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| APOLLO 11 : First Men on the Moon Priced as an impulse buy item, this book packs into its pages a wealth of information about man’s first landing on the moon, including 48 pages of colour images from the mission. This highly informative book has been put together by the award winning team who brought you the 'NASA Mission Reports' series of books. This book has been chosen by the IMAX Corporation to be a part of the marketing plans for Tom Hanks’ new movie 'Magnificent Desolation' premiering in North American IMAX theatres in September 2005. { 96pp, 105x175mm, September 2005; PB, £6.95, 1894959272:9781894959278 , Apogee Books } |
| APOLLO 11, VOLUME 1 [Robert Godwin (ed)] CD-ROM and Book. Foreword written by Buzz Aldrin. Since the first glimmerings of intellect on planet Earth the moon's quicksilver light has beckoned. On July of 1969 the people of the world were witness to an event which was the undisputed scientific accomplishment of the 20th century. When astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin planted their footsteps in the barren dusty powder of the lunar surface they not only fulfilled President John Kennedy's bold challenge but also mankind's ancient dream. An accomplishment without parallel, the flight of Apollo 11 stands alone as humanity's greatest feat of imagination made manifest. Some of the rare official documentation of this inspirational voyage is collected and made commercially available for the first time. { 256pp, 180x255mm, June 1999; PB, £13.95, 189652253X:9781896522531 , Apogee Books } |
| APOLLO 12 [Compiled from the NASA Archives & Edited by Robert Godwin] CD-ROM and Book. When the crew of Apollo 11 returned to earth in July 1969 they brought with them a wealth of new information about the moon. Now astronauts Charles (Pete) Conrad, Alan Bean and Richard Gordon would return to the moon and build on that knowledge. The real test for the crew of Apollo 12 was not to see if they could get to the moon, but to see if they could get to an exact place on the moon. Their target was in an area known as the Ocean of Storms. On 14 November 1969 the crew of Apollo 12 blasted off to their place in history. Not only would Conrad and Bean become the third and fourth men to walk on the moon but they would land the lunar module Intrepid within 600 feet of their designated target. Waiting for them was the unmanned space probe Surveyor 3 which had soft-landed in April 1967. The flight of Apollo 12, which began almost catastrophically when the huge Saturn V was struck by lightning just moments after lift off, went on to yield an enormous amount of valuable data collected during over seven and a half hours on the lunar surface. On their return home the crew of Apollo 12 became the first humans to witness an eclipse of the Sun by the Earth. REVIEW: "Likely to appeal to someone who likes to delve deeply into the workings of NASA..." -- Astronomy Now, August 2001. "An essential read, Apogee should be applauded for producing this material in such an attractive format..." -- Spaceflight, August 2002. { 248pp, 180x255mm, November 1999; PB, £15.95, 1896522548:9781896522548 , Apogee Books } |
| APOLLO 12, VOLUME 2 [Robert Godwin (ed)] In November 1969 two more humans set foot on the lunar surface, in the process, further reinforcing the indisputable pre-eminence of the United States as the world’s greatest technological power. There was no longer any need to establish the high ground in the ideological struggles of the Cold War. Charles ‘Pete’ Conrad, Alan Bean and Richard Gordon were making the voyage with higher goals in mind -- further testing the technology and making a start on real lunar science. The average person may look into the following pages and see only statistics and charts but if you look hard enough you can see that they contain the hard-earned kernels of our collective future, a future as a space-faring civilisation. Captured here are the details of leaky spacesuits, rockets struck by lightning, spacesuit cooling systems which stop working because the spacecraft’s door got stuck closed and cameras which were disabled by dust. Or the details of the pinpoint landing by Pete Conrad, through a pall of lunar dust so thick he couldn’t see his landing site from 40 feet away. If you want to know why that TV camera failed or just how badly decomposed the robotic Surveyor had become after three years on the moon, it’s all here, accompanied by hours of rare and unique video of the Apollo 12 mission. DVD-Video includes: Unique synchronised film and audio of the lunar landing, rendezvous and docking. Rare training footage of the crew aboard the KC-135, launch footage, multi-camera EVA film and more! Hours of video! REVIEW: "...show[s] what an extraordinary achievement it was." -- New Scientist, February 12th 2005. { 192pp, 175x255mm, November 2004; PB, £16.95, 1894959167:9781894959162 , Apogee Books } |
| APOLLO 13 [Robert Godwin (ed)] CD-ROM and Book. Homer himself could not have written a more captivating story than the flight of Apollo 13. On 11 April 1970 veteran astronaut Jim Lovell and his crew mates Jack Swigert and Fred Haise rode atop the ill-fated journey to the moon. The aptly named command module Odyssey and the reluctant lunar module lifeboat Aquarius were to take the three men to a date with the lunar highland area known as Fra Mauro but fate and a faulty circuit in one of the vehicle's oxygen tanks would irrevocably alter their plans and turn the flight of Apollo 13 into an epic to rival the original Odyssey. After an explosion in the service module crippled the spacecraft while it was still outward bound, the crew would spend several harrowing days in near frigid temperatures while the technicians at home worked around the clock to devise new and ingenious ways to keep them alive and bring them home safely. In 1970 some considered Apollo 13 a catastrophic failure but it has since been recognised as one of NASA's truly great moments, when the spirit of daring and ingenuity came to life in the team at Mission Control as they successfully brought the crew home. Some of the rare official documentation of the voyage of Apollo 13 is collected and made commercially available for the first time. REVIEW: "Likely to appeal to someone who likes to delve deeply into the workings of NASA..." -- Astronomy Now, August 2001. "An essential read, Apogee should be applauded for producing this material in such an attractive format..." -- Spaceflight, August 2002. { 264pp, 180x255mm, March 2000; PB, £15.95, 1896522556:9781896522555 , Apogee Books } |
| APOLLO 14 [Robert Godwin (ed)] CD-ROM and Book. After the unfortunate accident which befall Apollo 13 the job of getting NASA back to the moon fell on the shoulders of America's oldest astronaut Alan B. Shepard. Shepard had been grounded since the flight of Freedom 7 in 1961 due to an inner ear disorder. After undergoing treatment the 'Icy Commander' was bumped to the top of the flight roster and appointed to command the flight of Apollo 14 to the Fra Mauro highlands of the moon. Spending nearly ten hours on the moon in February 1971 Shepard and Lunar Module pilot Edgar Mitchell conducted a wide range of scientific experiments including Shepard's unplanned test of the flight of a golf ball in lunar gravity. Once more the world sat and watched in awe as the United States successfully put two more men on the moon's surface while Stuart Roosa orbited above in the Command Module Kitty Hawk. Shepard and Mitchell hiked almost to the top of a 400 foot crater before running out of time and returning to the Lunar Module Antares. Apollo 14 returned to the Earth with a treasure trove of lunar data and over 100 pounds of moon rocks. In this book, some of the rare official documentation of the voyage of Apollo 14 is collected and made commercially available for the first time. REVIEW: "Likely to appeal to someone who likes to delve deeply into the workings of NASA..." -- Astronomy Now, August 2001. "An essential read, Apogee should be applauded for producing this material in such an attractive format..." -- Spaceflight, August 2002. { 248pp, 180x255mm, January 2001; PB, £16.95, 1896522564:9781896522562 , Apogee Books } |
| APOLLO 16, VOLUME 1 [Robert Godwin (ed)] The landing site selected for the crew of Apollo 16 was in the lunar highland area of Descartes. NASA chose to send John Young to command the fifth lunar landing mission. Young had as much or more flight experience than any other member of the astronaut corps. He had circumnavigated the moon on Apollo 10 and he had flown two Gemini missions. Young would later go on to be the first commander of the Space Shuttle. The Descartes landing site was chosen because it appeared to be of volcanic origin. If it was, it might reveal secrets about the origins of the Earth. For three days Young and Duke embarked on their rover, away from the Lunar Module 'Orion', through rugged landscapes, in search of the origins of our world. Meanwhile Ken Mattingly shot hundreds of photographs and probed the moon's magnetic field from the Command Module 'Casper'. Back on Earth the political climate was beginning to turn against NASA and the remarkable risks and exploits undertaken by the crew of Apollo 16 went almost unnoticed. The three intrepid explorers and their spacecraft harvested a wealth of new data about the Earth-Moon system in an almost flawless performance of skills and bravado. Compiled here are many important documents about the mission including the complete debriefing in the crew's own words. The CD-ROM features an exclusive interview with Commander John Young and the complete footage shot at Descartes, over 2500 still pictures and 18 interactive panoramas. Running time: over 10 hours. REVIEW: "...highly useable and desirable... outstandingly good value as a compact rich source of data of all kinds it can be recommended..." -- Spaceflight, May 2003. Reviewed in Telescopium, Journal of the Swedish Astronomical Society, Spring 2003. "A must for space buffs, or anyone who wants to learn about the historic events that once enthralled a generation..." -- The Observatory, June 2003. { 312pp, 180x255mm, July 2002; PB, £15.95, 1896522580:9781896522586 , Apogee Books } |
| APOLLO 17, VOLUME 1 [Robert Godwin (ed)] It was just past midnight in the early morning hours of 7 December 1972 when the last manned Saturn V roared from the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center. Strapped into the crowded Command Module were Commander Eugene Cernan, Command Module Pilot Ron Evans and Lunar Module Pilot/Geologist Harrison Schmitt. Their destination was a steep sided lunar valley on the edge of the Sea of Serenity, known as Taurus-Littrow. What this crew hoped to do was increase man's store of knowledge about our nearest celestial neighbour by taking along a trained scientist for the first time. Harrison 'Jack' Schmitt was a fully qualified geologist who had been the man who contributed to all of the Apollo astronaut's geological training. Now it would be his turn to witness first-hand the geology of another world. Accompanying Schmitt was another astronaut 'rookie', CMP Ron Evans, who would be left in lunar orbit to map out the moon in unprecedented detail. Presiding over this highly trained crew was veteran Gemini and Apollo astronaut Gene Cernan, returning to the moon for a second time this time with the intention of living there for three days. Apollo 17 was the culmination of man's greatest programme of exploration. An unparalleled triumph of planning and technology flown by a team of professionals with expert precision. Includes a new introduction about the legacy of Apollo by Dr Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 Lunar Module Pilot and the only scientist to walk on the moon. This book contains many of the internal NASA documents from this extraordinary voyage made commercially available for the first time. CD-ROM Features: The complete Television downlink from the lunar surface, over 11 hours of video, plus a series of unique interactive panoramas of the lunar surface. REVIEW: "Another excellent volume in the series..." -- Spaceflight, November 2003. "This excellent record is highly recommended for space buffs and historians..." -- The Observatory, October 2003. "It gives a real sense of how hard everyone worked to make Apollo 17 happen..." -- Astronomy Now, October 2003. { 240pp, 175x250mm, November 2002; PB, £15.95, 1896522599:9781896522593 , Apogee Books } |
