine and affordable access to the edge of space. This book explains the hurdles Virgin Galactic had and still has to overcome en route to developing suborbital space travel as a profitable economic entity, and describes the missions that will be flown on board SpaceShipTwo Mk II, including high-altitude science studies, astronomy, life sciences, and microgravity physics.Table of ContentsSuborbital Flight/: A Primer.- X-Prize.- SpaceShipOne.- Scaled Composites.- Spaceport in New Mexico.- Medical and Training Requirements.- Meet the Passengers.- Missions.- Beyond Suborbital Space.

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Book SynopsisWith the recent influx of spaceflight and satellite launches, the region of outer space has become saturated with vital technology used for communication and surveillance and the functioning of business and government. But what would happen if these capabilities were disrupted or even destroyed? How would we react if faced with a full-scale blackout of satellite communications? What can and has happened following the destruction of a satellite? In the short term, the aftermath would send thousands of fragments orbiting Earth as space debris. In the longer term, the ramifications of such an event on Earth and in space would be alarming, to say the least. This book takes a look at such crippling scenarios and how countries around the world might respond in their wake. It describes the aggressive actions that nations could take and the technologies that could be leveraged to gain power and control over assets, as well as to initiate war in the theater of outer space. The ways that a country's vital capabilities could be disarmed in such a setting are investigated. In addition, the book discusses our past and present political climate, including which countries currently have these abilities and who the aggressive players already are. Finally, it addresses promising research and space technology that could be used to protect us from those interested in destroying the world's vital systems. Table of ContentsDedication.- Preface.- Chapter 1: Life Without Satellites.- Chapter 2: Space as the Next Theater of War.- Chapter 3: The Environment of Space as a Theater of War.- Chapter 4: Space Debris as a Weapon.- Chapter 5: A Summary of the US Space Program and Its Relationship to the Military.- Chapter 6: Who Controls Space and How.- Chapter 7: The Cold War and Missile Defense.-Chapter 8: Post-SDI Missile Defense.- Chapter 9: Satellite Technology.- Chapter 10: Preventing a War in Space.- Appendix A: Space Treaty.- Appendix B: Additional Resources for Space Warfare Topics.- Appendix C: Space Defense Terms and Programs and Their Historical Context.- Appendix D: Timeline of Missile Defense.- Acknowledgements.- Index.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThis book highlights practical solutions for flight safety improvement techniques, which are currently the focus of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It has become clear that, in order to rapidly and significantly improve flight safety, the integrated use of new aeronautical technologies is called for. Considering the size of the aviation fleet, its constant growth and the long service lives of aircraft, new technologies should be adapted both to cutting-edge air navigation systems and to those that have been used for over a decade. Concretely, the book discusses methodological approaches to the construction of ground and on-board avionics that make it possible to achieve improved flight safety using innovative new methods. The proposed approaches are illustrated with real-world examples of e.g. satellite-based navigation systems and enhanced ground proximity warning systems. The book is written for professionals involved in the development of avionics systems, as well as students, researchers and experts in the field of radiolocation, radio navigation and air traffic control, the book will support the development and modeling of radio technical complexes, as well as the analysis of complex radio technical systems.Table of ContentsGENERAL DESCRIPTION OF FLIGHT SAFETY PROBLEMS Analysis of the state and prospects for the development of instrument landing systems and collision avoidance systems Features of global navigation satellite systems as an instrument basis for improving flight safety Augmentations – the main method to improve the performance characteristics of global navigation satellite systems Analysis of requirements for satellite-based landing systems and collision avoidance systems General methods and techniques to improve flight efficiency and safety when using satellite-based landing systems and collision avoidance systems Flight safety indicators Conclusions to Chapter 1 METHODOLOGY FOR CONSTRUCTING SATELLITE-BASED LANDING SYSTEMS AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS Theoretical background of a formalized methodological approach to the selection of basic elements for radio-electronic complexes to improve flight efficiency and safety Methods for building the structure of the ground and onboard radio-electronic complexes of satellite-based landing systems with augmentations of global navigation satellite systems Methods and rules for the development of a collision avoidance system with the use of global navigation satellite system technologies Directions and methods to enhance satellite-based landing systems and collision avoidance systems Conclusions to Chapter 2 METHODS FOR IMPROVING FLIGHT EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY FOR SATELLITE-BASED LANDING SYSTEMS Method for increasing the accuracy and integrity of the guidance signals based on the construction and use of volumetric distribution diagrams for radio waves multipath errors and the system structure for its implementation Method for ensuring integrity and continuity of guidance signals based on the use of an integrated signal-to-noise ratio for pseudoranges in presence of radiointerference Method for increasing accuracy and integrity of guidance signals based on pseudorange error compensation using phase measurements and the structure of the radioelectronic complex for its implementation Method for increasing accuracy, integrity, continuity and availability of guidance signals based on the use of pseudo-satellite signals and the system structure for its implementation Conclusions to Chapter 3 METHODS FOR IMPROVING FLIGHT EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY BASED ON TECHNOLOGIES APPLICABLE IN COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS Method for improving flight safety by generating a warning about a potential collision based on the three-dimensional synthesis of the underlying surface sections and the display of hazardous elements Method for increasing the flight effectiveness and safety by assessing the possibility of vertical maneuvering and determining the direction of the turn Method for increasing the flight effectiveness and safety by identifying hazardous terrain, taking into account the possibility of a reverse turn, and the system structure for its implementation Method for improving flight efficiency and safety by analyzing the space inside a corridor safe for flight Conclusions to Chapter 4 INTEGRATED TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS ON THE JOINT USE OF TECHNOLOGIES APPLICABLE IN COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS AND SATELLITE-BASED LANDING SYSTEMS Principles of constructing an integrated flight safety enhancement system based on the collision avoidance system and the satellite-based landing system Method for preventing aircraft landings on an unauthorized runway by calculating a virtual glide path Method for notifying of the aircraft or UAV position during the landing and roll-on operation Assessment of flight safety and efficiency improvements with the use of integrated systems Conclusions to Chapter 5 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PROPOSED TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS IN THE SATELLITE-BASED LANDING SYSTEMS AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS Principles of construction and design features of onboard equipment to improve flight efficiency and safety Construction of an onboard navigation and landing complex on the basis of the satellite-based landing system and the collision avoidance system Results of the satellite-based landing system flight tests Results of the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System flight tests and operation Conclusions to Chapter 6 CONCLUSIONs REFERENCES

