Customer Reviews

Rockets and Missiles: The Life Story of a Technology

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In a concise manner, the author gives a history of rocketry and missiles. Starting with black powder used by the Chinese. But then rapidly the narrative passes to the Europeans, who used and improved it in their interminable wars. Naturally, most of the book is about the 20th century. Relating the advances made by both sides in World War 2.

Then in the Cold War, rockets become exoatmospheric. Some were used for research, to carry satellites into orbit, or launch probes into high altitudes. But others were ICBMs. The book relates the frantic arms race between the US and Soviet Union, with Britain, France and China playing only bit parts.

The space race is described, where we see the massive Saturn 5s that were used to launch moon missions.

Unfortunately, if you read between the lines, progress in rocket propulsion has largely stalled. The end of the Cold War removed one major motivation. But also, the chemical and mechanical technologies appear to have plateaued, leaving us with still every high launch costs per kilo of payload.

This book offers a interesting overview of the history of rocket technology in the 20th century. Some technical details of the technology are also presented.

Of particular interests are the vivid accounts of Apollo spacecraft, Space Shuttle, Intercontinental ballistic missiles, Submarine-launched ballistic missiles, Tactical guided Patriot missiles, Missile defense and Arms control.

Missiles have evolved in the past decades and major changes have been made in their design. In contrast, improvements of the propulsion systems have been incremental only. However, the robot probe (Deep Space 1) was launched by an innovative propulsion system (a small ion engine) to study comet Borredly in 1998. This technology demonstrator may be evaluated for use on future spacecraft!