| APOLLO 8, 2ND EDITION [Robert Godwin (ed)] CD-ROM and Book. On 21 December 1968 the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration sent three men to orbit the moon. Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot James Lovell and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders were to be the first people to enter deep space. It was the boldest step yet taken in the quest to fulfill President John Kennedy's goal of landing a man on the moon by the end of the decade. To accomplish the task the world's biggest and most complex rocket was built by a syndicate of America's leading aerospace manufacturers. Capable of throwing over 100,000 pounds to the moon it was at that time the most complex machine ever devised by the hand of man. The Apollo-Saturn V was a goliath and the flight of Apollo 8 proved it was an incredible vehicle. The Apollo 8 NASA Mission Reports finally puts in one place four of the most important documents from this triumphant odyssey, The Apollo 8 Press Kit, The Apollo 8 Pre-Mission Report and Objectives, The Apollo 8 Supplemental Technical Report and The Apollo 8 Post Flight Summary. These four documents show the staggering proportions of the undertaking required to send men into lunar orbit. It is a testament to the ingenuity of the American people and the bold courage of three men. Includes 40 pages of new information. REVIEW: "Likely to appeal to someone who likes to delve deeply into the workings of NASA..." -- Astronomy Now, August 2001. "An essential read, Apogee should be applauded for producing this material in such an attractive format..." -- Spaceflight, August 2002. { 232pp, 180x255mm, August 2000; PB, £15.95, 1896522661:9781896522661 , Apogee Books } |
| ARROWS TO THE MOON : Avro's Engineers & the Space Race [Chris Gainor] On 20 February 1959 the Canadian government shut down the CF-105 Avro Arrow jet interceptor programme, putting the cream of Canada's aerospace engineering talent out of work. Many of the Avro engineers had just arrived in Canada from Great Britain. A brand new organisation called the Nationl Aeronautics and Space Administration was charged with putting US astronauts into space, and in 1959 it desperately needed engineering talent. Within 10 weeks of the demise of the Arrow, 25 Avro engineers were working for NASA, and another seven joined them later. Other Avro engineers found work with the aerospace contractors that built spacecraft and boosters or NASA. A little more than 10 years later, US astronauts were standing on the surface of the Moon in the climax of one of the greatest stories of technology and exploration in human history. This book tells for the first time the story of the Canadian and British engineers from Avro Canada who played key roles in putting Americans on the Moon and in building today's US space programme, including the space shuttle and the International Space Station. Also included are other Canadian contributions to Apollo and a chapter on the Canadian space programme. This is the final chapter in one of the most compelling stories in Canada's history. How the demise of Canada's national dream contributes to one of the greatest triumphs in American history. REVIEW: "A fitting tribute to some of the unsung heroes of manned space exploration..." -- The Observatory Magazine, October 2002. "Space history at its best... a good read and well worth its price..." -- Spaceflight, October 2002. Review in the Swedish astronomical journal 'Telescopium', Winter 2002. { 350pp, 180x255mm, November 2001; PB, £17.95, 1896522831:9781896522838 , Apogee Books } |
| ASTRONAUT & THE FIREMAN : Stories of Space Technology in Everyday Use ((Apogee Space Series)) [Frank Sietzen] From life-saving equipment used by first responders to the latest medical research devices and food-safety protocols, this book describes the process by which both NASA and commercial developers bring products from the space laboratory to the marketplace. The latest scientific research aboard the space shuttle and International Space Station are detailed, along with case-by-case profiles of what astronauts in a lunar colony would be doing and what benefit a Moonbase might have for future generations. It also includes appendices with contact lists for NASA spin-offs, Space Technology Hall of Fame award winners, and the 182 areas of scientific research planned for the return to the Moon. { 280pp, 180x255mm, December 2008; PB, £24.95, 1894959744:9781894959742 , Apogee Books } |
| ASTRONAUTICS, BOOK 1 : Dawn of the Space Age [Ted Spitzmiller] This is the definitive history of mankind’s exploration of space. It examines the epic events that shaped the era and provides appropriate insight into the wide-ranging impact that this endeavour has had on technology, politics, and society. The book provides enough detail to satisfy the serious enthusiast, but without the minutia that so often blocks the casual reader. To accomplish this, Astronautics is presented as two books, each covering a particular phase of man’s progress. "Book 1 - Dawn of the Space Age" chronicles mankind’s desire to know more about the cosmos and his dreams of reaching into its depths. It describes the initial discoveries, inventions, and engineering innovations that became the foundation of rocket technology. It follows the two pre-eminent countries in their quest for the 'ultimate weapon' that would provide the path to space. It describes the decisions that resulted in the first artificial satellite programs in the United States and the former Soviet Union. It follows the events that shaped the initial thrust into space as represented by the first Soviet Sputniks and the shocked response by the Americans. It details the belated and often failure prone launches that humbled a great nation. The book describes the first attempts to reach the Moon and the planets and explains the techniques and physics involved. It illustrates the engineering requirements of the first manned spacecraft and the selection and experiences of the first spacefarers. Each chapter of each book analyses a topic so that readers can achieve a relatively complete understanding of a special interest area without the need to ferret information from multiple chapters. However, each chapter and each book is linked to the whole by a careful interconnection of a set of themes. { 232pp, 180x255mm, September 2007; PB, £12.95, 1894959639:9781894959636 , Apogee Books } |
| ASTRONAUTICS, BOOK 2 : To the Moon & Towards the Future [Ted Spitzmiller] An accessible and elucidating account of the events surrounding America's commitment to land a man on the moon, this follow-up book demonstrates how that venture shaped the future of space exploration. Topics ranging from the Gemini, Voskhod, Soyuz, and Apollo programs to the development of the space shuttle and the evolution of the International Space Station are detailed. The politics and contemporary events of the period and how they influenced space exploration are also explored. { 260pp, 175x255mm, October 2007; PB, £13.95, 1894959663:9781894959667 , Apogee Books } |
| ATLAS -- THE ULTIMATE WEAPON : By Those Who Built It [Chuck Walker with Joel Powell] This is the story of the Atlas rocket, America’s first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), and workhorse of the civil and military space programs since the late 1950s. The book is written by Chuck Walker, a participant in the Atlas program starting in 1953 with the prime contractor, Convair-Astronautics. Mr. Walker began his career with Convair as a test engineer for Atlas, later moving to the Test Planning Group and then became manager of Program Control for Atlas. In his role of establishing the schedules of all work done at Convair-Astronautics, Mr Walker came to know personally many of the people who were responsible for running the Atlas program. It was these people that Mr. Walker approached to tell the story of the Atlas program in their own words. he book is divided into two parts. The first part covers the military career of Atlas from conception through to the costly development and deployment of the weapon system at bases scattered throughout the United States. The second part of the book relates to the role of Atlas in Americas space programs from the late 1950s to the present day. The Project Mercury manned space flights with Atlas are also covered in detail. Biographies of promi-nent Atlas managers and the contributors to this book are also included. The book is profusely illustrated with over 100 black-and-white photographs from the Convair archives, many of which have never been published before, and there is also a section of spectacular color photographs. REVIEW: "If you want the inside story on 'the ultimate weapon,' look no further!" -- International Space Review, August 2005. "The 'complete story' of the first American ICBM...up to the usual Apogee Books standard..." -- Magazine of Astronautics & Outer Space, 2005. Story feature in March 2006 issue of Spaceflight. { 308pp, 175x255mm, April 2005; PB, £16.95, 1894959183:9781894959186 , Apogee Books } |
| BEYOND EARTH : The Future of Humans in Space [Bob Krone PhD (ed)] This is a critical time for the space program, and for all of us. Even the significant steps that we have taken since the dawn of the space age in 1957, including orbital flight, the Moon landings, and orbiting space stations, will in retrospect seem to be tiny steps compared to what lies ahead. Migrating into space will challenge us beyond anything we have previously accomplished, and we are destined to face adventures that are both fantastically breathtaking and supremely dangerous. "Beyond Earth" is for everyone interested in humankind's next great adventure -- the human settlement of the Solar System. A unique collection of world-class scholars, scientists, engineers, managers, astronauts, artists, authors, and professors examine the key questions of our unique circumstance at the dawn of a new era in space exploration and development: Why does space matter to us? What can we use it for? How can we get there efficiently? What will ordinary life be like in space? What will our homes be like on the Moon? On Mars? In orbit? Will we play? Will we love? The book does not stop with questions. It goes beyond the dramatic, the superficial, and the overly technical to the prescriptive, literally laying the brick and mortar for our future space faring civilisation. Contributing authors come from both hard and soft sciences; include education and the arts; and ask children, who will be the future space dwellers, for their visions. They document needed research. There are three underlying assumptions driving this book: First, that the human urge for flight, exploration and survival, plus its curiosity about the universe, are deeply embedded in our genes and in our minds; Second, that even if these urges were ignored, the continual improvement of the quality of life for the human race on earth, and perhaps even its ultimate survival, hinge on the successes of human exploration and habitation of space; and, Third that our generation can use the opportunity presented by outwards expansion to design a rewarding and exciting future of collaboration to capitalise on the lessons learned from human history on Earth. { 296pp, 175x255mm, May 2006; PB, £18.95, 1894959418:9781894959414 , Apogee Books } |
| CANADA'S FIFTY YEARS IN SPACE : The COSPAR Anniversary [Gordon Shepherd & Agnes Kruchio] International space science began suddenly with the creation of COSPAR (Committee on Space Research) in October, 1958, and its first plenary meeting was held in London, in November the same year. Canada was at the table for both the creation and the first plenary meeting. This book describes the parallel growth of the Canadian space science program from that date up to the 50th Anniversary of COSPAR, to be celebrated in Montreal in July 2008. This work relates the history of ground-based activity that placed Canada at the forefront of nations with knowledge of space in 1958, gained primarily through observations of the aurora borealis by optical and radar methods. By the time of the International Geophysical Year, 1957-58, Canada was well established in this research and had built its own rocket payloads. During the sixties this activity increased tenfold with the inception of the Alouette/ISIS satellite missions in 1962, and a vigorous rocket program conducted at Fort Churchill and elsewhere. After the last Defence Research Board satellite, ISIS-11, was launched in 1971 the program changed direction; the National Research Council maintained the rocket program at a lower level and space opened up for Canadian instruments on international spacecraft leading to some highly successful missions. Long overdue, the Canadian Space Agency was established in 1989 and is now leading a more mature program including Canada's first scientific mission since ISIS-11 (SCISAT-1), the Earth-observing Radarsat-1 and a strong astronaut program. The final achievement of the fifty years is a Canadian-built lidar that is part of the NASA Phoenix mission and is on its way to Mars, destined to land there in May 2008. { 280pp, 180x255mm, April 2008; PB, £14.95, 1894959728:9781894959728 , Apogee Books } |
