Countdown: A History of Space Flight

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Countdown offers a technically detailed, historically rich narrative of the human quest to enter deep space. T. A. Heppenheimer, the author of several books touching on the history of aviation, traces the development of manned flight through the military rocketry programs of the pre-World War II era, writing of experiments that often ended disastrously until all the ingredients, physical and chemical, came together. Drawing on recently declassified documents, he studs his account with telling anecdotes. (In one, a Soviet crew returned from a circumnavigation of earth and touched down off course, winding up in the Ural Mountains surrounded by hungry wolves--hardly the stuff of regular astronaut training.) For space buffs, this is a highly recommended work of reference.

Book Description

The most comprehensive account of the forces behind mankind's boldest adventure

A History of Space Flight

"By far the most significant and technically insightful account of the ventures into the space environment I have seen. . . . [Heppenheimer] concentrates unerringly on key elements, both technical and managerial, in this account of man's initial space ventures."âLee Atwood, Former President and Chairman, North American Aviation Corporation

"A fascinating, detailed comparison of the people and programs, the triumphs and failures of the two major space-faring nations; well presented and well told."âDale D. Myers, Former Associate Administrator for Space Flight, NASA

"A hundred years ago, a brilliant Russian schoolteacher had a vision of human beings overcoming gravity to venture beyond their home planet. Today, astronauts and cosmonauts live together in space for months on end. What happened in between is a story of phenomenal ingenuity and perseverance by some of our century's greatest engineers, scientists, and explorers. No one is better equipped to tell that wondrous tale than Tom Heppenheimer. Combining an expert grasp of technology with a historian's perspective on world events, he weaves the story of space flight through the unfolding of the twentieth century. It's all here, from the early rocket experiments of Goddard and von Braun, to the Cold War race to the moon, to the era of international cooperation in space. This truly impressive book conveys the power that has lifted humanity off the earthânot only rockets, but people who dared to reach beyond their own limits."âAndrew Chaikin, Author of A Man on the Moon: The Voyage of the Apollo Astronauts is the most comprehensive account of mankind's drive to explore outer space. Drawing on new informationâincluding recently opened Soviet archives and declassified CIA documentsâthis landmark book reveals the behind-the-scenes events that shaped both the U.S. and Soviet space programs.

Acclaimed science writer and aeronautical engineer T. A. Heppenheimer traces the evolution of long-range projectiles from their violent birth early in the twentieth century to their peaceful use today. He weaves a fascinating story of vivid personalities and awesome technologies, of courage and imagination as well as pettiness, waste, and destruction. The key players in NASA, the U.S. Air Force, the CIA, the Soviet Union, and the major European powers come together against a riveting backdrop of high technology and high stakes in international politics.

Working out of wine cellars, chicken coops, and parking lots, with improvised equipment that included sauce pans and cocktail shakers, space age prophets like Robert Goddard, Hermann Oberth, and Konstantin Tsiolkovsky attracted the attention of their respective governmentsâwho quickly saw the military potential of their work. Countdown is alive with rich portraits of pivotal figures, including the brilliant aristocrat, Wernher von Braun, father of the dreaded V-2 rocket and future head of the American space effort, and Sergei Korolev, sentenced to a Siberian prison camp under Stalin's terror, only to be released to lead the Soviet rocket program.

Heppenheimer gives an eye-opening account of the involvement of the CIA during the 1950s and 1960s, and shows that the CIA, the Air Force, and the North American Aviation Corporation were, in fact, the original architects of America's space program. He argues persuasively that the Soviet space program began as a cynical ploy by Nikita Khrushchev to convince Third World leaders that the Soviet Union was a much more technologically advanced country than it actually was, and that the tide of history was flowing East rather than West. He provides a detailed account of how Kennedy's decision to go to the moon was, in turn, an attempt to counter Khrushchev's public relations maneuvers. And he describes how, in the post-Cold War era, a new spirit of cooperation, epitomized by hybrid rockets and joint space missions, is merging the U.S. and Russian space programs into a single global enterprise.

Countdown: A History of Space Flight is historical writing at its very best: the precise and thrilling unfolding of human events on the grand scale.

T. A. HEPPENHEIMER, Ph.D., an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, has written extensively on aerospace, business, and the history of technology. He is a frequent contributor to magazines such as Discover, Forbes, Nature, Omni, and American Heritage. He is the author of six previous books, Turbulent Skies (Wiley) and Colonies in Space.

