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Breaking the Chains of Gravity
The Story of Spaceflight before NASA
By: Amy Shira Teitel
Paperback | 30 January 2017 | Edition Number 1
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This book is featured in our Shoot for the Moon collection, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. Visit to see more of the best on all things astronautical.
Product Description
In the 1930s, rockets were all the rage in Germany, the focus both of scientists hoping to fly into space and of the German armed forces, looking to circumvent the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles. One of the key figures in this period was Wernher von Braun, an engineer who designed the rockets that became the devastating V-2.
As the war came to its chaotic conclusion, von Braun escaped from the ruins of Nazi Germany, and was taken to America where he began developing missiles for the US Army. Meanwhile, the US Air Force was looking ahead to a time when men would fly in space, and test pilots like Neil Armstrong were flying cutting-edge, rocket-powered aircraft in the thin upper atmosphere.
Breaking the Chains of Gravity tells the story of America's nascent space program, its scientific advances, its personalities and the rivalries it caused between the various arms of the US military. At this point getting a man in space became a national imperative, leading to the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, otherwise known as NASA.
Industry Reviews
Teitel . . . illuminates the foundations of American spaceflight with this exceptional and detailed 'prehistory' of the field . . . fascinating new territory, filled with a galaxy of lively characters. - Publishers Weekly
This is a good treatment of the origins of the US space program. - CHOICE magazine
Breaking the Chains of Gravity tells the story of how we began to explore the cosmos--the lessons we had to learn the hard way--and shows why space exploration even today remains anything but routine. - Bobak Ferdowsi, Flight Director, Mars Science Laboratory
The Space Race wasn't all about tall, silvery rockets and moon landings. Before America and Russia squared off in an expensive race for glory, a number of quirky, inventive personalities pursued their own goals, with little support. Often facing ridicule for ideas that seemed outlandish to most, they nevertheless laid the foundations for humanity's greatest achievements. Amy Shira Teitel ably chronicles these early efforts to reach beyond our home planet. - Francis French, author of IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON
Teitel delivers on detail, such as the exploits of supersonic-flight pioneer Chuck Yeager. - Nature
ISBN: 9781472911247
ISBN-10: 1472911245
Published: 30th January 2017
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number of Pages: 304
Audience: General Adult
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing (AUS)
Country of Publication: GB
Edition Number: 1
Dimensions (cm): 2.6 x 12.9 x 19.6
Weight (kg): 0.26
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You Can Find This Book In
This product is categorised by
- Non-FictionEngineering & TechnologyTechnology in GeneralHistory of Engineering & Technology
- Non-FictionEngineering & TechnologyTransport Technology & TradesAerospace & Aviation Technology
- Non-FictionEngineering & TechnologyOther Technologies & Applied SciencesSpace ScienceAstronautics
- Non-FictionNature & The Natural WorldPopular Astronomy & Space
- Non-FictionScienceScience in GeneralPopular Science
- Non-FictionScienceScience in GeneralHistory of Science
- Non-FictionScienceAstronomy, Space & Time
- Non-FictionHistoryRegional & National HistoryHistory of the Americas