Selling Peace: Inside the Soviet Conspiracy that Transformed the U.S. Space Program (Apogee Books Space Series) [Paperback]

Jeffrey Manber (Author)

Book Description

Series: Apogee Books Space Series | Publication Date: January 1, 2010

Offering surprising insight into the Russian-American relationship during the golden age of space exploration and detailing the current circumstances surrounding commercial space travel, this revealing memoir charts the emergence of the Russian space program as a powerful ally to the international community from the perspective of an American who participated on the Russian side. Revealing what it was like to witness the American space community struggle to reconcile a world where the Russians were the low-cost, quality manufacturer for space goods, this is the true story of NASA's lack of international cooperation, cross-cultural understandings, and acceptance of different perspectives. This insider's exposé brings about a greater understanding of the complicated relationships between international partners set on exploring an infinite universe through finite means.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Few people know the intrigues, the scandals, the incredible river of politics surrounding the Russian and American space programs and [Jeffery Manber] was there. [He had] a front row seat in a sometimes bitter battle between space agencies."  —Dana Lewis, Fox News

"You must read this exciting true story . . . of the type of men and women who will eventually conquer space and turn such stodgy government agencies as NASA into historical derelicts. Highly recommended!"  —Homer Hickam, author, Rocket Boys and October Sky

About the Author

Jeffrey Manber is today the Managing Director of NanoRacks. In the 1990s he was the first American to ever have an official role within the Russian space industry and helped open the doors to cooperation between the former Cold War adversaries. He is the former CEO of MirCorp, which leased the Russian space station Mir, signed the first launch contract with .space tourist Dennis Tito and funded the worlds first and still only commercial human crew into space (Mir Corp-1). 

Selling Peace is a first hand accounting of the upside down world where Russian space officials were far more committed to open competitive space markets than their American counterparts. Riveting real life anecdotes from Manber's time working with the Russian space program.

Other books by Manber include Lincoln's Wrath and his first novel, Them Hustlers which is a political thriller taking place in the Washington of 1998 during the Clinton impeachment scandal.

Product Details

• Paperback: 332 pages
• Publisher: Collector's Guide Publishing, Inc. (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1926592085
• ISBN-13: 978-1926592084
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,364,468 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I think it is because I grew up in New York City that I have always had a fascination with the lives of colorful and complex characters. It seems a big city has room for all sorts of paradoxical figures.

My chief occupation has been helping to bring about a more commercial space exploration effort. During the 1990s I worked with the Russians, as they were the first to embrace American style free markets and competition for space programs. I'm the only businessman to ever market a manned space station, when as CEO of MirCorp, we leased the Russian space station Mir.

I also helped introduce the Soviet and Russian organizations to the international markets, working with the organization that launched the first satellite Sputnik and the first human, Yuri Gagarin, into space.

Now I head an American company that is doing fun things in low-earth orbit.

My books, whether the novel "Them Hustlers," or the examination of how Lincoln shut the anti-war newspapers in "Lincoln's Wrath," or the memoir about my time with the Russian space program "Selling Peace," all reflect different sides of the same coin: the world is not black and white. There are shades of good and shades of evil and sometimes that makes for the best story of them all.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent first-person history and business insight, February 14, 2010

By 

Douglas Isbell "Writer, reader, public affair... (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Selling Peace: Inside the Soviet Conspiracy that Transformed the U.S. Space Program (Apogee Books Space Series) (Paperback)

Fascinating and often humorous tale, written by a friend, of the landmark effort to truly commercialize the Russian space program, and NASA's misguided efforts to thwart it. It was ultimately unsuccessful in most ways, but the market principles will live on in future ventures. Interesting to imagine an alternative universe where this venture succeeded. Also provides a rare look inside Russian political power culture at the highest levels circa 1990-2002, and a unique snapshot of one of the most strident "new space" advocates.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential to Understanding the Space Debate in Washington Today, March 18, 2010

By 

Jack Kennedy Jr. "Jack Kennedy 276.275.4700" (Wise, Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Selling Peace: Inside the Soviet Conspiracy that Transformed the U.S. Space Program (Apogee Books Space Series) (Paperback)

Over the past several years I have enjoyed several space policy books. Jeffrey Manber's book, "Selling Peace: Inside the Soviet Conspiracy That Transformed the U.S. Space Program" is a special book that should be included in any space policy academic environment. Manber provides a colorful history to the development of the initial steps to the commercialization of the Soviet-to-Russian space program that the public has come to know today. From a historic insight alone --- this book is quite worthy.

Nonetheless, there is much more to Manber's work.

Selling Space provides a meaningful foundation to understanding some of the essential policy issues now before the United States Congress and the White House. Manber provides an outlook on the development of the the American policy development that leads us to the debate about growth of commercial space launch by Orbital Sciences Corporation and SpaceX as opposed to having a government-sponsored launch such as Ares-I. To more fully understand the decisions before us, this is a must read book.

Finally, Manber's book provides a case study for the United States to think about how to form a commercial relationship for space with the Chinese. In the Epilogue, the author begins to make a passing reference to his 2008 travels to China to discuss space policy. I can only hope that there is a next book in regard to commercial space launch with China. Someone certainly needs to be brainstorming in this direction. The Chinese are going to be human orbital spaceflight with growing frequency.

If you are interested in space history and space policy in the future, then this book must be added to your must read list. It is worthy.

Jeff Manber, on The Space Show on December 15, 2009, is now into an equally interesting business opportunity: NanoRacks in association with Kentucky Space.