Customer Reviews:

Informative, (almost) complete, non-biased........2007-09-16

The book follows the development of the modern space technology
since the end of 19 century, through the end of the 20th century.
The author relates the space technology to the political environment,
but takes no sides, impartial, non-biased. The books shows the
influence of the space and rocket technology on our everyday life.
According to Heppenheimer, the space race through the 1950s,
60s and 70s was politically motivated and was a part of the race for
global influence.
Surprisingly, the author skipped the Soviet program "Lunokhod".
I find hard to believe, that Heppenheimer did not know about
Lunokhod, and in addition, it confirm his opinion, that
Moon race was entirely politically motivated. Because: when the
USA won the moon race, Kremlin declared, they never intended to
send a man to the Moon, and sent the "Lunokhod". No one paid
attention. The game was over.
Moscow State TV did not broadcast the landing of Apollo 11,
now the world did not care about Lunokhod.

A Solid Overview of the History of Space Flight.......2006-08-17

T.A. Heppenheimer has a long track record of producing popularly-written books and articles on the history of air and space flight. "Countdown" is very much in the model of his other works, providing a breezy survey of the subject, without much overall depth but also with little nuggets of insight that prompt readers to stop and ponder certain aspects. In the case of "Countdown," the overview coupled with the flashes of cleverness make the book worth reading and keeping on the shelf of anyone studying the history of space flight. It's merits aside, "Countdown" is not the critical work that many involved in studying the subject have been anticipating for many years.

This book focuses mostly on the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to reach the Moon, and Heppenheimer, writing not long after the end of the Cold War, was able to tap into a rich vein of documentary materials then just beginning to become available. He makes the most of these new sources and offers intriguing portraits of the inner workings and nasty internal politics of the Soviet space program. His discussion of how Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev cynically used the Soviet space effort to further his ideological ends is one of the most important contributions of "Countdown." Heppenheimer also reveals in this book the full extent of the Soviet Moon program, which was both impressive and close to success. Something not previously well known before that mid-1990s, as Heppenheimer shows had it not been for the Soviet failure to develop a heavy-lift rocket it might have reached the Moon before the United States.

Throughout this book Heppenheimer takes pot shots at the human space flight effort, insisting that it is more "an exercise in theater" than a legitimate activity. He believes that satellites and probes have been the real workhorses of the space age, providing enormous scientific, economic, national security, and public returns on the investment. In his view, human space flight offers little of benefit to the nations engaged in it beyond the prestige of actually engaging in it.

The last part of this survey focuses on recent developments in space. Heppenheimer is an inveterate capitalist and he excoriates NASA as a state-run program that benefits only big business and the technological elite while arguing that the dream of practical space flight will only be fulfilled by the private sector. Moreover, as long as space flight remains "a sport of government," Heppenheimer insists, human space flight will dominate the agenda to the detriment of other aspects of the effort. This is, in Heppenheimer's view, the core obstacle of practical developments in space.

Without question, Heppenheimer has offered a useful survey of the history of space flight. "Countdown," however, is neither as comprehensive nor as probing as many readers will expect. Additionally, his indictment of human space flight will probably prove unconvincing to most readers. As it is, this is a helpful but not essential work on an important subject.

A Very Well Written, Informative Account.......2000-02-18

Countdown is excellent account of the history of space flight. It's well-written and organized and not only discusses the technology of space flight, but also touches on the personalities and politics that have driven its development. Understanding these forces is as important, if not more so, than appreciating the technology. Most accounts focus on the geewhiz aspects of space travel, but don't put them any political or economic context.

Heppenheimer does a wonderful job of reminding the reader about the original impetus for various pieces of space technology. For instance, the Treaty of Versailles limited the types of artillery the Germans could have, so they focused on developing rockets, which the treaty did not address.

He also discusses the origin of the race to the moon and the long-standing interest of many people in going to Mars. Most people outside the space field, and few people inside it, don't realize the influence a series of articles on space travel (which Werner von Braun provided information for and helped edit) in Collier's Magazine in the early 1950's had on the present shape of the U.S. space program - manned flight to the moon and Mars, space stations and the space shuttle.

The book is a bit thin on recent develops - the X-33 program for example - and the Chinese space program, but this is a minor flaw.

Those who are strong advocates of manned space flight should be forwarned. Heppenheimer is clear-eyed and articulate in his criticisms about the utility of this aspect of space exploration. Still, as someone who is a supporter of manned flight, I found his skepticism a valuable and useful reminder that we need to be honest in our appraisal of the U.S. space program and its goals.