| COLD WAR TECH WAR : The Politics of America's Air Defense [Randall Whitcomb] "Cold War Tech War" explores the geo-political, technical and economic aspects of the Avro Canada story. Author Randall Whitcomb reveals for the first time anywhere several exciting design proposals of the Avro company while putting the company and its technology into an international context. Global intelligence angles are explored from pre-WW II through the Cold War period. Focus is on bi-lateral issues with the Americans, with some pertinent American statesmen and industrialists receiving special attention for their roles in issues at the heart of our story. Recently released official information on the Avro C-102 Jetliner and CF-105 Arrow present their cancellations in a new light. Over a half-Century of deception by various governments, intelligence agencies and individuals is documented and given relevance in view of today's geo-political milieu. As in the author's first book, Avro's engineering is shown to have been visionary -- and still inspiring in the 21st Century. { 312pp, 180x255mm, August 2008; PB, £14.95, 1894959779:9781894959773 , Apogee Books } |
| COLUMBIA ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORT : Report Volume One & Supplemental Materials [Compiled & Edited by Robert Godwin] Includes over a dozen extra documents including the original 157 page Press Kit. CD-ROM includes: Video footage of the foam insulation impacts and the impact testing; Video footage of the re-entry; NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe's Press Conference. REVIEW: "...It is always difficult... to present a balanced but informative and questioning account of a setback. With this in mind Godwin has chosen the correct route..." -- Dave Shayler, Spaceflight, April 2004. "...eminently readable and while naturally technical at times, I was able to fully undersand and comprehend everything very clearly - undoubtedly its aim." -- Robin Flegg, Astronomy Now, July 2004. "The most valuable single source of information about the shuttle programme ever made available in the public domain....a treasure trove for anyone interested in space technology and the history and evolution of human spaceflight." - The Observatory, April 2005. Also reviewed in Telescopium, Journal of the Swedish Astonomical Society. { 264pp, 180x255mm, January 2004; PB, £19.95, 189495906X:9781894959063 , Apogee Books } |
| CONQUEST OF SPACE [David Lasser, Introduction by Arthur C Clarke] David Lasser stands as one of the least-known but extraordinary pioneers of spaceflight. In 1930 he founded the American Interplanetary Society (AIAA) -- the same year he wrote this book -- the first book ever written in the English language to address the notion of spaceflight as a serious possibility. The book has not been in print since 1931 and yet it still stands up to scrutiny. The lucid style with which Lasser explains the basic concepts of rocketry make it a delight for anyone to read. REVIEW: "This book is riveting. Once I began reading it I could not put it down..." -- Patrick Moore, The Observatory, June 2003. "A fascinating piece of space history. I recommend this book as a valuable addition to anyone's space library..." -- Spaceflight, April 2003. "David Lasser stands as one of the least-known but extraordinary pioneers of spaceflight. In 1930 he founded the American Interplanetary Society (today's AIAA) -- the same year he wrote this book -- the first book ever written in the English language to address the notion of spaceflight as a serious possibility. This book has not been in print since 1931 and yet it still stands up to scrutiny. The lucid style with which Lasser explains the basic concepts of rocketry make it a delight for anyone to read. Only a handful of errors creep into the text and all of those were based on the bet information available at the time. The 'Conquest of Space' is a milestone work of spaceflight literature and was state of the art in 1931. No space enthusiast's library is complete without it." -- Robert Godwin, Editor of 'The NASA Mission Reports'. Swedish language review in their astronomy journal 'Astro', Autumn 2003. { 191pp, 180x255mm, September 2002; HB, £19.95, 1896522920:9781896522920 , Apogee Books } |
| CREATING SPACE : The Story of the Space Age Told Through the Models [Mat Irvine; Foreword by Sir Arthur C Clarke] Foreword by Sir Arthur C Clarke. Space exploration began with model and toy rockets. History shows that the greatest Rocketeers began their careers flying model rockets. Now in this book the story of the space race is told in dazzling colour. From the birth of models to the present day the toy rockets have often inspired the real rockets of the future. In fact model manufacturers like Revell and Aurora were frequently in trouble with the defence department for revealing military secrets! This is the Story of the Space Age, and uses the models to illustrate the way history twisted and turned to put us where we are today -- and maybe how space travel will develop in the future. REVIEW: "I defy anybody not to be fired up by the author's obvious enthusiasm..." -- Spaceflight, May 2003. "An absolute joy to dip into..." -- The Observatory, June 2003. "This book is ideal for model hobbyists, and for space history enthusiasts..." -- Astronomy Now, July 2003. { 352pp, 180x255mm, August 2002; PB, £24.95, 1896522866:9781896522869 , Apogee Books } |
| DEEP SPACE [Robert Godwin (ed)] Continuing with Apogee Books’ acclaimed NASA Mission Reports Series this latest entry covers all of the unmanned deep space probes including Pioneer 10 & 11, Voyager 1 & 2, Galileo and Cassini, NEAR, Stardust and Deep Space One. With all of the press kits and flight data for each of the deep space probes including all of the latest information on Cassini's mission to Saturn . This is the most comprehensive study of NASA's Deep Space Probe Program ever published! The BONUS DVD: Side 1 features DVD video of the Voyager, Galileo and Cassini missions, and more. Side 2: features hundreds of colour pictures of the outer solar system; MPEG video of Pioneer 10’s 5th Anniversary press conference; full-colour NASA documents of the Voyager, Galileo and Cassini missions; complete Cassini-Huygens mission press release archive, and program updates. REVIEW: "...it will bring hours of pleasure to planetary mission enthusiasts or historians of space exploration." -- Professor Fred Taylor, BBC Sky At Night Magazine, July 2005. "Highly recommended." -- J.Z. Kiss of Miama University, in Choice, September 2005. "Any space buff will enjoy this collection of reports..." -- Astronomy, September 2005. { 432pp, 175x255mm, April 2005; PB, £22.95, 1894959159:9781894959155 , Apogee Books } |
| DEEP SPACE [Stephen Whitfield] For as long as mankind has possessed a sense of wonder, astronomy has been practised in one form or another. It can be thought of as having graduated to the status of a true science at the point in history when it became forever separated from astrology. Clearly they were not of the same mould; astronomy was hard to do; astrology was merely hard to swallow. The next significant change came in the early 20th century. Men and women of science felt it was no longer sufficient to simply catalogue the visual characteristics of the stars and other heavenly bodies; the desire to understand their physical makeup, behaviour and creation gave us the study of astrophysics. As the name suggests, this is the physics of astronomical bodies and the space they inhabit. During the second half of the 20th century interest turned also to the other eight planets of our solar system, spawning several new disciplines relating to Planetology, the formation of the solar system, and the possibility of past or present extraterrestrial life. Every decade of the last century brought ever more numerous and fascinating discoveries. It was not until 1930 that Pluto, the ninth planet, was discovered. Only as late as 1978 was it discovered that Pluto possessed a moon. And now, in late 2005, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has given astronomers evidence that Pluto may have not one, but three moons. In recent decades much interest has also been given to the far reaches of the universe -- far stars; other galaxies, some old, some still forming; and even the earliest detectable galaxies of the universe, at the very limits of our ability to probe. Each field of space study requires its own special tools and its own expertise. The many programs that come loosely under the headings of astronomy and space exploration are as varied and rewarding as the fascinating discoveries that they have made. To the uninformed, the exploration of deep space may seem esoteric and unexciting, but in truth the wonder and the beauty of deep space outshine almost anything that Earth and man can offer. The time when people can go and explore deep space in person is still well into the future. Until then, we shall continue to do as we have done for the past 40 years, sending unmanned spacecraft and satellites as our proxies and ambassadors to the universe. This book examines deep space exploration missions, past, present and future, and their results. { 96pp, 105x175mm, February 2006; PB, £6.95, 1894959299:9781894959292 , Apogee Books } |
| DYNA-SOAR : Hypersonic Strategic Weapons System [Robert Godwin] It was a Space Shuttle with a mission -- to drop a weapon payload anywhere on Earth and to do so while approaching its target at hypersonic velocity -- 18,000 miles per hour. Between 1957 and 1963 the Dyna-Soar programme consumed 430 million dollars of the US taxpayer's money. However, it never flew. Cancelled less than two weeks after President Kennedy's assassination, the Dyna-Soar (or X-20) was consigned to oblivion by the stroke of a pen. Today, much of the research and technology acquired during the Dyna-Soar programme is still valid. Much of it went into the Space Shuttle and some is still being used as background for the various vehicles on the drawing boards. The story of Dyna-Soar is one of the great 'what-ifs' of American aerospace history. If it had been through to completion it might have seen service as a weapon, a shuttle, a life-boat for the space station, a tourist vehicle, or in its proposed advanced versions even a conveyance for regular trips to the moon base. For the first time this book compiles many of the critical government documents that tell the story of America's extraordinary lost opportunity. Includes DVD. REVIEW: "An excellent addition to the ever expanding space titles produced by Apogee..." -- Spaceflight, January 2004. { 448pp, 180x260mm, May 2003; PB, £23.95, 1896522955:9781896522951 , Apogee Books } |
| EDISON’S CONQUEST OF MARS : The Original 1898 Sequel to H G Wells’ War of the Worlds [Garrett Putnam Serviss] In 1897 H G Wells created one of the greatest science fiction masterpieces ever written – 'The War Of The Worlds'. The story was serialised in newspapers across America and proved to be so popular that the Hearst newspaper group commissioned a sequel, to be written by their own science editor -- Garrett Putnam Serviss. This sequel appeared in February of 1898 and quickly entered into the annals of science fiction history. It is one of the rarest and possibly one of the most important stories ever to appear in the genre. Serviss procured the co-operation of the famous inventor Thomas Edison and wove a totally distinct and astonishing tale of humans invading Mars. Whereas Wells had composed a story of human suffering, Serviss invented the space techno-thriller. This book contains the first space battle to ever appear in print. It is the first alien abduction story. The birthplace of the hand-held phaser-gun. It has asteroid mining and the first truly functional spacesuits. It is a cornucopia of technical ingenuity. The hero of the story is Edison himself. This is the first time this story has appeared, complete and unabridged with the original illustrations since the winter of 1898. First appearance ever outside the USA. Comes with a 13-page essay by editor Robert Godwin and original cover art by Tom Miller. Includes first appearances in fiction: Science: Functional space suits, Manned manoeuvring EVA guns, Using the moon to train for Mars, Using the Martian moons as staging posts, Asteroid mining for platinum group metals, Exploration and accurate description of an asteroid, Accurate description of light and shadow in space, Scientist-astronauts, Accurate understanding of the moon’s history. Folklore: Space combat, Alien abductions, Disintegrator guns, Aliens building the pyramids, Oxygen pills, Cigar-shaped alien spacecraft. { 264pp, 100x180mm, May 2005; PB, £5.95, 0973820306:9780973820300 , Apogee Books } |
| FLOATING TO SPACE : The Airship to Orbit Program ((Apogee Space Series: 72)) [John N Powell] Book & DVD. From the Space Shuttle, to Soyuz, to Spaceship One, riding the explosion at the bottom of a rocket has historically been the only path to space. Is there another way? "Floating to Space" in an overview of the new technology of space-bound airships. What, the Goodyear blimp goes to Mars? Yes! The technology called ATO, "Airship to Orbit" is being developed right now. Hypersonic airships and cities floating at the edge of space are all part of this seemingly impossible idea. Beyond describing the concept, this book shows the amazing adventure of those who are building these giant craft and throwing them into the sky. Not just a fantasy, this book shows photographs and details from the nearly one hundred development flights conducted so far. . . Included are descriptions of the environment where these craft fly to the edge of space. New findings such as life twenty miles up and mile high plasma volcanoes are introduced for the first time outside of scientific journals. This book shows you how ATO is to be accomplished from a project and economic prospective. It also details the progress so far and lays out a blueprint of what is to come. Includes a DVD of remarkable footage taken during the many test flights of JP Aerospace's unique experiments floating to space. { 204pp, 180x255mm, July 2008; PB, £14.95, 1894959736:9781894959735 , Apogee Books } |
