Blazing the trail : the early history of spacecraft and rocketry / Mike Gruntman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gruntman, Mike, 1954-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Rocketry--History.

Rocketry.

Rockets (Aeronautics)--History.

Rockets (Aeronautics).

Space vehicles--History.

Space vehicles.

Physical Description:

xiv, 505 p. : ill.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Reston, Va. : American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, c2004.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book presents the fascinating story of the events that paved the way to space. It introduces the reader to the history of early rocketry and the subsequent developments that led into the space age. People of various nations and from various lands contributed to the breakthrough to space, and the book takes the reader to faraway places on five continents. It also includes many quotes to give readers a flavor of how the participants viewed the developments. Most publications on the topic either target narrow aspects of rocket history or are popular books that scratch the surface, with minimal and sometimes inaccurate technical details. This book bridges the gap. It contains numerous technical details usually unavailable in popular publications. The details are not overbearing and anyone interested in rocketry and space exploration will navigate through the book without difficulty. There are 340 figures and photographs, many appearing for the first time

Contents:

COVER

TITLE

COPYRIGHT

FOREWORD

TABLE OF CONTENT

PREFACEThis

1. HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

2. ROCKET PROLIFERATION -THE FIRST WAVE

3. UNDER ROCKET FIRE IN INDIA

4. THE CONGREVE ROCKET

5. ROCKETS COME TO AMERICA

6. FIRST AMERICAN ROCKETS

7. ROCKET PROLIFERATION -THE SECOND WAVE

8. PUBLIC IMAGINATION ON FIRE

9. GREAT PIONEERS

10. THE FIRST MODERN ROCKET

11. JATO AND BEYOND

12. BUILDING THE FOUNDATION

13. ROAD TO SPUTNIK

14. GATEWAYS TO HEAVEN

15. THE BREAKTHROUGH

16. OPENING THE SKIES

17. JOINING THE CLUB

18. THE FIRST THOUSAND YEARS

APPENDIX A: ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

APPENDIX B: SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-60086-873-8

1-60086-872-X

OCLC:

922978868