Excellent Overview, somewhat lacking in personalities........1998-08-06

This is an excellent broad scope look at the history of rocketry and how that led to spaceflight, along with the sometime practical and sometime cynical political decisions that led to spaceflight.

My only real complaint was that there was an overwhelming number of names that were involved and Heppenheimer gives them all due mention, but I never got a sense for the real personalities of Korolev and von Braun or anyone else that really made things happen.

Other than that minor flaw, I thought is was a greath history, and I came away with a new appreciation of spaceflight and the skill and expertise that it takes to make a satellite or rocket work.

The Right Stuff -- with the Right Facts!.......1997-12-02

This is a very well-researched, captivating, and intentionally unvarnished history of space flight as seen through the programs of the two big players in this venue -- the U.S. and Soviet Union. Heppenheimer has done his homework with meticulous perfection, including a very probing analysis of a Soviet program which has for many years been veiled in secrecy.

Even if you think you understand what the Cold War space race and its historical aftermath was all about -- think again. "Countdown" sheds light on behind-scenes decision-making of this era, and in so doing, challenges many of the conventional historical interpretations. Readers will learn how Kruschev ironically used the Soviet space program as a cynical and desperate ploy for propaganda value, ultimately selling the U.S.S.R. short on other vital technology development, and assuring its decendency to a "second-rate" world power. There is also much interesting information on the "mastermind" of Soviet rocketry -- Sergei Korolev -- and his story is a rather sad one of bureucratic undermining of brilliantly conceived projects.

Heppenheimer has a great gift for writing about sophisticated technological projects while also paying heed to how the human element factors into both successes and failures. He is just as comfortable illuminating NASA's proudest achievements as he is berating the agency for the bureaucratic ineptness that led to such debacles as the Challenger explosion. (And, by the way, one learns that the Challenger came seconds close to the same kind of disaster two years earlier). There is a sad, poignant description of the decline of the Soviet program, which evokes images of high-tech facilities being ravished by hoodlums and looters who no longer sense anything special about lofty space ideals. A test model of the Soviet sapce shuttle, Buran, is described as being displayed in Gorky Park, not far from a ferris wheel. We are told of cosmonauts who recently asked their control center about onboard tools found in their craft -- and nobody knowing what they were for due to pilfered or destroyed records. The decline of the U.S. program is also assessed, although it is more one afflicted by lack of purposeful missions than any economic strangulation.

In the end, "Countdown" proves that looking at things with informed hindsight can be just as exciting as the first unfolding of the events themselves. Heppenheimer concludes by asking some hard questions about the meaning and purpose of spaceflight, advocating that NASA take a very different approach than its current course. All in all, this is a book for those who want an intimate and factually sound telling of the symbolically glorious, yet pragmatically dubious, history of man's entry into outer space.

Average customer rating:

awful

Cheap Reproduction [....]

Apollo and America's Moon Landing Program : Apollo 11 Countdown and Flight Plan
World Spaceflight News
Manufacturer: Progressive Management
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Ring-bound
ASIN: 1893472094

Book Description

For the first time, this WSN Special Report reproduces two of the most important official NASA operational documents from the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission: the KSC Apollo / Saturn V Space Vehicle Countdown - dated July 3, 1969, and the Final Apollo 11 Flight Plan (AS-506/CSM-107/LM-5) - dated July 1, 1969 prepared by the Flight Planning Branch, Flight Crew Support Division, Manned Spacecraft Center.

Countdown Document Contents: Description, Hazardous Area Control, Intercommunications, Operating Stations, OTV Camera Locations, List of Abbreviations, Hold Points, Precount Procedures, Final Operational Procedures, Pre-cryogenic Loading Checklists, Contingency Crew Pad Access and Evacuation Procedures, Typical Flight Event Sequence for 72 degree mission, map of blast danger area at Saturn V launch pad, bar event charts of Spacecraft Launch Closeout Plan, Radio Frequency Matrix, Saturn V Propellant Loading, Saturn V Space Vehicle Countdown.

