Description
Book SynopsisNearly forty years passed between the Apollo moon landings, the grandest accomplishment of a government-run space programme, and the Ansari X PRIZE–winning flights of SpaceShipOne, the greatest achievement of a private space programme. As we hover on the threshold of commercial spaceflight, authors Chris Dubbs and Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom look back at how we got to this point.
Trade Review"Tighten your seat belt for a wonderful ride of a read that tells the incredible tale of the dedicated people who helped push the throttle forward to make private space travel reality. Dubbs and Paat-Dahlstrom take a masterful and history-rich look at the true roots of space tourism, providing a needed course-correction for those who think off-Earth passenger travel is more giggle-factor than fact."-Leonard David, Space Insider columnist, SPACE.com -- Leonard David "Many books have been written about the history of spaceflight, documenting the efforts to enter space 'for all mankind.' Realizing Tomorrow offers the first comprehensive history of what will be the future of spaceflight-'by all mankind.'"-Robert Pearlman, editor and founder of collectSPACE.com -- Robert Pearlman "Brimming with fascinating details-and never-before-told stories-Realizing Tomorrow is a riveting account of the growth of commercial space. It is required reading for anyone who wants to know how a group of visionaries overcame great obstacles to pioneer the final frontier for profit."-Douglas Messier, editor in chief of Parabolicarc.com -- Douglas Messier "Realizing Tomorrow is the compelling story of the pioneers of commercial spaceflight and their efforts to open up the final frontier to everyone."-Jeff Foust, editor and publisher of the Space Review -- Jeff Foust "Tighten your seat belt for a wonderful ride of a read that tells the incredible tale of the dedicated people who helped push the throttle forward to make private space travel reality."-Leonard David, Coalition for Space Exploration -- Leonard David Coalition for Space Exploration "With the conclusion of the space shuttle program impending, the topic of private spaceflight has never been timelier... This far-reaching, well-illustrated history oriented toward the future of spaceflight should catch many an eye."-Colleen Mondor, Booklist -- Colleen Mondor Booklist
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Prologue
1. The Entire Population of the Earth in Orbit
2. The Birth of Private Rocket Companies
3. Private Citizens Get Their Chance in Space
4. Russia Commercializes Space
5. Citizen Explorers
6. The Quest for a Reusable Spaceship
7. The Ansari x prize Launches an Industry
8. Private Manned Spaceflight Makes History
9. Space Tourism Goes Mainstream
10. It Takes More Than a Spaceship to Build an Industry
Sources
Index
