To Reach the High Frontier: A History of U.S. Launch Vehicles

Author:   Roger D. Launius ,  Dennis R. Jenkins
Publisher:   The University Press of Kentucky
ISBN:  

9780813122458


Pages:   528
Publication Date:   15 November 2002
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
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To Reach the High Frontier: A History of U.S. Launch Vehicles


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Overview

Access - no single word better describes the primary concern of the exploration and development of space. Every participant in space activities - civil, military, scientific, or commercial - needs affordable, reliable, frequent, and flexible access to space. To Reach the High Frontier details the histories of the various space access vehicles developed in the United States since the birth of the space age in 1957. Even with four decades of public and private effort, access to space remains problematic. The core of the U.S.'s present launch capability, the Atlas, Titan, and Delta launchers, though much evolved, originated as military ballistic missiles in the 1950s. In fact, all U.S. launchers, including NASA's Saturn and Space Shuttle systems, have involved significant government input, as well as the efforts of private contractors. The technical challenge of reaching space with chemical rockets, the high costs associated with space launch, the long lead times necessary for scheduling flights, and the poor reliability of the rockets themselves show launch vehicles to be the space program's most difficult challenge. This book presents case studies in the history of all the major rockets built by the United States. Each study has been written by a specialist knowledgeable about the vehicle described and places each system in the larger context of the history of spaceflight.

Full Product Details

Author:   Roger D. Launius ,  Dennis R. Jenkins
Publisher:   The University Press of Kentucky
Imprint:   The University Press of Kentucky
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 3.30cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.942kg
ISBN:  

9780813122458


ISBN 10:   0813122457
Pages:   528
Publication Date:   15 November 2002
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  General/trade ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Table of Contents

Reviews

If this book can contribute to make access the top priority again then its specialist case studies will have formed a bridge from the past to a new future in space. -- Spaceflight A valuable contribution to the field of aerospace literature. A comprehensive discussion of the political and social influences on the development of launch vehicles. -- Michael L. Ciancone A must-read for anyone interested in space history. -- Liftoff The people, contractors, and government organizations that improved launch systems, and the means they developed to put payloads into orbit.... Highly recommended. -- Choice The breadth and depth of the essays provide a very detailed view of U.S. launch vehicle programs and how they got to where they are today.... A must-have addition to any space flight professional's or enthusiast's library. -- Astropolitics Until now, no single book has addresses the parallel and intersecting histories of American launch vehicles.... Includes a chapter on every American launch vehicle used to access space since 1957: Atlas, Delta, Titan, Minuteman, Saturn V, Centaur, and the shuttle. -- Technology and Culture Brings together the leading names in space and aeronautics to study major launch vehicles of the twentieth century. -- Science Book Board Details the history of U.S. rockets and propellants from World War II to modern space flight when there were amazing advances in fuels, engines, targeting, materials, and rocket bodies. -- Military Review This valuable contribution to the field of aero-space literature is a comprehensive discussion of the political and social influences on the development of launch vehicles. -- McCormick (SC) Messenger Brings together analysis of numerous important issues in the history of space access. -- Journal of Military History An excellent book for those wanting to understand the development and importance of U.S. launch vehicles. -- Air Power History


Until now, no single book has addresses the parallel and intersecting histories of American launch vehicles.... Includes a chapter on every American launch vehicle used to access space since 1957: Atlas, Delta, Titan, Minuteman, Saturn V, Centaur, and the shuttle. -- Technology and Culture


<p> Until now, no single book has addresses the parallel and intersecting histories of American launch vehicles.... Includes a chapter on every American launch vehicle used to access space since 1957: Atlas, Delta, Titan, Minuteman, Saturn V, Centaur, and the shuttle. -- Technology and Culture


Until now, no single book has addresses the parallel and intersecting histories of American launch vehicles.... Includes a chapter on every American launch vehicle used to access space since 1957: Atlas, Delta, Titan, Minuteman, Saturn V, Centaur, and the shuttle. -- Technology and Culture This valuable contribution to the field of aero-space literature is a comprehensive discussion of the political and social influences on the development of launch vehicles. -- McCormick (SC) Messenger The people, contractors, and government organizations that improved launch systems, and the means they developed to put payloads into orbit.... Highly recommended. -- Choice The breadth and depth of the essays provide a very detailed view of U.S. launch vehicle programs and how they got to where they are today.... A must-have addition to any space flight professional's or enthusiast's library. -- Astropolitics If this book can contribute to make access the top priority again then its specialist case studies will have formed a bridge from the past to a new future in space. -- Spaceflight Details the history of U.S. rockets and propellants from World War II to modern space flight when there were amazing advances in fuels, engines, targeting, materials, and rocket bodies. -- Military Review Brings together the leading names in space and aeronautics to study major launch vehicles of the twentieth century. -- Science Book Board Brings together analysis of numerous important issues in the history of space access. -- Journal of Military History An excellent book for those wanting to understand the development and importance of U.S. launch vehicles. -- Air Power History A valuable contribution to the field of aerospace literature. A comprehensive discussion of the political and social influences on the development of launch vehicles. -- Michael L. Ciancone A must-read for anyone interested in space history. -- Liftoff


Author Information

Roger D. Launius, chief historian of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, D.C., has written or edited more than twenty books, most recently Imagining Space: Achievements, Predictions, Possibilities, 1950-2050. Dennis R. Jenkins, a consulting engineer in Cape Canaveral, Florida, has written over thirty works on aerospace history, including Space Shuttle: The History of the National Space Transportation System - The First 100 Flights.

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