Flight Plan Document Contents: Launch through entry - Minute-by-minute illustrated timelines with MCC-H calls, crew procedures, notes, uplinks, communication station coverage, presleep checklists. Supplemental information: Mission Description, Detailed Objective Activities, Lunar Surface Navigation, EVA preparation and egress, surface sample collection, external LM observations and photography, experiment deployment, post-EVA operations, contamination prevention, crew positions during mission, PGA configuration, status report information, communications, CSM electrical power system and water management, environmental control system and cabin pressurization, guidance and navigation, landmark tracking, LM notes, passive thermal control, RCS operation and interface constraints, rendezvous, lunar landing site data, symbol nomenclature, acronyms, consumables analysis - SM RCS propellant, SPS, LM RCS propellant, LM descent propulsion system, LM ascent propulsion system, cryogenic summary, LM ECS budget, CM ECS budget, CSM and LM burn schedule, LM powered descent/high gate to TD chart, lunar orbit rest period attitude, typical landmark tracking profile drawing, mission summary flight plan chart, ascent crew calls ("clear of tower", etc.)

Please keep in mind that since this is an exact reproduction of an original historic document, it contains a few minor flaws and some pages with small text. In particular, the countdown document text was printed using a low-resolution computer impact printer of the kind popular in the late 1960s, which results in some poorly-formed characters. (It may not be pretty, but it is authentic!) The flight plan document is clear and sharp. Anyone interested in the history of Apollo will enjoy this unique document!

Customer Reviews:

awful.......2001-04-06

The publishers and I use the term loosely, have made no attempt to clean up the poor scans this book was based upon. For some reason they have two A5 pages printed on one A4 side with the other side blank. These people were too lazy to even use a text bridge and because the scans are so poor the data in some areas is unreadable. The cover sticker is poorly printed by what appears to be a desktop printer and glued to the exterior of a child's school file. I was hoping for something that would give me an insight into space flight, the what, where, why, when and how things were done. I didn't get it. To add insult to injury, you can probably find all of the information used here on the Internet on the various Apollo tribute sights and in better condition too. I bought three other titles at the same time. If I'd know what pitiful things they were in advance, I would have saved my money for professionally produced books instead. awful

Cheap Reproduction [....].......2001-02-23

I was extremely disappointed when I received my copy of the Apollo 11 Countdown and Flight Plan. Although the publisher's description indicates they are offering "exact" reproductions, they definitely are not. It is obvious that all someone did was use a photocopier at the reference library at Kennedy Space Center. In fact, the cover of the documents are rubber stamped with this information. That would be okay, however, if the pages hadn't been reduced to 1/2 size. It is especially annoying to see long foldouts copied onto multiple pages. If the publisher was really offering an EXACT reproduction, then all the pages would be full size, and foldouts would be on a single, long page. In addition, the binder is extremely cheap and will not hold up to heavy use.

Book Description

It's December 17, 1903, and Wilbur and Orville Wright are about to do what man had dreamed of for centuriesÂ¡Âfly! They have worked for five years, studying, trying new ideas, and testing their inventions on a lonely spot of sandy beach at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Finally, after many setbacks and disappointments, they are ready to launch their engine-powered aeroplaneÂ¡Âand this time it works! With Orville in the pilot's seat and Wilbur running alongside holding on to the bottom of the wing, the Kitty Hawk Flyer is in the air. The flight lasts just 12 seconds, but it is the beginning of a new era of the amazing flying machines that now take us all over the world.

Customer Reviews:

Amazon - Get it straight! You are misleading the kids!.......1999-02-11

Just for information, the first flight was NOT in 1904! Amazon - shame on you! DECEMBER 17, 1903 was that eventful day.

Countdown to the Moon (Adventures in Space Series)

Average customer rating:

Countdown to the Moon (Adventures in Space Series)
Susan Dudley Gold
Manufacturer: Crestwood House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Engineering | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

History of Technology | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0896866890

Countdown to the Moon (An Avon Camelot Book)

Average customer rating:

Countdown to the Moon (An Avon Camelot Book)
Steve Englehart
Manufacturer: Camelot
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Engineering | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

History of Technology | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0380775387

Book Description

It's 1969 and the United States is about to begin an adventure that mankind has dreamed of since the beginning of time Â— a trip to the moon. In a day-by-day, minute-by-minute countdown Â— in the control room and up in space Â— you'll experience the thrill of this breathtaking "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind!"

Countdown to the Moon is a companion to Steve Englehart's award-winning story of the Wright Brothers, Countdown to Flight. Together, these two Countdowns chronicle the liftoff and apex of mankind's eternal quest to leave the earth behind.

Average customer rating:

One of the most interesting books I have read recently

My other favorite book

A good book, despite the title

Uncover the Secret Hiding Places of Stock Market Profits

Who are you?

