Description
Book SynopsisBehind the glories and tragedies that make headlines and move the nation, the story of the space shuttle is inextricably bound to the lesser-known drama of the search for a reusable single-stage-to-orbit rocket. In this book, Andrew J. Butrica tells this story.
Trade ReviewA history of one particular aspect of US space history-the attempt to develop a single-stage-to-orbit launcher... it is a story of muddle and waste... Butrica provides a competent and readable account of this debacle, which concentrates on the small research vehicle, DC-X. -- D. M. Ashford Times Literary Supplement 2004
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
Chronology
Introduction
Part I: The Conservative Agenda for Space
1. The Reagan Revolution
2. Commerce on the High Frontier
3. Space Warriors
Part II: The Quest
4. X-30: The Cold War SSTO
5. Space Visionaries
Part III: The Space Ship Experimental
6. Launching the SSX
7. The SDIO SSTO Program
Part IV: Spaceship Wars
8. W(h)ither SSTO?
9. The Disorder of Things
10. The Clipper Graham
Conclusion
Appendix
Notes
Bibliographic Essay
Index