| FREEDOM 7 : The First US Manned Space Flight [Robert Godwin (ed)] CD-ROM and Book. Project Mercury, America's first manned space flight program, was orchestrated by NASA's Space Task Group and included suborbital and then orbital flights using the Redstone and Atlas boosters. The period from NASA's inception in late 1958 until Shepard's flight in the spring of 1961 was a time of concentrated activity, much of it breaking new ground, both technologically and medically. From concept to concrete results in a mere two and a half years -- a truly remarkable achievement. Alan Shepard was chosen from the 'Mercury Seven' -- the seven original astronauts selected from all applicants -- to fly Freedom 7 into history. The professionalism and apparent confidence with which he performed made him an early astronaut role model. This book gathers together in one place the rare documents and drawings of the Mercury-Redstone 3 mission -- the flight of Freedom 7. Presented herein are transcripts and documents from the NASA archives, from a time before the assimilation and reporting of mission data was a developed process. The CD-ROM features: The NASA video documentary Freedom 7, video from the Freedom 7 earth-sky camera, video of the Freedom 7 instrument panel, videos of post-flight press activities, and more. REVIEW: "I cannot recommend this book and the series highly enough..." -- Spaceflight, January 2001. "An in-depth examination of the man and the mission that began the space race..." -- The Observatory Magazine, June 2002. Reviewed in Astro, the Swedish Amateur Astronomical Society, June 2002. { 208pp, 180x255mm, September 2001; PB, £15.95, 1896522807:9781896522807 , Apogee Books } |
| FRIENDSHIP 7 : The First Flight of John Glenn [Robert Godwin (ed)] CD-ROM and Book. 20 February 1962 -- after weeks of delays the fledgling National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States of America sent a man into orbit around the Earth. Friendship 7 -- The Nasa Mission Reports takes a look at the first flight of John Glenn through the eyes of the people who made his trip possible. It also includes Glenn's own first-hand recollections of his journey as he reported them in his return. In the days before Press Kits, NASA issued news releases to the media, and so reproduced here in its entirety is the rare official News Release for 21 January 1962. Also included is a transcript of the entire ground-to-spacecraft communications, as well as dozens of diagrams and photographs of the Mercury -- Atlas space vehicle. { 208pp, 180x255mm, June 1999; PB, £13.95, 1896522602:9781896522609 , Apogee Books } |
| GEMINI 12 [Robert Godwin (ed)] NASA's ambitious but essential Gemini Program was culminated in November 1966 with the launch of Gemini 12 from Kennedy Space enter's Launch Complex 19. This tenth manned Gemini mission was the final opportunity to develop and practice many new techniques that were integral to the upcoming Apollo program. With the successful conclusion of the Gemini 12 mission, veteran astronaut Command Pilot James Lovell had set another new record with a total of 18 days in space, and Pilot Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin held the EVA duration record with an umbilical EVA at the Agena work station of 2 hours and 9 minutes. In all, three EVA (extra-vehicular activity) sessions were performed during the mission. Going into the Gemini 12 mission, many questions of EVA procedure were still unresolved. In the past, astronauts had expended too much energy simply staying in position. In an effort to better develop techniques and train astronauts, for the first time, underwater simulation was incorporated into EVA training. Using a submerged mock-up of the Gemini-Agena spacecraft, EVA training proceeded almost to the eve of launch. Training in the neutral-buoyancy underwater simulation allowed the astronauts to practice the entire EVA procedure in a single session -- just as they would be required to do in space. This was a major advance over simulated weightlessness in aircraft parabolic flights, which provided only 30 seconds of weightlessness at a stretch. Gemini 12 successfully executed a fuelless station-keeping exercise for 4 hours and 20 minutes with the use of a dacron tether between the Gemini and Agena vehicles. Once the tether had been pulled taut, the reaction control systems for both vehicles were turned off, and the slight difference in the Earth's gravitational effect on the two space vehicles was sufficient to keep the tether taut, so the two spacecraft remained at a constant separation, without the use of any reaction control fuel. Despite mission changes brought on by a radar lock-on failure and by a malfunction of the Agena Primary Propulsion System (PPS), the Gemini 12 mission was considered to be a major success, continuing the success story of the entire Gemini program. Apollo could take man to the Moon only after Gemini had introduced him to the space environment and taught him how to perform there. CD included. REVIEW: "...highly informative..." -- Spaceflight, June 2004. Reviewed in the Swedish Astronomical Journal Telescopium, Winter 2004. "A valuable addition to the library of any space buff..." -- Peter Bond, The Observatory, February 2005. { 264pp, 175x255mm, January 2004; PB, £15.95, 1894959043:9781894959049 , Apogee Books } |
| GEMINI 6 [Robert Godwin (ed)] CD-ROM and Book. Lost in the glare of Apollo's success, the Gemini program is often forgotten. Without the ten successful manned Gemini missions NASA could not have accomplished Kennedy's seemingly impossible goal of landing a man on the moon in the 1960s. Gemini 6 the fifth manned flight of America's two-man spacecraft. Aboard were Commander Wally Schirra and rookie pilot Tom Stafford. Their original mission flight plan was to attempt the first ever docking and rendezvous in space, an essential step if the pilots flying Apollo would ever be able to meet up in orbit around the moon. The Soviet Union had claimed the first space rendezvous but many felt that unless the pilot was in control and able to manoeuvre around the accompanying vehicle it could not truly be called a rendezvous. On October 25th 1965 the target vehicle, known as Atlas/Agenda failed to make orbit and so the crew of Gemini 6 were suddenly presented with a totally revised and audacious flight plan. The long duration Gemini 7 mission was already scheduled for launch and so the crew of Gemini 6 were told that NASA would attempt a double manned mission and rendezvous. This was undoubtedly a risky proposition which would stretch the NASA infra-structure to its limits. On December 15th 1965 ace pilot Schirra and rendezvous maestro Stafford closed to within a meter of Gemini 7 and America was one step closer to the moon. Includes: Windows CD-ROM featuring: an exclusive recent interview with Commander Wally Schirra; all of the still photo images taken during the mission; two 28 minutes -- 'Gemini Science' and 'Gemini 7 and 6' plus the complete 16 mm film from the mission. REVIEW: "An essential read, Apogee should be applauded for producing this material in such an attractive format..." -- Spaceflight, August 2001. { 200pp, 180x255 mm, December 1999; PB, £13.95, 1896522610:9781896522616 , Apogee Books } |
| GEMINI 7 [Robert Godwin (ed)] On 4 December 1965 NASA launched the Gemini 7 spacecraft, on a Titan II booster, putting Frank Borman and James A Lovell Jr into Earth orbit. Before men could journey to the Moon, new hardware and many new procedures had to be developed and tested. The Gemini VII mission was an important milestone along the path to Apollo. Astronauts Frank Borman, command pilot, and James LovelI, pilot, aboard Gemini VII set a record for space mission duration -- over 330 hours (14 days) initiating the era in which space missions were to be measured in days instead of mere hours. Gemini VII, in concert with Gemini VI, also performed the first-ever orbital rendezvous and station keeping. Another 'first' associated with the mission was the rapid turn-around of a launch facility. The Gemini VI mission (delayed from its original 25 October launch date) was launched from the same pad as Gemini VII, only days later, rather than after the normal two-month turn-around time. Both Borman and LovelI both went on to fly Apollo missions, Borman commanding the first manned space flight to orbit the moon. During this 14 day period, the Gemini 7 mission achieved some remarkable 'firsts' -- manned 'station keeping' (formation flying) and 'proximity operations' (relative manoeuvring in orbit) with the Gemini 6 spacecraft, and performed more than 20 scientific experiments. This report includes some of the rare official documentation of this historic voyage which has been collected and made commercially available for the first time. Includes a CD-ROM featuring: MPG video, Proud Conquest Part II; 16mm In-flight footage; High resolution Earth photographs taken from Gemini VII. REVIEW: "An invaluable resource for anyone interested in understanding mission objectives..." -- Spaceflight, November 2002. "Overall a good buy for the space fanatic..." -- The Observatory, June 2003. Reviewed in Telescopium, the Journal of the Swedish Astronomical Society, Spring 2003. { 208pp, 180x255mm, March 2002; PB, £15.95, 1896522823:9781896522821 , Apogee Books } |
| GETTING OFF THE PLANET : Training Astronauts [Mary Jane Chambers & Dr Randall Chambers] Today, the training of American astronauts is almost taken for granted, but prior to 1961 no one knew whether humans could function in space at all. Space suits, working in free fall, and surviving the punishing accelerations of launch and re-entry were all complete unknowns. It was well recognised that if we were to send men into space, they would first have to be extensively trained. But what was that training to consist of? And exactly who would provide the training? As it turns out, the training was, at times, as dangerous and demanding as the space flights that followed -- for the training experts as well as the astronauts. At the forefront of the effort to train America's astronauts was Dr Randall Chambers. Over the course of a long and distinguished career he turned his mind (and body) to a wide variety of disciplines, in order to best prepare our astronauts for space flight. It was not unusual for Dr Chambers to put himself in the astronaut's position, literally -- before he would put the astronaut there. Dr Chambers and his co-workers not only had to be the very best in their profession, they had to define and refine that profession as they went along -- pioneers in the truest sense of the word. As the requirements and demands of human space activities increased, the lives of the astronauts were completely dependent on their trainers always being one step ahead of them. Career journalist Mary Jane Chambers has witnessed her husband's career first hand, and has worked with him to present a story that non-scientists will enjoy -- no equations, no charts; but rather a human tale of amazing people. This book is the story of a dedicated man of science, a friend of the astronauts, and an unsung hero of the space age. Behind every successful space program there are special people with the dedication of Dr Randall Chambers. REVIEW: "If you enjoy reading about the background to how the US went into space this is for you." -- Rex Hall, Spaceflight, July 2006. { 120pp, 175x255mm, January 2006; PB, £12.95, 1894959205:9781894959209 , Apogee Books } |
| HIGH FRONTIER : Human Colonies in Space, New Edition [Gerard K O'Neill] CD-ROM and Book. Man's on-going conquest of the solar system has been much publicised for its miraculous accomplishments. What is generally less publicised are the potential uses of space beyond simply landing men on another planet. 'Flags and foot-prints' is something we can all be proud of, but the true value of near-Earth space lies with the possibilities for manufacturing and colonisation. Processes not possible on Earth, because of atmosphere and gravity, can be employed in space to produce unique and highly desirable commodities. Habitats built in space, occupying the same orbit as the moon and made primarily from lunar raw materials, can be the necessary answer to our desperate, ever-increasing needs for living and agricultural areas. O'Neill is universally recognised as the father of the 'O'Neill colony' concept. Beginning in the 1970s, he took the original concepts and built from them a complete, realistic and attainable plan -- a plan to orbit permanent colonies at the L4 and L5 Lagrange points in near-Earth space, where everyday people would live, work and play in comfort and safety in an environmentally satisfying world. In this 3rd edition of The High Frontier, is O'Neill's original blueprint for the future, accompanied by new chapters presenting the up-to-date technologies and social considerations that impact upon and further justify the plan. This is a vision of a possible hopeful future that could already have come to pass if the human race had committed to it -- it is still a source of hope for the future. { 184pp, 180x255mm, January 2001; PB, £17.95, 189652267X:9781896522678 , Apogee Books } |