You Can Be a Stock Market Genius: Uncover the Secret Hiding Places of Stock Market Profits
Joel Greenblatt
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Introduction | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Stocks | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Little Book That Beats the Market

Intelligent Investor: A Book of Practical Counsel

Value Investing: From Graham to Buffett and Beyond (Wiley Finance)

The Aggressive Conservative Investor (Wiley Investment Classics)

Fortune's Formula: The Untold Story of the Scientific Betting System That Beat the Casinos and Wall Street

ASIN: 0684840073

Book Description

Fund manager Joel Greenblatt has been beating the Dow (with returns of 50 percent a year) for more than a decade. And now, in this highly accessible guide, he's going to show you how to do it, too. You're about to discover investment opportunities that portfolio managers, business-school professors, and top investment experts regularly miss -- uncharted areas where the individual investor has a huge advantage over the Wall Street wizards. Here is your personal treasure map to special situations in which big profits are possible, including:

* Spin-offs * Restructurings * Merger Securities

* Mergers * Rights Offerings * Recapitalizations

* Bankruptcies * Risk Arbitrage

This is a practical and easy-to-use investment reference, filled with case studies, important background information, and all the tools you'll need. All it takes is a little extra time and effort -- and you can be a stock market genius.

Customer Reviews:

One of the most interesting books I have read recently.......2007-08-23

Joel Greenblatt's book is a masterpiece of investment information. The book provides valuable information for anyone involved in the markets, whether they are an individual investor or a finance professional.

The book details several types of special situation investing and explains the pros and cons of these situations. What was most impressive about this book however, is that manner in which he manages to explain everything he is discussing in such a clear, and engaging fashion. Although I do not usually think of finance books as "page turners" I read this one virtually, in one sitting.

My other favorite book.......2007-05-17

I know the title of the book sounds like a joke but it's a great book. In fact, it is my favorite investment book after Warren Buffett's letters to shareholders. Joel Greenblatt takes you to investing areas that aren't followed closely by Wall Street and help you make money at the same time.

I am also a sucker for investment books that are fun to read and doesn't cause me to feel like I'm chewing glasses. This doesn't mean this book isn't top-notch! For what it's worth, I would've probably pay over $50 for this gem.

A good book, despite the title.......2007-04-15

Although the title leaves a little to be desired, and you may want to hide it from friends who think you have a get-rich-quick scheme brewing, this book is actually full of insightful knowledge about special situation investing. These are situations in which the market may misjudge a company's stock price and a smart investor may be able to jump in and take advantage of the temporary mispricing. A few examples include spin-offs, where a company will break off a part of its business as a new company with its own stock, corporate restructuring, merger securities, and companies recovering from bankruptcy. Each chapter covers a different concept and includes a few examples.
The book is written well with lots of humor throughout. A beginner without an adequate background in business may find the topics confusing, but intermediate investors should be able to find some practical knowledge of places to look for mispriced companies. A warning: the ideas do require some homework. Be prepared to read through press releases, financial statements, and other boring pieces that no one else bothers to read to find potential picks. But that's what value investing is about, finding the stocks that no one else bothers to look. Highly recommended.

Uncover the Secret Hiding Places of Stock Market Profits.......2007-04-14

I am usually turned away by cute and quirky book titles, and though this rule is usually a good one to follow, this book is another good reason not to always judge a book by its cover. The sub, sub-title is the real heart of the book on how to "uncover the secret hiding places of stock market profits". If I add one of my favorite lines in the book, "you don't have to be a genius, but you do need a basic understanding of financial statements, some common sense, and the patience necessary to gain experience" this quote really sums up the thesis of Mr. Greenblatt. His theme being that I will describe and point the way to some of the hiding places of possible under appreciated value opportunities, but you as the investor must put in the due diligence and a little work on your own.

Though this book was originally published in 1997, Mr. Greenblatt is still at his trade and doing well which bodes well for this book and its teachings. Toss in a little uncertainty, a special situation, your due diligence, and your on your way as you now know the hiding places.

Who are you?.......2007-03-14

There are two types of people; people who save money and people who don't. It is really easy if you don't save money (you will suffer when you are old, but now you are fine). If you save money, you are always thinking about where to invest money. You can either put money in bank (where you are barely beating inflation) or you can put money in stock market.
There are two types of people who do "something" in stock market; people who trade and people who invest. If you believe in investing and not trading, you are perpetually worrying about finding "cheap" stocks (if you are buying "expensive" stocks then you should STOP and start trading instead).

It really doesn't matter which category of people you belong to, you really need to read this book as a starting point for your investment education. Joe gives you some investment scenarios to consider for finding "cheap" stocks, but, more importantly he does that in very "average Joe" friendly way. Really easy read.

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