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(More customer reviews)Countdown is excellent account of the history of space flight. It's well-written and organized and not only discusses the technology of space flight, but also touches on the personalities and politics that have driven its development. Understanding these forces is as important, if not more so, than appreciating the technology. Most accounts focus on the geewhiz aspects of space travel, but don't put them any political or economic context.
Heppenheimer does a wonderful job of reminding the reader about the original impetus for various pieces of space technology. For instance, the Treaty of Versailles limited the types of artillery the Germans could have, so they focused on developing rockets, which the treaty did not address.
He also discusses the origin of the race to the moon and the long-standing interest of many people in going to Mars. Most people outside the space field, and few people inside it, don't realize the influence a series of articles on space travel (which Werner von Braun provided information for and helped edit) in Collier's Magazine in the early 1950's had on the present shape of the U.S. space program - manned flight to the moon and Mars, space stations and the space shuttle.
The book is a bit thin on recent develops - the X-33 program for example - and the Chinese space program, but this is a minor flaw.
Those who are strong advocates of manned space flight should be forwarned. Heppenheimer is clear-eyed and articulate in his criticisms about the utility of this aspect of space exploration. Still, as someone who is a supporter of manned flight, I found his skepticism a valuable and useful reminder that we need to be honest in our appraisal of the U.S. space program and its goals.
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