Countdown: A History of Space Flight

by T.A. Heppenheimer

Book Overview

Ein historischer Blick auf das Raumfahrtzeitalter, das die Entwicklung und die Zukunft US-amerikanischer, sowjetrussischer und europaischer Programme verfolgt - in nuchterner Weise, ohne Astronauten oder Technologie zu glorifizieren. Heppenheimer stellt die Raumfahrt in einen politisch-sozialen Kontext und erklart, warum sich die beiden Gro?machte auf einen teuren, politisch brisanten Wettlauf in den Weltraum einlie?en und warum die Ergebnisse trotz...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471291056
• ISBN13: 9780471291053
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 420 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

amazing account

this is a very nice book about the race to space and the moon...a must read for every space enthusiaste

The Ultimate Space History

This is the complete story of the history of space flight. Filled with interesting facts from start to finish. I lived through this time and learned a lot that I didn't know. It was a joy.

Informative, (almost) complete, non-biased.

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 Very Well Written, Informative Account

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.

The Right Stuff -- with the Right Facts!

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.