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Leaving Earth: Space Stations, Rival Superpowers, and the Quest for Interplanetary Travel
by Zimmerman, Robert
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Very good in very good dust jacket. DJ has slight wear and soiling.
- ISBN 10
- 0309085489
- ISBN 13
- 9780309085489
- Seller
-
Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Washington, DC: Joseph Henry Press, 2003. PResumed first edition/first printing. Hardcover. Very good in very good dust jacket. DJ has slight wear and soiling.. 544 p. Illustrations. Notes. Bibliography. Index. The Joseph Henry Press is an imprint of the National Academies PRess and was created with the goal of making books on science, technology, and health more widely available to professionals and the public. Charged with the ever-present potential for danger and occasionally punctuated by terrible moments of disaster, the history of space exploration has been keenly dramatic. The recent disaster of the Space Shuttle Columbia was a sad but certain reminder that space travel is an extraordinarily dangerous occupation. Oddly enough, it often takes a tragic accident to remind us that we still have a presence in space. In the decades between triumph and tragedy we tend to ignore the fact that there have been scores of space pioneers who have risked their lives to explore our solar system. Indeed, the International Space Station is sometimes referred to as "Alpha, " a moniker that implies that it is our first real permanent presence in space. But this notion is frowned upon by the Russians--and for good reason. Prior to the construction of the controversial International Space Station, a host of daring Russian cosmonauts, and a smaller number of intrepid American astronauts, were living in space for months, some of them for over a year. In this definitive account of man's quest to become citizens of the cosmos, noted space historian Robert Zimmerman reveals the great global gamesmanship between Russian and American political leaders that drove us to the stars. Beaten to the Moon by their Cold War enemies, the Russians were intent on being first to the planets. They believed that manned space stations held the greatest promise for reaching other worlds and worked feverishly to build a viable space station program--one that would dwarf American efforts and allow the Russians to claim the vast territories of space as their own. Although unthinkable at the time, the ponderously bureaucratic Soviet Union actually managed to overtake the United States in the space station race. Leveraging their propaganda machine and tyrannical politics to launch a series of daring, dangerous, and scientifically brilliant space exploits, their efforts not only put them far ahead of NASA, they also helped to reshape their own society, transforming it from dictatorship to democracy. At the same time, the American space program at NASA was also evolving, but not necessarily for the better. In fact, the two programs were slowly but inexorably trading places. Drawing on his vast store of knowledge about space travel, as well as hundreds of interviews with cosmonauts, astronauts, and scientists, Zimmerman has superbly captured the excitement and suspense of our recent space-traveling past. For space and history enthusiasts alike, Leaving Earth describes a rich heritage of adventure, exploration, research, and discovery.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Ground Zero Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 67010
- Title
- Leaving Earth: Space Stations, Rival Superpowers, and the Quest for Interplanetary Travel
- Author
- Zimmerman, Robert
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Very good in very good dust jacket. DJ has slight wear and soiling.
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- PResumed first edition/first printing
- ISBN 10
- 0309085489
- ISBN 13
- 9780309085489
- Publisher
- Joseph Henry Press
- Place of Publication
- Washington, DC
- Date Published
- 2003
- Keywords
- Apollo-Soyuz, Mir, Space Shuttle, NASA, Baikonur, Salyut, Detente, Cosmonauts, Space Station, Polyakov, Skylab, Norman Thagard, Vladimir Titov, Weightlessness
Terms of Sale
Ground Zero Books
Books are offered subject to prior sale. Satisfaction guaranteed. If you notify us within 7 days that you are not satisfied with your purchase, we will refund your purchase price when you return the item in the condition in which it was sold.
About the Seller
Ground Zero Books
Biblio member since 2005
Silver Spring, Maryland
About Ground Zero Books
Founded and operated by trained historians, Ground Zero Books, Ltd., has for over 30 years served scholars, collectors, universities, and all who are interested in military and political history.
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Much of our diverse stock is not yet listed on line. If you can't locate the book or other item that you want, please contact us. We may well have it in stock. We welcome your want lists, and encourage you to send them to us.
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- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...