A witty, deeply researched history of the surprisingly ramshackle Soviet space program, and how its success was more spin than science.In the wake of World War II, with America ascendant and the Soviet Union devastated by the conflict, the Space Race should have been over before it started. But the underdog Soviets scored a series of victories—starting with the 1957 launch of Sputnik and continuing in the years following--that seemed to achieve the impossible. It was proof, it seemed, that the USSR had manpower and collective will that went beyond America's material advantages. They had asserted themselves as a world power.But in The Wrong Stuff, John Strausbaugh tells a different story. These achievements were amazing, yes, but they were also PR victories as much as scientific ones. The world saw a Potemkin spaceport; the internal facts were much sloppier, less impressive, more dysfunctional. The Soviet supply chain was a disaster, and many of its machines barely worked. The cosmonauts aboard its iconic launch of the Vostok 1 rocket had to go on a special diet, and take off their space suits, just to fit inside without causing a failure. Soviet scientists, under intense government pressure, had essentially made their rocket out of spit and band aids, and hurried to hide their work as soon as their worldwide demonstration was complete.With a witty eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, John Strausbaugh takes us behind the Iron Curtain, and shows just how little there was to find there. Read more

In The Bomber Mafia: A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War, Malcolm Gladwell, author of New York Times best sellers including Talking to Strangers and host of the podcast Revisionist History, uses original interviews, archival footage, and his trademark insight to weave together the stories of a Dutch genius and his homemade computer, a band of brothers in Central Alabama, a British psychopath, and pyromaniacal chemists at Harvard. As listeners hear these stories unfurl, Gladwell examines one of the greatest moral challenges in modern American history.Most military thinkers in the years leading up to World War II saw the airplane as an afterthought. But a small band of idealistic strategists had a different view. This “Bomber Mafia” asked: What if precision bombing could, just by taking out critical choke points - industrial or transportation hubs - cripple the enemy and make war far less lethal?In Revisionist History, Gladwell reexamines moments from the past and asks whether we got it right the first time. In The Bomber Mafia, he employs all the production techniques that make Revisionist History so engaging, stepping back from the bombing of Tokyo, the deadliest night of the war, and asking, “Was it worth it?” The attack was the brainchild of General Curtis LeMay, whose brutal pragmatism and scorched-earth tactics in Japan cost thousands of civilian lives but may have spared more by averting a planned US invasion.Things might have gone differently had LeMay’s predecessor, General Haywood Hansell, remained in charge. As a key member of the Bomber Mafia, Hansell’s theories of precision bombing had been foiled by bad weather and human error. When he and Curtis LeMay squared off for a leadership handover in the jungles of Guam, LeMay emerged victorious, leading to the darkest night of World War II.The Bomber Mafia is a riveting tale of persistence, innovation, and the incalculable wages of war. Read more

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The finest and most verstile logbooks for aviators, The StandardT logbooks have been supporting the aviation industry for over 60 years and comply with the FAA's recordkeeping requirements. With so many options, there is a logbook that's right for you. Versatile, easy-to-use and flexible enough to fit any pilot's needs, student or ATP. Read more

Winner of the 2024 Kirkus Nonfiction Prize • Shortlisted for the 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction • A New York Times Notable Book of 2024 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Stunning…A heart-pounding thriller…Challenger is a remarkable book.” —The Atlantic • “Devastating…A universal story that transcends time.” —The New York Times • “Dramatic…a moving narrative.” —The Wall Street Journal From the New York Times bestselling author of Midnight in Chernobyl comes the definitive, “compelling, and exhaustively researched” (The Washington Post) minute-by-minute account of the Challenger disaster, based on fascinating and new archival research—a riveting history that reads like a thriller.On January 28, 1986, just seventy-three seconds into flight, the space shuttle Challenger broke apart over the Atlantic Ocean, killing all seven people on board. Millions of Americans witnessed the tragic deaths of the crew, which included New Hampshire schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe. Like the assassination of JFK, the Challenger disaster is a defining moment in 20th-century history—one that forever changed the way America thought of itself and its optimistic view of the future. Yet the full story of what happened, and why, has never been told. Based on extensive archival research and metic­ulous, original reporting, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space follows a handful of central protagonists—including each of the seven members of the doomed crew—through the years leading up to the accident, and offers a detailed account of the tragedy itself and the inves­tigation afterward. It’s a compelling tale of ambition and ingenuity undermined by political cynicism and cost-cutting in the interests of burnishing national prestige; of hubris and heroism; and of an investigation driven by leakers and whistleblowers determined to bring the truth to light. Throughout, there are the ominous warning signs of a tragedy to come, recognized but then ignored, and later hidden from the public. Higginbotham reveals the history of the shuttle program and the lives of men and women whose stories have been overshadowed by the disaster, as well as the designers, engineers, and test pilots who struggled against the odds to get the first shuttle into space. A masterful blend of riveting human drama and fascinating and absorbing science, Challenger identifies a turning point in history—and brings to life an even more complex and astonishing story than we remember. Read more

The phenomenal true story of the Black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America's greatest achievements in space. Now a major motion picture starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst, and Kevin Costner. Before John Glenn orbited the Earth or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as "human computers" used pencils, slide rules, and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets and astronauts into space. Among these problem solvers were a group of exceptionally talented African American women, some of the brightest minds of their generation. Originally relegated to teaching math in the South's segregated public schools, they were called into service during the labor shortages of World War II, when America's aeronautics industry was in dire need of anyone who had the right stuff. Suddenly these overlooked math whizzes had shots at jobs worthy of their skills, and they answered Uncle Sam's call, moving to Hampton, Virginia, and the fascinating, high-energy world of the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory. Even as Virginia's Jim Crow laws required them to be segregated from their white counterparts, the women of Langley's all-Black West Computing group helped America achieve one of the things it desired most: a decisive victory over the Soviet Union in the Cold War and complete domination of the heavens. Starting in World War II and moving through to the Cold War, the civil rights movement, and the space race, Hidden Figures follows the interwoven accounts of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, four African American women who participated in some of NASA's greatest successes. It chronicles their careers over nearly three decades as they faced challenges, forged alliances, and used their intellects to change their own lives - and their country's future. Read more