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Book SynopsisThis book comprehensively covers the history and current developments of space programme of China. It presents the complete story of China’s space programme from its origins through to present day activities on the International Space Station. This monograph further discusses the role of China’s space strategy in its emergence as a major power on the world stage. The book also presents the context of China’s space program within the larger narrative of international space development. The book binds together the diverse political, military, economic and technology aspects into a coherent understanding and explains their role in the establishment and growth of Chinese space programme. Given the contents, this book will be a valuable source of information for students, researchers, and historians in the area of space studies.Trade Review“China’s Space Programme: From the Era of Mao Zedong to Xi Jinping by S Chandrashekhar provides a detailed account of the country’s rise to become a space power worth reckoning. … Each chapter carries a wealth of information in the form of tables and diagrams. … The richness of information on the Chinese Space programme makes the book a historical study, a tutorial, a study in management, and a reference guide.” (Arup Dasgupta, Geospatial Artha, Vol. 1 (5), January-February, 2023)Table of ContentsThe Origins of China’s Space Programme.- Economic Reform and the Deng Era.- New Challenges to the Space Programme.- The Growth Phase of China’s Space Programme.- Strategic Trends and Future Directions.- Chinese Recoverable Satellites.- China’s Communications Satellites.- China’s Weather Satellites.- Remote Sensing Satellites.- China’s Navigation Satellite Constellation.- The Human Space Flight Programme.- Breakthrough Research in Space Science and Applications.- China’s Military Satellites.

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Book SynopsisJonathan Ward takes the reader deep into the facilities at Kennedy Space Center to describe NASA’s first computer systems used for spacecraft and rocket checkout and explain how tests and launches proceeded. Descriptions of early operations include a harrowing account of the heroic efforts of pad workers during the Apollo 1 fire. A companion to the author’s book Countdown to a Moon Launch: Preparing Apollo for Its Historic Journey, this explores every facet of the facilities that served as the base for the Apollo/Saturn missions. Hundreds of illustrations complement the firsthand accounts of more than 70 Apollo program managers and engineers. The era of the Apollo/Saturn missions was perhaps the most exciting period in American space exploration history. Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center were buzzing with activity. Thousands of workers came to town to build the facilities and launch the missions needed to put an American on the Moon before the end of the decade. Work at KSC involved much more than just launching rockets. It was a place like none other on Earth. Technicians performed intricate operations, and hazards abounded everywhere, including lightning, fire, highly-toxic fuels, snakes, heat, explosives, LOX spills, and even plutonium. The reward for months of 7-day workweeks under intense pressure was witnessing a Saturn V at liftoff.For anyone who ever wished they had worked at Kennedy Space Center during the Apollo era, this book is the next best thing. The only thing missing is the smell of rocket fuel in the morning.Trade Review“Ward … makes the inner workings of the Apollo and Saturn space missions very understandable. … He does a fantastic job of showing the behind-the-scenes work that allowed the Apollo and Saturn space missions to take place. All readers interested in the history of space exploration will enjoy this work. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels.” (C. Charnaswskas-Jasionowicz, Choice, Vol. 53 (9), May, 2016)“Rocket Ranch is an enjoyable overview of the Kennedy Space Center during the 1960s and a once-over-lightly account of the Moon landing program. … Contained here is the best account I have seen of the computing efforts at KSC and the operational aspects of the Apollo program. There is also a lengthy chapter on the Apollo 1 fire that many will find of interest. Ward relies on more than seventy interviews that he personally conducted … .” (Roger Launius's Blog, launiusr.wordpress.com, March, 2016)“Rocket Ranch is the most recent attempt by memorabilia collectors to provide a technical description of Kennedy Space Center. Space Center enthusiasts and technophiles will love the detailed descriptions and the stories drawn from Ward’s interviews with employees, contractors, and associates of Kennedy Space Center during the Apollo era. … Kennedy Space Center technophiles will love Ward’s Rocket Ranch for providing them a more detailed and largely accurate description of Apollo-era technology infrastructure in a well-organized tour guide format.” (Orville Butler, Quest, Vol. 23 (2), 2016)Table of ContentsIntroduction.- Setting the Stage for Apollo/Saturn 1960-1966.- The Apollo 1 Fire.- The Spacecraft Assembly and Checkout Facilities.- The VAB and the Mobile Launcher.- The Launch Control Center and Firing Rooms.- Launch Pads 39A and 39B.- Life at the Launch Pad.- Epilogue: The End of an Era.