| HUBBLE : Space Telescope [Steve Whitfield] The dazzling vistas that the Hubble Space Telescope has recorded since its launch in 1990 are presented, along with explanations of what exactly Hubble has seen during it's years in orbit. It tells the complete Hubble story -- from the program's shaky start to the extraordinary success that followed, inspiring bigger and better successors in the years to follow. Line drawings of its hardware offer a supplementary understanding of Hubble's technological development. { 96pp, 105x175mm, September 2006; PB, £6.95, 1894959388:9781894959384 , Apogee Books } |
| INTERSTELLAR TRAVEL & MULTI-GENERATIONAL SPACE SHIPS [Yoji Kondon et al (eds)] Instead of blindly following popular preconceptions and biases about matters that we have not yet had the chance to test or verify, examined in this volume is our current state of knowledge, as well as our present state of ignorance, on subjects related to interstellar travel. The science and technology of the future that would be available for building interstellar space ships would indeed be quite different from those imagined from the perspectives of the early twenty-first century. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to start thinking what it will take to mount such an undertaking so that we can begin exploring various scientific and engineering possibilities now -- rather than wait endlessly for 'the right time' to come. REVIEW: "...the book does come into it's own in the second section, which deals with the human aspects of multi-generation space ships. ...I found this section interesting and insightful and it was also detailed enough to use as a base for further reading...It has done well to discuss topics not familiar to the average astronomer in such a fascinating way. ...I must admit that I felt that I had learned something, and maybe even felt a little inspired." -- Peter Grindrod, The Observatory, April 2004. Reviewed in Telescopium, Journal of the Swedish Astronomical Society, Summer 2004. { 128pp, 180x260mm, June 2003; HB, £18.95, 1896522998:9781896522999 , Apogee Books } |
| ISSCAPADES : The Crippling of America’s Space Program [Donald A Beattie] In 1984 President Ronald Reagan approved a program to build a space station in low-Earth orbit, he named it "Space Station Freedom". With changing administrations the station has undergone continual redesigns and has gradually evolved into a multinational effort -- the International Space Station. NASA has taken a lot of heat for cost overruns, but where does the fault actually lie? Author Donald Beattie places the blame squarely on bureaucrats and the back-seat drivers in Congress and the White House, politicians and lawyers who presume to know better than scientists and engineers. Over the years NASA has continually been saddled with politically motivated redesigns and budget cuts while never having a clearly defined goal. Bringing Russia on board as a major partner was supposed to have two advantages: use the decades of Russian expertise in building space stations to save money; and buy American security by keeping Russian rocket scientists fully employed in peaceful endeavours. But any cost savings were consumed by the chaos within the Byzantine Russian space industry, while Russian rocket technology has already crept over into China and may now be leaking into North Korea. The space station program has never had a recognised Mission Statement. How can you plan towards achieving an undefined goal? The current administration’s rationale seems to be "we said we’d do it, so we’ll finish it". Donald A. Beattie served on the Space Station Advisory Committee from 1987 to 1994. He recounts the evolution of this troubled program from the perspective of a participant and close observer who worked side by side with many of the early NASA Space Station managers. He pulls no punches in describing the political and managerial conflicts that resulted in severely compromising this major international program. This is the inside story-the escapades of the ISS program. { 228pp, 180x255mm, March 2007; PB, £12.95, 1894959590:9781894959599 , Apogee Books } |
| LAUNCH VEHICLES : Heritage of the Space Race [Michael Lennick] Space junkies and armchair astronauts are provided with comprehensive, handy references for a variety of space-related missions, vehicles, and concepts in this pocket-sized series. Compiled with the co-operation of NASA, each topic-specific reference features relevant statistics, photographs, and the stories behind each project. Books on manned missions include crew photographs, information on patches and equipment, and flight statistics such as time in space, distance travelled, and mission objectives. Photographs and statistics for launch vehicles, orbiters, probes, and experimental equipment are featured in each equipment-specific reference. Covering such design elements as propellants, tanks, engines, and payloads, this detailed look at the mechanism that gets it all started describes 259 types of launch vehicles developed by China, the European Space Agency, Japan, Russia, and the United States. Learn how these most complex and awe inspiring machines actually work and why they call anything that is difficult to achieve "Rocket Science". { 96pp, 105x175mm, February 2006; PB, £6.95, 1894959280:9781894959285 , Apogee Books } |
| LOST SPACECRAFT : The Search for Liberty Bell 7 [Curt Newports] This book describes the exploration of two unique and dangerous environments, space and underwater, and how the paths of two men, one living and one dead, crossed in the recovery of the Liberty Bell 7 spacecraft. The book focuses on two periods, one beginning in 1959, the other in 1985, interweaving the stories of Project Mercury, Gus Grissom and his ill-fated Mercury flight, on-going developments in deep ocean exploration, and Curt Newport's 14 year obsession to raise the sunken space-age titanic from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Also told is how Newport's team, against staggering odds, managed to find the phone box sized space vehicle during this harrowing 1999 expedition, only to see their recovery vehicle and Liberty Bell 7 ripped from their grasp by the forces of nature. Newport later recovered Liberty Bell 7 during what remains the deepest commercial salvage operation in history, returning Grissom's craft to Cape Canaveral, thirty-eight years to the day after Grissom blasted off his tiny launch pad. However, the prevalent theme running through this book is how simple luck almost rivals technical ability when exploring any deadly environment, whether it be the silent void of low-Earth orbit, or the crushing cold of the abyss. Includes a CD featuring the operational log for the recovery of the Liberty Bell and technical drawings. { 216pp, 180x255mm, October 2002; PB, £24.95, 1896522882:9781896522883 , Apogee Books } |
| LUNAR EXPLORATION SCRAPBOOK : A Pictorial History of Lunar Vehicles [Robert Godwin] In 1938 a committee of the British Interplanetary Society drew up the first serious plans for a manned lunar spacecraft. The BIS moon ship would be the first in a long line of designs that would ultimately lead to Tranquility Base and beyond. Working alongside engineers and scientists from Britain, Canada and Germany, the elite of American industrial engineers turned their attention to not only reaching the moon but to establishing a long-term presence there. Between 1958 and 1971 millions of man-hours and untold amounts of money were spent to try and create the hardware necessary to accomplish this unprecedented goal. In this book for the first time in one place, is a pictorial register of many of these incredible designs. A remarkable story of what might have happened if the mighty Saturn V rocket had not been relegated to the status of an historical footnote. In his latest book, "The Lunar Exploration Scrapbook", noted editor and writer Robert Godwin, has distilled years of research into an unprecedented look at the many machines considered by the United States for lunar exploration. Combining the blueprints of the 1950s and 1960s with modern computer graphics, Godwin has brought to life many of the past, and packed them all into one tightly woven package of colour and facts. The Lunar Exploration Scrapbook features colour texture-wrapped renderings of dozens of designs that never left the drawing board, creating a unique look at what might have happened if money had been no object, and humanity had gone to the moon to stay. REVIEW: "This book offers a fascinating visual history of an endeavour that challenged and occupied some of the finest minds of the 20th century." -- Sir Arthur C Clarke "It fills a notable gap in the literature and deserves a place in every scientific library. There is nothing else like it, splendid and carefully researched. Strongly recommended." -- Sir Patrick Moore, CBE, FRS. "A fascinating and fun book...the perfect gift." -- Tom Hanks (Actor/Executive Producer - From The Earth to the Moon). "The Lunar Exploration Scrapbook is a treasure for the serious student of space exploration and for historians following the twists and turns of creative designs for space vehicles." -- Captain Edgar Mitchell (Apollo 14 Moonwalker/Lunar Module Pilot). "This book should be on the desk of everyone working on the next lunar lander. It is full of history and lessons learned." -- Captain Richard Gordon (Apollo 12 Command Module Pilot). { 224pp, 180x255mm, November 2007; PB, £16.95, 1894959698:9781894959698 , Apogee Books } |
| MARS [Robert Godwin] If you always thought that it was Giovanni Schiaparelli who first coined the phrase 'Canali' pertaining to the straight lines he appeared to observe on Mars you’d be wrong. In 1858 an astronomer working at the Vatican observatory named father Pietro Angelo Secchi took it upon himself to create his own drawings of Mars. The red planet was now nearing a close approach to earth and the powerful Vatican telescope was capable of resolving detail previously invisible to most astronomers. Secchi thought he saw a series of straight lines on the Martian surface so he made an innocuous notation in his notes. His sketches and articles were published in 1859 in which he referred several times to 'Canale Atlantico' or 'Canale Ceruleo'. His regrettable choice of words would not have an impact for another eight years. This volume tells not only of people and places that have influenced mankind’s relationship with the enigmatic red planet, but it also shows you the colour drawings that Secchi made, which were provided to us directly by the Vatican itself. Along with many other interesting stories, drawings and photographs this book will be a prize for both the novice or ardent student of Mars. { 96pp, 105x175mm, February 2006; PB, £6.95, 1894959264:9781894959261 , Apogee Books } |
| MARS [Robert Godwin (ed)] CD-ROM and Book. The Red Planet has been a beacon to every race of mankind since the dawn of history. Today Mars stands as a symbol of the high frontier the next logical step in our exploration of the universe around us. In 1964 the United States of America launched Mariner 4 towards Mars in the hope that a handful of pictures returned by the spacecraft might answer some age-old questions. Was there an ancient Martian civilisation? Would there be any signs of life? So began the first step in a close examination of our neighbouring planet. Between Mariner 4 and Mars Global Surveyor in 1988 the United States has sent a fleet of robots to Mars with wildly varying degrees of success. Thanks to these versatile probes we now know almost as much about Mars on a global scale as we do about our own Earth. In this book the triumphs and tribulations of the American Mars programme is gathered together in one place. Press Kits and Mission Reports from every Mars mission are collected together for the first time. Reading these documents presented here in chronological order gives a fascinating insight into how our understanding of the Red Planet has grown over the past four decades. These robot voyages are the advance guard, scouting out the path for the day when men will launch a manned mission to Mars. REVIEW: "A mine of useful information and well worth getting..." -- Astronomy Now, September 2001. "A well-conceived book which those interested in planetary exploration cannot afford to miss..." -- Spaceflight, November 2000. { 424pp, 180x255mm, May 2004; PB, £18.95, 1896522629:9781896522623 , Apogee Books } |
