Astronautics: Book 1: Dawn of the Space Age (Apogee Books Space Series) (Bk. 1) [Paperback]

Ted Spitzmiller (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1894959639 | ISBN-13: 978-1894959636 | Publication Date: September 10, 2007

Chronicling the history of space rocketry, this resource details the discoveries and engineering innovations that have occurred—in both the United States and the former Soviet Union—from World War II to the early 1970s. From European war missiles to multibillion dollar spacecraft that orbit the earth today, this sourcebook covers the evolution of rocketry in great detail and discusses the impact rocket science has had on other areas of humanity. Filled with fascinating facts from history without technical jargon and specialized language, this reference will interest both space enthusiasts and general readers alike.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An engrossing blow-by-blow account of mankind's efforts to reach the stars."  —Quick Stop Entertainment

About the Author

Ted Spitzmiller has worked for the Los Alamos National Laboratory for more than 25 years and is the author of Fate Stalks the Pacific Sky. He lives in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Collector's Guide Publishing, Inc. (September 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1894959639
• ISBN-13: 978-1894959636
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,112,403 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ASTRONAUTICS, BOOK 1, October 22, 2007

By 

Kenneth D. Luedeke (Albuquerque, NM, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Astronautics: Book 1: Dawn of the Space Age (Apogee Books Space Series) (Bk. 1) (Paperback)

Spitzmiller has done an excellent job of presenting the step by step progress of man's first forays into space. He has included a detailed history of the technoloical evolution leading to what we now term "rocket science".
The book sets the context of this evolution by describing the pesonalities and their contributions: discoveries, inventions, and inovations, making this a very human story. There is comprehensive coverage of technical information about rockets and space dynamics, the crucial keys to space travel, but this information is always presented in very understandable terms.
The effect of Cold War politics on space development is covered very well as is the reaction of the world to Sputnik, the first Earth satellite.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in gaining more insight into the human, technical, and political aspects of mankind's first efforts to conquer space.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Real Story, January 18, 2008

By 

Robert Talmage (Acworth, Georgia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Astronautics: Book 1: Dawn of the Space Age (Apogee Books Space Series) (Bk. 1) (Paperback)

"Dawn of the Space Age" was a fabulous trip back through time. Each moment I spent within the pages of the book, I was re-living the visions, struggles, dangers, failures, achievements and excitement of the space age. The author portrayed the real story and events that motivated and shaped space development.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Worth the Price, October 24, 2007

By 

C. Waters (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Astronautics: Book 1: Dawn of the Space Age (Apogee Books Space Series) (Bk. 1) (Paperback)

For a real space buff/nut this is is pretty superficial stuff. For a $24.95 relatively thin paperback I would like to have seen more illustrations and preferably color ones, and a lot deeper information. For my money I wanted a lot more.