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An insider’s history of the heart of America’s space program from its earliest days.
NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center set the stage for the American adventure in space. Sprawled across 140,000 acres on Florida’s Atlantic coast, the center has hosted the succession of rocket launches that have rewritten our knowledge of aeronautics and our very understanding of the nature of the universe.
Chosen because of its perfect location, with the wide Atlantic providing a buffer, Kennedy Space Center is now a major tourist attraction appealing to visitors of all ages.
This spaceport has served as the departure gate for every American space flight mission and the launching point of hundreds of other advanced scientific spacecraft. Kennedy Space Center will continue to make history as NASA embarks on new adventures in space exploration.
The book includes detailed information on:
The earliest development of rockets in the United States and GermanyThe development of rockets and their launch facilitiesThe missile race and U.S.-Soviet rivalry to be first in spaceThe great Apollo program and the race to the moonThe shuttle program, the Space Station and the Hubble TelescopeThe future of space exploration.
Clearly written, meticulously researched and packed with more than 150 spectacular images, Kennedy Space Center is the only complete history of this important site.
From the Publisher
Praise for Kennedy Space Center: Gateway to Space
“A highly illuminating text to go with over 150 detailed, richly reproduced photos . . . extremely practical and enjoyable.” — Publishers Weekly
“A story of derring-do, scientific how-to and dreams, it makes for one spectacular rocket ride of a book.” — American Profile
“Extremely meticulous . . . full of elegant descriptions and compelling details . . . exceptional color photographs . . . [will be] devoured by history or space enthusiasts from eight to eighty.” — VOYA
Images from Kennedy Space Center: Gateway to Space
The crew of Columbia wave as they head to Launch Pad 39A for a simulated launch countdown. From left to right are: Ilan Ramon, Kalpana Chawla, Michael Anderson, David Brown, William McCool, Laurel Clark and Commander Rick Husband. 2002.
Discovery makes the slow four mile journey to Pad 39B along the crawlerway. 2005
This photograph, taken by Frank Lovell and Frank Borman in Gemini 6, shows Gemini 7 in orbit 160 miles above Earth during the first successful rendezvous mission between two spacecraft. 1965.
Publisher : Firefly Books
Publication date : September 12, 2006
Language : English
Print length : 248 pages
ISBN-10 : 1554070392
ISBN-13 : 978-1554070398
Item Weight : 3.35 pounds
Dimensions : 9.25 x 0.88 x 11.25 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #428,594 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #188 in Aviation History (Books) #455 in Astrophysics & Space Science (Books) #567 in Astronomy (Books)
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