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Book SynopsisThe first comprehensive reference on the design, analysis, and application of space vehicle mechanisms Space Vehicle Mechanisms: Elements of Successful Design brings together accumulated industry experience in the design, analysis, and application of the mechanical systems used during space flight.Table of ContentsStainless Steels (P. Gross). Beryllium and Its Alloys (J. Marder). Structural Composites (F. Penado). Fasterner Materials (W. Ferguson). Ball Bearing Materials (J. Grout). Spring Materials (D. Kasul). Solid Lubricants (D. Stone & P. Bessette). Other Broadly Used Materials (G. Dallimore). Pyrotechnic Release Devices (N. Butterfield). Nonexplosive Release Devices (W. Purdy). Ball Bearings (H. Singer). Permanent Magnet Motors (R. Fink, et al.). Feedback Devices (T. Malcolm, et al.). Rotating Signal and Power Transfer (S. Cole, et al.). Deployment Devices (M. Bowden). Structural Dynamics (J. Leete). Contamination (R. Rantanen). Thermal Design (H. Wong). Radiation and Survivability (M. Rose). Design Validation (N. Butterfield & P. Conley). Electrical Interfaces (L. Ekman). The Pointing Subsystem (B. Eyerly & W. Burkett). Appendices. Index.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisEnthusiasts of space exploration have long waited for John Young to tell the story of his two Gemini flights, his two Apollo missions, the first Space Shuttle flight, and the first Spacelab mission. This memoir delivers all that and more: Young's journey from engineering graduate to fighter pilot, to test pilot, to astronaut, to high NASA official.Trade ReviewA fascinating life."" - Space Review""An intensely enjoyable book."" - AmericaSpace.com""If you have been waiting for a book from the only moonwalker without one you will not be disappointed with Forever Young. John W. Young, with James R. Hansen, has written the epic story if his life not only of adventure, but service to his country and inspiration for the future."" - Ad Astra""n incredible read, fast paced at times with great insight into Young's mind as he takes you with him as he soars into earth orbit and upon the vast ocean of space."" - Examiner.com

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Book SynopsisNASAs Commercial Crew Program is a multi-phased effort that began in 2010. Across the phases, NASA has engaged several companies, using both agreements and contract vehicles to develop and demonstrate crew transportation capabilities. As the program has passed through these phases, NASA has generally narrowed down the number of participants. NASAs mission is to drive advances in science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration, and contribute to education, innovation, our countrys economic vitality, and the stewardship of the Earth. To accomplish this mission, NASA establishes programs and projects that rely on complex instruments and spacecraft. NASAs portfolio of major projects ranges from space satellites equipped with advanced sensors to study the Earth to a telescope intended to explore the universe to spacecraft to transport humans and cargo to and beyond low-Earth orbit.

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Book SynopsisThe authors consider the various criteria applied in selecting astronauts from among military test pilots, scientists, and mission specialists, and demonstrate the scientific and social concerns which led to the policy changes that brought scientific specalists, women, and minorities into the space program.

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Book SynopsisRather than examining only the civil or military side of the US space program, as have many books in the past, Space, the Dormant Frontier takes a unique look at the space program as a whole.Table of ContentsRepackaging the Dream Policy Overview: If You Don't Care Where You're Going, Any Road Will Take You There The Situation Space as a Government Domain History As Inertia The Economics of Space, Breaking the Dependency Cycle The Opportunity Semidesperate Times Seeking New Opportunities The Method Convergence, Merging the Space Technology Bases Change the Paradigm, Incorporate Politics and Emphasize Economics A Parallel Development Plan Selected Bibliography Index

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