| MARS,VOLUME 2 [Robert Godwin (ed)] In 1877 the famed Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli used his brand-new 8.6 inch telescope to study the planets. To his great surprise he suspected that he saw symmetry on Mars. In the years that followed one astronomer after another looked at the red planet and gradually a mythology was formed -- a mythology of alien intellect. By the 1890's the martial influence had spilled over into all walks of life and sparked philosophical debates and wondrous fictions. Scientists, fantasists and people of all creeds looked up and wondered -- is there life out there? Now, more than a century later, nations around the world are bombarding Mars with an unprecedented fleet of exploratory vehicles. Their journey taking less time than it took Amundsen and Shackleton to reach the poles of Earth, these small but hardy robotic emissaries are thrusting their way through the depths of interplanetary space to take up residence in the barren Martian deserts. Their goal is to answer one of the oldest questions in mankind's history. Is there life out there? In this sequel to the best-selling first volume, the reader is brought up to date with the most recent results from our nearest neighbour. Filled with a wealth of facts about the latest fleet of Martian explorers as well as a look at what may be coming next in mankind's most ambitious quest for knowledge. Includes DVD-V / DVD-ROM featuring: Exclusive interviews with Mars Rover Mission Scientist Steve Squyres, Senior Flight Engineer Rob Manning, Mission Manager Jim Eriksen, the complete Cornell animation of the Rovers created by Maas Digital, a NASA animation of a proposed Manned Mars mission, the exciting mission control broadcast of the landing of Opportunity in Meridiani Planum and as an added extra special bonus, extremely rare video of Dr Wernher von Braun filmed in 1976 at the occasion of his last public speech about Mars exploration. REVIEW: "...As a source of data and illustrative materials it is quite comprehensive and up to date... The DVD alone is worth the price of the book..." Richard Taylor, Spaceflight, September 2004. "If you're even slightly interested in astronomy, you'll be fascinated by what's here... " -- Nick Chang, Focus, August 2004. "This latest volume brings the exploration of Mars up to date..." -- Spaceflight, September 2004. "[an] impressive package..." -- The Observatory, June 2005. Also reviewed in Telescopium, Journal of the Swedish Astronomical Society. { 416pp, 175x255mm, February 2004; PB, £20.95, 1894959051:9781894959056 , Apogee Books } |
| MOONRUSH : Improving Life on Earth with the Moon's Resources [Dennis Wingo] If by some magic process humanity was able to go to the stars tomorrow and find habitable worlds we would probably want to design a society based upon modern technology. We can't do this but we can look at our Earthbound society and think about how to redesign it so that it will work better. It is like a giant game of the SIMS but in the real world. This book examines how the exploration of space, specifically a commercial base on the Moon and Mars would transform our economies on the Earth as surely as the discovery of the New World transformed the old world of Europe. From Platinum Group Metals for fuel cells, manufacturing high tech metals and robots to the building of a fusion reactor, the Moon holds great promise for a high tech manufacturing future. This book takes a look and imagines how a world with such resources could be designed for our future. REVIEW: "...a very readable and entertaining piece..." -- Magazine of Astronautics and Outer Space, 2005. { 264pp, 180x255mm, June 2004; PB, £13.95, 1894959108:9781894959100 , Apogee Books } |
| NEW MOON RISING : The Making of America's New Space Vision & the Remaking of NASA [Frank Sietzen Jr & Keith L Cowing] This book looks at the inside deliberations that led to President George W Bush's space exploration initiative. The author team has been granted unprecedented access to senior policy makers as the plan was assembled during 2003 and 2004. Sietzen and Cowing will give exclusive details on the meetings between President George Bush, Vice President Richard Cheney, and senior members of the White House staff as the planning process began. In addition Sietzen and Cowing will examine how policy was translated from paper into hardware designs including the first outline of the plan's new space vehicle and how the inspiration behind the architecture once used in the Apollo program was summoned back to guide 21st century space planners. Sietzen and Cowing will describe how the Columbia accident and the political outcry for a new central goal for the US space program gave rise to what would become the most far reaching change in US space policy in a generation. Readers will have the most comprehensive look available on what this new space vision will do for human exploration of the Solar System -- and how nearly everything NASA does will change as a result. New Moon Rising: The Making of America's Space Vision and the Remaking of NASA, by Frank Sietzen, Jr. and Keith L. Cowing, to be published July 2004. The team broke the story on the space plan in the pages of the Washington Times and in the United Press International wire service. Portions of the book were serialised in the Times in a multi-part background article called "Why Some Said the Moon: The Exclusive Inside Story of the Bush Space Vision" published in January 2004. REVIEW: "...reveals how secret inner White House circle created the Bush Administration's new space vision..." -- Spaceflight, September 2004. "...provides a lucid look at the messy and tangled process by which national science and engineering policy really gets made." -- IEEE Spectrum, March 2005. "...not the usual technological, 'gee whiz' space book." -- The Observatory, June 2005. { 280pp, 175x255mm, July 2004; HB, £23.95, 1894959124:9781894959124 , Apogee Books } |
| ON TO MARS 2 : Exploring & Settling a New World [Edited by Dr Frank Crossman & Dr Robert Zubrin] The exploration and colonisation of Mars, as discussed in the more than 130 papers and essays from the Mars Society's annual conferences, is presented in this second volume of the On to Mars series. Formed in 1998 to support the exploration and settlement of Mars, the Mars Society seeks to educate and convince political powers, industry leaders, and the public about the necessity of committing resources to the development of a Mars settlement program. Covering recent technological and planning advances, these essays cover the last three years of Mars Society meetings and discuss such topics as habitat infrastructure, exploration technique, and colony organisation as they have been explored at the Mars Society's Analog Research Stations at Devon Island, Nunavuit in Canada and in Hanksville, Utah. Two short videos, Stepping Stones to Mars and Robert Zubrin's testimony before the Senate Committee on Commerce at the Hearings on the Future of the US Space Program, are featured on the included CD-ROM. { 264pp, 180x255mm, October 2005; PB, £14.95, 1894959302:9781894959308 , Apogee Books } |
| POCKET SPACE GUIDE DISPLAY BOX (FILLED) The Pocket Space Guide© concept is based around the idea of providing the space aficionado with a series of books covering the entire gamut of space exploration in a user friendly format. A standard paperback book at a reasonable price. Ideal for gifts for children who are interested in space. For space enthusiasts, or as a gift for that person in your family who is involved in astronautics and aviation. Compiled with the co-operation of NASA from the extensive files of Apogee Books! Each title is 96 pages in length and features 48 pages of colour photographs. Each book is packed with relevant pictures and data for each subject, such as crew photographs for each mission, crew patches, flight statistics such as time in space, distance travelled, mission objectives and a host of the best pictures taken during each program/mission. This special display box comes complete with 6 copies of each of the following titles: "Deep Space", "Mars", "Apollo 11" and "Launch Vehicles". { April 2006; DS, £166.80, 1894959485:9781894959483 , Apogee Books } |
| PROJECT APOLLO : The Test Program [Robert Godwin] The compact and concise design of this guide to the Apollo missions belies its enormous content, with pertinent facts and colour images for each mission -- from Apollo 1 to Apollo 10. Providing an overall picture of the Apollo program, this guide includes sections on astronauts, mission patches, launch vehicles, command vehicles, landing vehicles, launch dates, mission objectives, flight plans, space suits, life support systems, and triumphs and failures. Both seasoned space buffs and young adults nurturing their interest in the space program will find this a perfect resource for the first 10 Apollo missions. { 96pp, 105x175mm, September 2006; PB, £6.95, 1894959361:9781894959360 , Apogee Books } |
| PROJECT APOLLO : Exploring the Moon [Robert Godwin] Facts and images for Apollo missions 12 to 17 are covered in this concise guide to the program's essentials, mission objectives, dates, flight plans, astronauts, space suits, and vehicles -- for collectors, educators, space enthusiasts, and those just discovering the history of the space program. { 96pp, 105x175mm, September 2006; PB, £6.95, 189495937X:9781894959377 , Apogee Books } |
| PROJECT CONSTELLATION : Moon, Mars & Beyond [Tim McElyea] Written by a longtime reporter on space exploration, this guide takes an in-depth look at Project Constellation, the bold new initiative designed to bring America’s space exploration program into the 21st century. The new space age will combine hard-won experience and modern spacecraft and launch systems with the dedication and professionalism that have long been foundational to human space exploration. This Pocket Space Guide invites the reader into the world of Project Constellation. { 96pp, 105x175mm, January 2007; PB, £6.95, 1894959493:9781894959490 , Apogee Books } |
| PROJECT GEMINI [Steve Whitfield] This stunning collection of images illustrates the incredible impact the Gemini space missions had on science and the amazing crew and spacecraft that were instrumental to the program's success. Essential facts obtained from official NASA documents detail the science involved in reaching Earth's orbit and remaining in space for days at a time and provide insight into the data gleaned during the Gemini missions that eventually led to landing on the Moon. Comprehensive and succinct, this guide to the Gemini missions will appeal to both new and old space enthusiasts. { 96pp, 105x175mm, March 2007; PB, £6.95, 189495954X:9781894959544 , Apogee Books } |
| PROJECT MARS : A Technical Tale [Dr Wernher von Braun] This never-before-printed science fiction novel by the original 'rocket man', Dr Wernher von Braun, combines technical fact with a human story line in the way that only a true dreamer can realise. Written more than half a century ago, this enthusiastic tale of human space exploration, based on detailed and accurate science, has lingered unpublished in von Braun’s personal files until now, nearly 30 years after his death and 57 years after it was written. This exclusive von Braun treasure comes complete with an appendix of his original calculations and technical drawings, made in the late 1940s, on which the story's journey is based. This novel takes the reader through the entire adventure -- the planning for a Mars mission, the building of the mighty space ships, the long journey, the amazing discoveries made on Mars, and the return home. Gary Holt, former Chief Instructor of Rocket Pilots for the US Space Force, leads a 10-ship multinational team to Mars -- a Mars with one surprising difference from our Mars! -- and after spending months exploring the red planet, brings his mission home a complete success. The author's detailed attention to the actions and feelings of the characters -- both those who went and those who stayed behind -- makes this an adventure of human proportions, rather than merely another fanciful tale. { 280pp, 155x230mm, October 2006; PB, £7.95, 0973820330:9780973820331 , Apogee Books } |
| PROJECT MERCURY [Steve Whitfield] Basic technical details are coupled with a complete pictorial history of Project Mercury in this compact and concise guide. Fascinating facts extracted from official NASA documents and colour images of the people, machines, and methods involved in Project Mercury provide a comprehensive picture of the hundreds who helped make the program successful. Both seasoned space buffs and young adults nurturing their interest in the space program will find this an informative resource for the Project Mercury mission. { 96pp, 105x175mm, March 2007; PB, £6.95, 1894959531:9781894959537 , Apogee Books } |
