Customer Reviews

Soyuz: A Universal Spacecraft (Springer Praxis Books / Space Exploration)

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This book adds a lot of insight into how the Soviet and now Russian Space programs developed and refined Soyuz. It will leave you with a solid knowledge of what a workhorse it is - not as sexy as the Shuttle - more like a crew cab pickup truck that just gets better and better with every version release. The majority of the book has great relevant technical detail with some good yarn spinning to add flavor. The functional relationship between Soyuz and Salyut, MIR and ISS is nicely detailed in this book.

With that said, it's a shame the authors released it with out more editing. There is one section that clearly was published in draft form with the notations left in for further clarification or to add more information at a later date. It is actually kind of amusing that the authors where using a shorthand at one point that was meant to be searched and replaced - and they didn't - thus they share there cute nickname for the Russians.

The authors should be applauded for the hard work they put into researching and assembling this book. The publisher should be spanked for not finding them a couple of hungry graduate engineering assistants to help turn this into something more readable

The Soviet/Russian space program has already operated 4 space stations ( Salyut-series, Mir, ISS ). This book by BIS president Rex D. Hall focuzes on the story of the Soyuz spacecraft which has been used to bring both visitors and resident crews to the Space Stations. An integral element of Salyut , Mir and Internatioanl Space Station ISS operations, the small ferry has been the mainstay of cosmonaut transportation since 1967. In addition, since 1978 the unmanned freighter version called Progress has provided a means in which to regularly re-supply a space station and so prolong its orbital lifetime.
Using authentic Soviet and Russian sources this book is the first known work in the west dedicated to revealing the full story of the Soyuz series. The book describes Mission Hardware and Support Docking Missions from 1966 - 70 , the 1971-81 Soyuz Manned Ferry, the 1978 onwards Progress Cargo-Resupply Ferry , the 1979 - 86 Soyuz T manned ferry, the updated Soyuz TM, 1986 - 2002 to Mir and the very latest Soyuz TMA which has become the vehicle to bring crews to ISS since the accident of shuttle Columbia.
An excellent reference work (it includes a complete listing of vehicle production numbers ), the only minus I see is that this book is not available in Hardcover ...
Philip CORNEILLE

This book provides an overview of the Soyuz hardware and Soyuz flights up through the Soyuz TMA, with in-depth coverage of many early flights. It also includes a substantial chapter on the Progress. There are numerous black and white illustrations and photographs.

Note that book does not focus on operations on-board the Salyut, Almaz, Mir or ISS stations, only on getting there/back and docking.

I would say that this book, along with the authors' Rocket Men and David Harland's Mir are the three most important books on the Soviet Space program and it's equipment. For almost 40 years the Soyuz has been the workhorse of the Soviet/Russian space program, this book chronicles the first 36 years. Both the human side and hardware are covered.