To the End of the Solar System: The Story of the Nuclear Rocket (Apogee Books Space Series) (Paperback)

~ James A. Dewar (Author) "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds," said Robert Oppenheimer in July 1945 following Trinity, the world's first nuclear weapon test, drawing his..." (more)
Key Phrases: fuel element development, nuclear rocket program, launch pad accident, Los Alamos, White House, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Jargon-free and ideal for scientists and laypersons alike, this study is a comprehensive history and analysis of nuclear rocket propulsion systems. Detailing a two-decade period—spanning the 1950s through parts of the 1970s—by profiling the U.S. government’s Rover and NERVA programs, a complete history of the development of nuclear propulsion capabilities for space exploration is provided. Eyeing future possibilities, this reference identifies the technological requirements necessary to perform the deep space missions now being planned by NASA and presents a discussion on the political and social issues surrounding nuclear rocket development.

About the Author

James A. Dewar worked exclusively on nuclear affairs in the Department of Energy and its predecessor agencies, the Energy Research and Development Administration and the Atomic Energy Commission. He lives in Oxford, Maryland.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Collector's Guide Publishing, Inc.; 2nd edition (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 189495968X
• ISBN-13: 978-1894959681
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #155,969 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive Narrative History, July 14, 2005

By	Philip H. Smyth - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: To the End of the Solar System: The Story of the Nuclear Rocket (Hardcover)

Six million horsepower from a reactor the size of a 55 gallon drum. This was the promise of the ultimate in all-American 60's muscle - the nuclear thermal rocket engine. With it, you could send jumbo jet sized payloads to the Moon, or send a crew to Mars in 3 months.

James A. Dewar's exhaustively researched work (there are 91 pages of footnotes) shows both the technical and political sides of the 18 year effort to develop the nuclear rocket. Like the space program itself, the nuclear rocket program was a creature of the Washington political process.

While lacking the polish of a David McCullough, Dewar does a good job of introducing the cast of characters and their competing visions for America's technologic and social future.

Dewar's thesis is that the nuclear engine was feasible and would have revolutionized space travel, boosting mankind into a 2001 Space Odyssey. I found his viewpoint to be refreshing, especially in contrast to the dour visions of historians such as Richard Rhodes. He devotes Appendix D of the book to "safety and environmental aspects of testing."

Perhaps the most poignant vision one gets from reading the book is that of the turning of a page in American history. With the end of Apollo and the nuclear engine project in 1973 we go from an era of limitless promise, to an era of sharply limited outcomes.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History in Limbo, September 7, 2004

By	Metryq (Boylston, MA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: To the End of the Solar System: The Story of the Nuclear Rocket (Hardcover)

To The End of the Solar System is an excellent primer on the nuclear rocket -- the history that might have been, and still waiting to be. It is a story even avid spaceflight fans may not have heard. Dewar presents a very readable account of the visionary engineers, project managers, and politicians who developed the first nuclear thermal rockets. The narrative covers the politics and engineering (with supplementary appendices) without being overwhelming. It explains why the nuclear rocket is superior to chemical engines, yet why the world failed to embrace it. The technology has lain dormant for decades, but is quietly making a revival in NASA's project Prometheus and elsewhere. Learn where it all started and where it's going; read To The End of the Solar System. It is well worth the price of admission.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars historical aspect in rocketry, October 3, 2004

By	brucie b (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To the End of the Solar System: The Story of the Nuclear Rocket (Hardcover)

Excellent book... a must read for anyone interested in space propulsion technology which needs a 'second look' to enable humans to bridge our Solar System in the future.