| REFERENCE GUIDE TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION [Gary Kitmacher (ed)] The International Space Station is a unique exploit in international co-operation, an unparalleled technical and political achievement. It is the latest step in humankind’s quest to explore and live in space. The results of research done on the ISS will enable us to improve life on Earth, and provide us with the knowledge and experience necessary before we can journey to other worlds. As of mid-2006, the ISS has been continuously crewed for over 5 years and is about 50 percent complete. There are 16 station elements in orbit today, nine elements ready for launch at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and another six elements in process at various international partner sites. To date, there have been over 50 flights to the ISS, including flights for assembly, crew rotation and logistical support. The ISS is currently operating with a crew of three. Its assembly will continue through the year 2010. and as it grows, its capabilities will increase, requiring a larger crew. Currently, 16 countries are involved designing, building, launching and manning the ISS. This book is designed to provide a broad overview of the International Space Station’s complex configuration, design, and component systems. As well, the sophisticated procedures required in the Station’s construction and operation are presented. { 104pp, 175x255mm, February 2007; PB, £10.95, 1894959345:9781894959346 , Apogee Books } |
| REFLECTIONS FROM EARTH ORBIT [Captain Winston E Scott USN Retired] In spite of the recent loss of the space shuttle Columbia, there are those who believe in the seemingly routine nature of space flight. The author's experiences however confirm the tremendous curiosity and overall fascination the world maintains for flying in space. As a public speaker, he talks regularly to thousands of people of all ages and from every walk of life. These audience members universally are inquisitive about life in space and the makeup of the individuals who form the corps of con-temporary space explorers. Reflections From Earth Orbit is not your typical 'how do you go to the bathroom in space' book. It is a book about life as told through the memories, or reflections, of the author navy Captain Winston Scott. These reflections were prompted by events that occurred during two space shuttle missions as a NASA astronaut aboard the space shuttles Endeavour and Columbia. It has been written that Captain Scott's journey to the stars is a testament to perseverance and vision. Reflections is his attempt to share some of the experiences that drove him to overcome his life's obstacles and become one of a select few who journeyed beyond the bonds of earth into outer space. Through Reflections the author takes the reader into space. He gives vivid descriptions of life in space emphasising the everyday aspects of living with which the average, everyday person is curious and to which he or she can relate. As his memory is jogged by an event in space, Captain Scott relates a fascinating story with lessons learned from his past. He has succeeded in capturing the essence of life in space and sharing the space flight experience with the reader. Although not every chapter follows this exact format, e.g. Where Have You Gone Sky King, Reflections will entertain, educate, and inspire a general audience. In other words, one does not have to be a space enthusiast to enjoy 'Reflections'. REVIEW: "...an excellent title on several levels..." -- ww.dsairpublications/ISR.com { 128pp, 180x260mm, May 2005; PB, £16.95, 1894959221:9781894959223 , Apogee Books } |
| RETURN TO THE MOON [Edited by Rick Tumlinson & Erin Medlicott] In this volume of essays, the top experts and major players behind the United States's recently renewed push to the moon fuel a growing debate over lunar exploration. The announcement in 2004 that the US would be revamping its moon program inspired both excitement about the possibilities and concern over cost and safety issues. This book takes the controversy out of the realm of pure science and into the mainstream of national debate. Lunar experts Alan Binder, Andy Chaikin, Yoji Kondo, Courtney Stadd, Frank White, and many others weigh in on the case for a return, point out the best way to do it, and speculate on what could be done with this newly obtained real estate. The essays are accompanied by illustrations of what life on the moon might look like. Contributions come from different perspectives and styles, offering a broad take on the very real possibility that humans will again walk -- and work, live, and play -- on the lunar landscape. From telescopes and tourism, to training for Mars, to building a new b { 208pp, 175x255mm, November 2005; PB, £15.95, 1894959329:9781894959322 , Apogee Books } |
| RUSSIAN SPACECRAFT [Robert Godwin] Complete with photographs and drawings from Russia's Rocket & Space Corporation Energia, this Pocket Space Guide is a condensed history of the Russian Space Program from 1946 to the present day. Fifteen years after the founding of the program, in April 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to fly in space, and the race was on. Fabulous spacecraft photos and facts illustrate and authenticate this authoritative history. { 96pp, 105x175mm, September 2006; PB, £6.95, 1894959396:9781894959391 , Apogee Books } |
| SAUCER FLEET : Volume 2 of The Spaceship Handbook ((Apogee Space Series)) [Jack Hagerty & Jon C Rogers] An ideal companion for any sci-fi fan, space buff, or alien aficionado, this movie guidebook discusses six of the most famous and significant science fiction films ever produced. Each film's backstory and production histories along with plot synopses and detailed analyses of the featured flying saucers are included. Featuring film classics such as The Day the Earth Stood Still, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, Forbidden Planet, This Island Earth, and War of the Worlds, this guidebook also includes an extensive look at the groundbreaking television show Lost in Space. { 240pp, 180x255mm, December 2008; PB, £24.95, 1894959701:9781894959704 , Apogee Books } |
| SEX IN SPACE [Laura Woodmansee] As hoteliers design zero-gravity hotel suites for out-of-this-world unions and with the first honeymoon in space already scheduled, this provocative account reveals the truth about romantic rendezvous in Earth's orbit and beyond as well as the advantages and difficulties of having sex in space. Questions the space agencies are too embarrassed to discuss -- such as Has anyone 'done it' in space? What will happen to the first baby conceived in space? and Have astronauts and cosmonauts practised 'docking manoeuvres' while in orbit? -- are thoughtfully answered, while science-fiction myths about interstellar intercourse are dispelled. From chemistry to psychology, this exploration runs the reproductive and sexual gamut, from lust and sexual mechanics to conception, pregnancy, and birth in low-gravity situations. { 136pp, 150x230mm, July 2006; PB, £9.95, 1894959442:9781894959445 , Apogee Books } |
| SIGMA 7 : The Six Orbits of Walter M. Schirra [Robert Godwin] At 7:15 a.m. on October 3, 1962, Project Mercury Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr., in his Sigma 7 spacecraft, was launched into space and orbited the Earth six times, completing another step in the grand U.S. program to send a man to the Moon and then return him safely to Earth. Because of the brief durations of the previous Mercury flights, the astronauts spent the majority of their flight time in getting to orbit and preparing to leave orbit. Schirra's six-orbit mission lasted more than nine hours, which for the first time allowed an astronaut to experience an extended period of weightlessness. In addition, the time available allowed Schirra to engage in orbital manoeuvring, exercising the various manual and automatic control modes, and to spend time on photography and scientific experiments. After his return to the United States, Schirra described his Sigma 7 mission as "a text book flight." A compilation of inputs from engineering, operations and medical personnel had been integrated into a single flight plan, which Schirra then carried out exactly as he had trained. The unqualified success of this flight paved the way for the planned upcoming one-day mission, an important milestone on the journey to the Moon. In this book the Mission Press Kit and press releases are combined with the major post-mission reports to provide a comprehensive picture of the flight from the planning stages through to its successful completion. Sigma 7 - The NASA Mission Reports is taken directly from the NASA archives. It presents the details of the Mercury-Atlas 8 mission, the overall Project Mercury game plan, astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr., and all of the many professional support people and facilities that went into making the mission a complete success. Includes a CD-ROM featuring: An exclusive interview with Mercury Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr; The NASA movie -- Flight of Sigma 7; NASA movie -- Unmanned Mercury Missions; NASA Document (pdf) -- Space Medicine in Project Mercury. REVIEW: "Another production of the highly popular series of reproduced NASA Mission Reports..." -- Spaceflight, March 2004. { 216pp, 180x260mm, October 2003; PB, £15.95, 1894959019:9781894959018 , Apogee Books } |
| SIMPLE UNIVERSE [Ian Brewster & Ken Shiwram] No one knows how the universe will end -- but we do have a pretty good idea how it started. Everyone is familiar with the 'Big Bang' theory, but most of us are a little vague as to the details. In a similar manner, we all know the name Albert Einstein; he's the one who invented Relativity, which we all know about, but are perhaps a little hard pressed to describe in any detail. This is a book for average people (that's you and me). We've all been led to believe that in order to understand science you need a high forehead and a shirt pocket full of writing implements. But, that's not really true. The book walks you through it, from atomic physics right through to astronomy, with colourful graphics and understandable text. The authors have shown us that the universe is indeed understandable (Einstein called it 'comprehensible', and we won't argue with him). Modern physics has undertaken a dedicated search for a theory that will knit relativity and quantum theory into one unified field theory. In other words, the search is on for a set of physical laws that will account for the behaviour of both atoms and whole galaxies. This would be a 'Unified Field Theory', also called the 'Theory of Everything' (TOE). This book will show you, in everyday language, both the known factors and the unknowns waiting to be answered. The authors have also undertaken to enlighten us by providing the historical context of the quest to understand our universe. They have even addressed the issues of Creationism versus Science, showing us that there is really no conflict involved. This and much more are logically presented, even such startling concepts as multiple universes, all in a way that anyone can understand. If you have an interest in understanding the universe, this is a good place to start because it takes a complex subject and makes it completely understandable. REVIEW: Reviewed in Telescopium, Autumn 2004 - Journal of the Swedish Astronomical Society. { 108pp, 175x255mm, March 2004; PB, £16.95, 1894959116:9781894959117 , Apogee Books } |
| SPACE SHUTTLE : Fact Archive [Robert Godwin] In the 25 years that America has been flying Space Shuttles, they have done more to further mankind's space effort than anyone could have predicted. The accomplishments and discoveries of the Space Shuttles are colourfully presented in this 'Pocket Space Guide', which chronicles the events and machines that have made humans at home in the Earth's orbit. { 96pp, 105x175mm, January 2007; PB, £6.95, 1894959523:9781894959520 , Apogee Books } |
| SPACE SHUTTLE STS 1-5 [Robert Godwin (ed)] CD-ROM and Book. The Space Shuttle is one of the great triumphs of modern technology. 122 feet long, capable of carrying 65,000 pounds of cargo and weighing in at 90 tonnes, Rockwell's Orbiter stands alone as the world's only aircraft capable of flying into space and returning at speeds exceeding 18,000 miles per hour. On 12 April 1981 two astronauts climbed aboard the fully fueled and integrated Space Transportation System. Twenty years before on the same day a Russian missile had propelled 10,395 pounds into space using 1.1 million pounds of thrust. Gagarin flew 25,000 miles in 108 minutes. On this day 180,000 pounds would ride atop 7.7 million pounds of thrust. However, this crew would be landing on a runway after travelling over a million miles in a little over 54 hours. This book covers the Space Shuttle through the test flight stage and on to its first operational flight. Comprising rare NASA documents never before released to the public the reader is taken inside this remarkable machine in the words of some of the men who flew it. Complete with a Windows CD-ROM featuring NASA movies, hundreds of images and more! REVIEW: "The amount of detail is fantastic and for those interested in the Space Shuttle an essential buy..." -- Spaceflight, January 2002. { 464pp, 180x255mm, August 2001; PB, £18.95, 1896522696:9781896522692 , Apogee Books } |
