Non-Rocket Space Launch and Flight [Hardcover]

Alexander Bolonkin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0080447317 | ISBN-13: 978-0080447315 | Publication Date: June 28, 2006 | Edition: 1

In recent years scientists have investigated a series of new methods for non-rocket space launch, which promise to revolutionize space launches and flight. Particularly in the current political climate new, cheaper, and more 'fuel efficient' methods are being investigated. Such new methods include the gas tube method, cable accelerators, tether launch systems, space elevators, solar and magnetic sails, circle launcher space keepers and more.

The author brings a vast amount of experience to the topic, having worked as a engineer, designer, project director and researcher at key institutes including NASA and the US Air Force.

. Explores all the new non-rocket space launch methods, and compares them with each other and traditional rockets.
. Investigates the unifying principles of the different systems and shows how to select the best design suited to the mission.
. Author brings together technical and theoretical expertise from both industry and academia

Product Details

• Hardcover: 488 pages
• Publisher: Elsevier Science; 1 edition (June 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0080447317
• ISBN-13: 978-0080447315
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,691,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Innovative ideas, a great read for anyone interested in future propulsion technologies., February 7, 2011

By 

Gene Yanenko (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Non-Rocket Space Launch and Flight (Hardcover)

This is a great read for anyone interested in innovative and technically feasible methods of unconventional space propulsion. Dr. Bolonkin discusses his non traditional and yet technically feasible ideas in great detail and insight. He is truly one of the most brilliant scientists in this as well as numerous other fields. I had the privilege of reading his personal manuscript for this book for free as I have had the fortune to be acquainted with Dr. Bolonkin for many years. I agree that this book is a bit pricey. As with most of his books Dr. Bolonkin mostly does not profit from his publications and there are many freely available on the internet. He is truly committed to his work as well as sharing of his vast knowledge and innovative ideas with th world. The high price of the book is due to limited number of copies printed which is inversely proportional to the print volume. As this book is targeted for a specific audience and as a textbook the costs for the editor to publish it may end up being more than the profits earned from the sales. I know Dr. Bolonkin personally and that he would gladly be willing to distribute his works to a wider audience at a lower cost if it was up to him. I can try to suggest other methods of publishing to him(such as an e-publishing) which would definitely lower the cost of his books but I assume that depends on his contractual obligations to the publisher in regards to books already in print such as this one. I will speak with him about this and his other books and publications as well and see if there is anything we can do to bring his work to more people at a more reasonable price and post a reply as to what we can come up with. In the mean time try searching "Alexander Bolonkin" to find many more articles and publications many of which are available for free.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible, January 25, 2009

By 

Charles Ryan West - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Non-Rocket Space Launch and Flight (Hardcover)

This book is well worth the read. It provides detailed analysis of concepts of most of the space launch ideas I had heard of and a great many I had not.

2 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A justifieable review... of all we know about this book, August 25, 2008

By 

R. Smith (Studio City, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Non-Rocket Space Launch and Flight (Hardcover)

Two hundred forty dollars.

I'd really love to read this book, to gain knowledge from it, to learn from it, to congratulate the author for his hard work and the publisher for their backing of the project. I'd really like to be able to support the author and the publisher of this book.

But the price is just too much, even used copies. And no one is reviewing it... because no one is buying it, I guess.

My state's libraries don't carry it. When I asked my local why, they said the price vs. requests.

Author, Publisher please. If you make a book isn't the point for it to be read ... by at least some group of people who may be able to take it and run with its ideas straight to Congress?

Even getting it down to a hundred is at least in the realm of the realistic.

Until there's proof to the contrary, the book must be terrible because all we have to judge it by is the terrible price.