In Space To Stay, the third book in the Beyond the Saga of Rocket Science series, describes the enormously expensive aerospace systems developed on both sides of the Iron Curtain as the Cold War against the Soviet Union progressed. On the military side, these included little-publicized competing military space stations, a plethora of space planes, and dual-use military/civilian space launch systems and space shuttles-notably the U.S. Space Shuttle and its twin brother the Soviet Union’s Buran. The book provides an enthralling behind-the-scenes look at the Moon Race, this time from the United States point of view. In the decades since, both Russia and the U.S. have continued building many space systems, including today’s permanently inhabited International Space Station. This book also describes the difficulties that plague rocket development–not just the technical aspects, but the politics, pernicious federal budgeting and funding, the lack of vision and consensus, and public apathy that stymied the post-Apollo space program.
Tabla de materias
Preface
Series Introduction
Introduction
Apollo Program
The Moon
Apollo 11 Mission: First Humans on the Moon
Other Apollo Missions
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
Public Apathy and Post-Apollo Letdown
Watergate Political Crisis
U.S. Space Shuttle
First Flight–April 12, 1981
Basics of Rocket Performance
Engineering the World’s First Reusable Spaceship
Orbiter
Space Shuttle Main Engines
Solid Rocket Boosters
External Tank
Challenger Disaster–January 28, 1986
Columbia Disaster–February 1, 2003
The Space Shuttle Fleet
Energia-Buran
The Soviet Buran Space Shuttle
Other Soviet Spaceplanes
International Space Station
Predecessors to the ISS
U.S. X-20 Dyna-Soar
U.S. Manned Orbiting Laboratory
Soviet Almaz Space Station
Soviet Salyut Space Station
Soviet Mir Space Station
Early U.S. Space Station Concepts
ISS Modules
Zarya
Unity
Zvezda
Destiny
Quest
Pirs and Poisk
Harmony
Columbus
Kibō
Kibō Pressurized Module
Kibō Experiment Logistics Module
Tranquility
Cupola
Rassvet
Leonardo
Nauka
Kibō Unpressurized Elements
Unpressurized ISS Elements
Soyuz Spacecraft
Orbital Debris
Spacecraft Rendezvous and Docking
Attitude Control Systems
The Post-Apollo Era
The Quagmire of Government Procurements
Enabling Technologies for Access to Space
Aerothermodynamics
High Speed Aircraft
Rocket Combustion Chambers and Nozzles
X-Vehicles
Lifting Body X-Vehicles
Reusable X-Vehicles
Hypersonic Technology Development X-Vehicles
Single Stage To Orbit Vehicles
X-33
Venture Star
Litany of Cancelled NASA Programs
NASA Success Stories
NASA’s ‘Great Observatories’
NASA’s Space Launch System
Space Exploration Architectures
Postlude
Acronyms and Glossary of Key Terms
Space Shuttle Main Engine
Acknowledgments and Credits
Index
Sobre el autor
Prolific author and space transportation systems expert with 45+ years of progressive experience in systems engineering and integration of aerospace and defense systems, systems analysis and trade studies, formulation of system requirements, verification, and validation. Walter Sierra has worked in a variety of assignments from staff engineer to branch supervisor, in locations from major rocket firms in California to the halls of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and many places in between. Author of a four-book series (2021) entitled Beyond the Saga of Rocket Science which is easily readable for those interested in the history of the world’s space programs: (1) The Dawn of the Space Age, (2) Avoiding Armageddon, (3) In Space To Stay, (4) The Never-Ending Frontier. These books have received excellent reviews by Kirkus Reviews, the US Review of Books, Foreword Clarion Reviews, Pacific Book Review, and Blue Ink Review.Author Website: https://www.waltersierra.com