| SPACE TOURISM : Do You Want to Go? [John Spencer with Karen Rugg] Welcome Aboard! Space is only 100 miles away from anywhere on Earth. Since the early 1980s a small group of visionaries have been pioneering the frontier of off-world tourism. Overcoming significant obstacles, their quest to start the space tourism industry was achieved on 28 April 2001, when American businessman Dennis Tito lifted-off from Russia into Earth orbit for a week-long voyage aboard the International Space station. He was the first space tourist. Upon boarding the Station he said "I love space." He paid millions of his own dollars to fulfil his life-long quest to experience space. Since then another space tourist has flown, and many more are lining up for the opportunity. In the future, space passengers will float and dance in zero gravity, swim in spheres of warm coloured water, enjoy games, saunas, exercise, massage, shopping and world class entertainment. Several private enterprise space tourism companies have recently been formed, some by multibillionaires including the co-founder of Microsoft, Paul Allen, and the founder of Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos. They are spending millions of dollars of their own money. Why? Because they are positioning themselves to be leaders -- the Walt Disney and Baron Hilton of the space tourism industry; an industry destined to be the largest, most prestigious, and profitable industry off-world. This is the first book published in the US on the space tourism theme. It was written and designed by one of the worlds leading authorities and pioneers in the growing field of space tourism, space architect, John Spencer. The book premieres his vision, the "Destiny" orbital super yacht design and master development industry plan for expanding the space tourism movement and creating the long-term space tourism industry. His plan offers opportunities for non-rocket scientists to participate today, to make a difference, and to have a wonderful time in the process. REVIEW: "Written by one of the world's leading authorities and pioneers in the growing field of space tourism..." -- Spaceflight, December 2004. "Space tourism is the topic of the moment...and this book is a very interesting way to introduce yourself to the subject." -- Spaceflight, March 2006. { 218pp, 175x255mm, September 2004; PB, £15.95, 1894959086:9781894959087 , Apogee Books } |
| SPACE TRIVIA [Astronaut Bill Pogue] What city turned its lights on and off to signal an astronaut? Which astronaut was born in China? Who got the first haircut in space? Which Shuttle never made it into orbit? According to their psychologist, what one thing did the first seven astronauts fear? 'Trivia' spans the period from the Mercury project of the early 1960s right up to the current Shuttle/Space Station era. Curious and surprising, obvious and obscure facts provide the basis for Space Trivia. Have fun with this book of 800 questions (and answers). Comprehensive Index. REVIEW: "...a wealth of surprising, obvious and obscure facts...a handy quick reference guide to the who, what and why of space flight." -- Spaceflight, March 2004. " { 156pp, 180x260mm, May 2003; PB, £14.95, 189652298X:9781896522982 , Apogee Books } |
| SPACESHIPS : A Reference Guide to International Reusable Launch Vehicle Concepts from 1944 to the Present [Robert A Goehlich] Space transportation is one of the most essential elements for enabling activities in space. For current rockets, reliability is too low and launch cost is too high when compared to aircraft operations. Reusable Launch Vehicles could solve these deficiencies and are being investigated by many companies. This book contains a databank of 300 worldwide suborbital and orbital Reusable Launch Vehicle concepts. It covers ideas from the first concepts, such as Silver Bird, proposed by Eugen Saenger in 1944, to present ones such as SpaceShipOne, proposed by Burt Rutan in 2003, as well as all X Prize candidates. For reader friendly use, all information is prepared in the same data style, which makes this book a unique reference for rocket scientists as well as everybody interested in and fascinated by rockets. An introduction to space transportation systems, a study on the motivation for developing Reusable Launch Vehicles and a discussion about the benefit of an international Reusable Launch Vehicle program complete this book. { 109pp, 175x255mm, March 2007; PB, £10.95, 1894959507:9781894959506 , Apogee Books } |
| TO THE END OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM : The Story of the Nuclear Rocket: Second Edition [James A Dewar] The exploration of space could have been decades ahead of where we are now... During a two-decade period;, from the 1950s to the 1970s, a nuclear rocket propulsion system was developed capable of performing robotic and human exploration of our solar system. The US government's Rover programme developed the system and succeeded in demonstrating the propulsion capabilities required for deep space exploration missions. The programme was terminated for political reasons in the mid-1970s. You have to wonder-if the nuclear rocket had been used and further developed during the 30 years since then, where could we be today? This comprehensive history details both the technical accomplishments of the nuclear rocket system and the political wrangling that strangled it. Together, NASA and the Atomic Energy Commission carried out the Rover program, and together they had their budgets slashed and were micro-managed by pork-barrel-motivated politicians. And after accomplishing success against the odds, they were shut down. Instead of NERVA, the state-of-the-art nuclear system developed by the Rover program, Congress was sold on the Space Shuttle, outdated before it was launched. Instead of the solar system, we got low-Earth orbit. James A Dewar has produced a well-researched and well-organised account of what was accomplished, who made the decisions, and why it all was for naught. If NASA and the AEC had been allowed to do the job they had originally been given, today we could have been exploring out To the End of the Solar System. { 298pp, 180x255mm, March 2008; PB, £15.95, 189495968X:9781894959681 , Apogee Books } |
| VIRTUAL APOLLO : A Pictorial Essay of the Engineering & Construction of the Apollo Command & Service Modules [Scott P Sullivan] In fiction, spaceships are either flying saucers or large, sleek aerodynamic bullets. In the real world, humanity's first true spacecraft was an unpresupposing cylinder, barely large enough to accommodate three astronauts. The Command and Service modules made up the Apollo spacecraft -- an integration of more than 3 million precision components, comprising the most intricate machine ever created by mankind. Each Apollo spacecraft was an amazing amalgamation of state-of-the-art high technology and hand worked craftsmanship. During each Apollo mission attention was focused on the astronauts, with their marvellous spacecraft impinging on the public's awareness only at take-off and splashdown. But during all the days of each mission the Apollo Command and Service Modules performed faithfully and almost flawlessly, 24 hours a day, keeping three men alive and comfortable, maintaining communications, and monitoring themselves, as well as the astronauts, the Earth and the Moon. With this book, for the first time the public can become acquainted with the Apollo spacecraft in detail and learn the story of its design and construction. Full colour drawings in exacting detail provide and inside and out views of the Command and Service Modules complete with details of construction and fabrication. The Apollo spacecraft is the most intricate and exacting machine ever built, and it had to be as near to perfect as it could be made, every time. With over 3 million components, a performance record of 99.9% would still leave 3,000 parts that could fail -- any one of which might result in the deaths of the crew. With the exception of Apollo 13, the spacecraft lived up to expectations on every lunar mission, and even Apollo 13, after a major explosion, managed to circle the Moon and bring its crew home safely. This is a book long overdue; the care and completeness with which it has been created speak for themselves. Thanks to the dedication and hard work that have gone into this book, we can now truly appreciate the magnificent machine that was the Apollo spacecraft and marvel at the achievements of the many thousands of engineers and technicians who stayed on Earth but were on the mission every step of the way. REVIEW: "This is an informative book with very good clear illustrations. Space enthusiasts will want a copy on their reference bookshelves..." -- Spaceflight, December 2003. "...a remarkable little book...full of fascinating detail..." -- The Observatory, February 2004. { 128pp, 180x255mm, March 2004; PB, £14.95, 1896522947:9781896522944 , Apogee Books } |
| VISION OF FUTURE SPACE TRANSPORTATION : A Visual Guide to Future Spacecraft Concepts [Tim McElyea] The glorious space age has come and gone. So what now? What's next? To go further, to go faster, we must take the next step. Space is still full of mystery and challenges humankind as much as ever. Ideas on what the next step is, or steps are, vary greatly and there is no shortage of concepts for the future of space transportation. Concepts include new engines, new strategies, harnessing gravity, electromagnetism, nuclear energy and more. This book will take you on a guided visual tour of the future of space transportation. From Earth to Orbit to In-Space transportation, you will sample what is being considered and get an easy-to-understand explanation of what the spacecraft will do and how it will work. Decades ago Dr. Wernher von Braun teamed with Walt Disney to animate a mission to Mars and inspired a generation. Today multimedia, animation and video serve a similar communications need. The CD-ROM included contains official NASA videos, vehicle concept animation, and dynamic multimedia. View spacecraft concepts in 3D, see mission animation and hear first hand what the visionaries of the aerospace industry hope to accomplish. REVIEW: "[The images] are in full colour and detailed, and anyone who has an interest in space transportation will find them worthwhile. I can see future space historians looking to these images to indicate how ideas developed, just as today we look at illustrations of von Braun's early work to see how the concept of the Saturn V and Apollo developed." -- Martin Turner, The Observatory, April 2004. "If the reader is looking for great illustrations this is a dream and let us hope it will stimulate a debate on how we can turn some of the concepts into reality" -- Spaceflight, December 2004. { 186pp, 180x255mm, July 2003; PB, £21.95, 1896522939:9781896522937 , Apogee Books } |
| VOICE OF DR WERNHER VON BRAUN : An Anthology [Irene E Willhite (ed)] This collection of speeches by Dr. Wernher von Braun -- a passionate crusader for worthy causes -- touches on a variety of topics, including education, the cold war, religion, and the space program. Mining through more than 500 of von Braun’s speeches, given from 1947 to 1976, this important historical document presents an intimate look into the life of one of the most vital contributors to the development of NASA and the American space race. { 232pp, 175x255mm, July 2007; PB, £14.95, 1894959647:9781894959643 , Apogee Books } |
| WOMEN ASTRONAUTS [Laura Woodmansee] Have you ever wondered what it is like to be an astronaut?; How did other women become astronauts?; How can I become an astronaut?; How can I feel like an astronaut now? What's the history of women astronauts? This is a fun, inspirational book for girls and young women who are interested in space exploration and becoming an astronaut. The book is also for anyone who wants to learn about women astronauts, what they do, and how they got to where they are today. The Included CD-ROM features exclusive interviews with: Bonnie Dunbar, Assistant Administrator of the Johnson Space Center; Ellen Ochoa, Kalpana Chawla, Anna Fisher, Ellen Baker, Linda Godwin, Heidi Piper and Eileen Collins. REVIEW: "It can be warmly welcomed and recommended and with the CD-ROM it is excellent value..." -- Spaceflight, April 2003. "A fascinating book, a very thorough piece of work and a valuable resource..." -- The Observatory, June 2003. "A biography of each astronaut with fascinating insights into their careers and achievements so far..." -- Astronomy Now, June 2003. { 168pp, 180x255mm, August 2002; PB, £18.95, 1896522874:9781896522876 , Apogee Books } |
| WOMEN OF SPACE : Cool Careers on the Final Frontier [Laura S Woodmansee] There are all kinds of cool careers in space exploration! Astronauts are the superstars of space, but there are thousands of other women and men behind the scenes who make space exploration possible. This book is for girls, young women, and anyone else interested in learning about exciting careers in space exploration. Take a ride with Laura S Woodmansee and find out what it's like to be a woman of space. Would you like to know what it's like to be a space scientist searching for life beyond Earth? An engineer designing a spacecraft to send to Mars? Or an artist wh |