It's ONLY Rocket Science: An Introduction in Plain English (Astronomers' Universe) [Paperback]

Lucy Rogers (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 038775377X | ISBN-13: 978-0387753775 | Publication Date: March 21, 2008 | Edition: 1

Most amateur astronomers – and many of those with similar interests but who are not currently practising observers – have only a sketchy understanding of space flight. This book provides an introduction to its mechanics. The beauty of this book, written by an engineer who is also an accomplished science writer, is that it covers the subject comprehensively, and yet is almost entirely descriptive and non-mathematical. It deals with all aspects of space flight, from how to leave the Earth (including the design of the rocket, mission planning, navigation and communication), to life in space and the effects of weightlessness. The book also includes sections describing how an amateur can track satellites and understand their orbital parameters.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews: "This is a book I’ve really mixed feelings about – it does what it sets out to do very well. And it does what it says on the tin. It’s a plain English introduction to rocket science. … I would highly recommend it if you want to absorb all the basic facts about rocketry and space travel." (Brian Clegg, PopularScience, June, 2008) "Lucy Rogers’ book It’s Only Rocket Science: An Introduction in Plain English tries to demystify what is a notoriously complicated subject. … I have a feeling that students and young aerospace professionals will find this book useful. When they don’t quite understand what their lecturers are trying to tell them, Rogers will be there to help them out." (Piers Bizony, BBC Sky at Night, September, 2008) "The term ‘rocket science’ implies that one needs a very sophisticated level of technological and scientific knowledge to understand the principles of this field. However, Rogers (Isle of Wight, UK) attempts to explain these seemingly complex phenomena in relatively simple terms, i.e., without reference to mathematics. … Rogers does a good job in explaining … topics in accessible language. The chapters include line drawings and half-tone and color photographs; technical appendixes and a glossary augment the text. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers." (J. Z. Kiss, CHOICE, Vol. 46 (01), September, 2008)

From the Back Cover

"Well, it’s not rocket science, is it?" How many times have you heard people use that expression when they mean something pretty simple? There are other areas of science and technology that are arguably more challenging than rocket science, but no other (perhaps apart from brain surgery) has entered mainstream English vocabulary as a byword for ‘difficult’. But ‘hard to understand’ isn’t the same as ‘impossible to understand’, as Dr Lucy Rogers – who is herself currently working as a rocket scientist – shows in this book. She describes, in everyday terms and entirely without complex math, just what is involved in launching something into space, to explore the universe beyond our small planet. If you want to understand the fundamentals of space flight, from how to leave the Earth – including the design of the rocket and vehicle, mission planning, navigation and communication – to life in space and the effects of weightlessness, begin your journey here.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 364 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (March 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038775377X
• ISBN-13: 978-0387753775
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #202,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good information, poorly presented/formatted, August 25, 2010

By 

J. Walker "T's mom" (Boise, ID) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: It's ONLY Rocket Science: An Introduction in Plain English (Astronomers' Universe) (Paperback)

Dr. Rogers clearly knows her stuff, but you'll have a hard time learning it from her because the book is presented in prose format rather than employing any instructional design techniques -- no bullets, no bolding of key terms, and the graphics are very pixellated. So you essentially have, save for an occasional table or graphic, a sea of text without much visual relief. There is a glossary in the back as well as an index; I will give her credit for that. Plus, she is from the UK, so American readers will get distracted a bit by the British spellings and phrasing/usage. I am a technical writer who wants to learn more about the aerospace field, but I've had this book about a year now, am not quite halfway through it, and have no motivation to pick it up to finish it. There is good information here, but I just don't have the energy to force myself through that much highlighting...

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It IS only rocket science!, May 15, 2008

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Rebecca "science reader" (Van Nuys, US, Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: It's ONLY Rocket Science: An Introduction in Plain English (Astronomers' Universe) (Paperback)

A great, easy read that is full of information but broken down so the casual reader can truly understand what goes into launches, orbits, and rocket design. A bonus chapter on new ideas for the future of space. A great, helpful read and certainly a wonderful reference tool!

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very easy read, February 3, 2009

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Carlton P. Landry (RAGLEY, LA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: It's ONLY Rocket Science: An Introduction in Plain English (Astronomers' Universe) (Paperback)

Great book! I purchased this for my son last week and he has yet to put it down. So far it seems easy to follow and very detailed. Enjoy!