Featured in The Economist’s Best Books of 2024 USA Today Bestseller How did a shaky startup defy expectations and become the world’s leading spaceflight company? Get the untold story of the team of game-changers, led by a well-known billionaire, who are sending NASA astronauts to space—and just might carry the human race to Mars. One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn’t do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel. For the first time, Reentry relates the definitive chronicle of how this daring team was able to redefine what it takes to reach the stars. With Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist Eric Berger, author of Liftoff, as your guide, you’ll accompany SpaceX’s innovative thinkers during their toughest trials and most audacious moments, including: Creating the first orbital rockets that land by themselves and fly againTransporting a 120-foot rocket from Texas to FloridaRecovering from a “Hell’s Bells” accident before the first Falcon Heavy launchFrantically searching the ocean for the first rocket that splashed down intactIdentifying the $20 part that led to a rocket exploding in flightSlicing up an engine days before it launched into space From launchpad explosions to a pernicious cricket infestation to the demanding management style of Musk himself, the rise of SpaceX was beset with challenges and far from inevitable. Find out how the startup beat the odds and flew high enough to outpace their rivals . . . and where they’re going next. Read more

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The finest and most verstile logbooks for aviators, The Standard™ logbooks have been supporting the aviation industry for over 60 years and comply with the FAA's recordkeeping requirements. With so many options, there is a logbook that's right for you. Versatile, easy-to-use and flexible enough to fit any pilot's needs, student or ATP. Read more

Pass your test and know what is essential to become a safe, competent aviation mechanic―from the most trusted source in aviation training.Rely on the time-proven and dependable ASA Test Guides to prepare for your FAA Knowledge Exams. Test questions are expertly organized to align with the Aviation Mechanic Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-1) subjects and are supported with answers, explanations, and references for further study. This topical study promotes understanding and aids recall to provide an efficient study guide. When you’re done studying, take practice tests with ASA’s online simulated testing program at no additional cost!The ASA Test Guides include the figures from the FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Supplement so you’ll be familiar with the information you’ll be issued at the testing center. You can count on ASA to provide you with the latest changes in the FAA Knowledge Exams through a free email subscription service and updates. ASA’s Test Guides are the aviation mechanic’s best resource for successful test-taking.Questions, answers, and explanations aligned with the Aviation Mechanic ACS to accelerate learning and encourage retention.ACS codes included with each question for remedial study and to prepare for the Oral & Practical.Figures from the FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Supplement.FAA Aviation Mechanic Certificate requirements.5 free online practice tests.Quick cross-references for easy question-finding.Free online updates and subscription service to stay informed of test changes.Includes test tips and instructions, and an Oral & Practical Study Guide.Use the Airframe Test Guide for the AMA Aviation Mechanic―Airframe Knowledge Exam. Read more

This is the FAA Instrument Procedures Handbook FAA-H-8083-16B.Released in 2017, for use in 2024. Printed in Color.This handbook is designed as a technical reference for all pilots who operate under instrument flight rules (IFR) in the National Airspace System (NAS). It expands and updates information contained in the FAA-H-8083-15B, Instrument Flying Handbook, and introduces advanced information for IFR operations. Instrument flight instructors, instrument pilots, and instrument students will also find this handbook a valuable resource since it is used as a reference for the Airline Transport Pilot and Instrument Knowledge Tests and for the Practical Test Standards. It also provides detailed coverage of instrument charts and procedures including IFR takeoff, departure, en route, arrival, approach, and landing. Safety information covering relevant subjects such as runway incursion, land and hold short operations, controlled flight into terrain, and human factors issues also are included.*One reviewer mentioned printing errors in tables. They have been fixed! Read more

Pass your test and know what is essential to become a safe, competent aviation mechanic―from the most trusted source in aviation training.Rely on the time-proven and dependable ASA Test Guides to prepare for your FAA Knowledge Exams. Test questions are expertly organized to align with the Aviation Mechanic Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-1) subjects and are supported with answers, explanations, and references for further study. This topical study promotes understanding and aids recall to provide an efficient study guide. When you’re done studying, take practice tests with ASA’s online simulated testing program at no additional cost!The ASA Test Guides include the figures from the FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Supplement so you’ll be familiar with the information you’ll be issued at the testing center. You can count on ASA to provide you with the latest changes in the FAA Knowledge Exams through a free email subscription service and updates. ASA’s Test Guides are the aviation mechanic’s best resource for successful test-taking.Questions, answers, and explanations aligned with the Aviation Mechanic ACS to accelerate learning and encourage retention.ACS codes included with each question for remedial study and to prepare for the Oral & Practical.Figures from the FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Supplement.FAA Aviation Mechanic Certificate requirements.5 free online practice tests.Quick cross-references for easy question-finding.Free online updates and subscription service to stay informed of test changes.Includes test tips and instructions, and an Oral & Practical Study Guide.Use the Airframe Test Guide for the AMG Aviation Mechanic―General Knowledge Exam. Read more

Brought to you by Penguin.The definitive account of the rise and fall of the world's fastest plane from British Airways' former Chief Concorde Pilot.October 24th, 2023 will mark 20 years since Concorde disappeared from our skies. Yet still Mike Bannister, the last Concorde Chief Pilot, faces the same questions:Why is she no longer flying?Where is her replacement?And what really happened on that tragic afternoon in July 2000, when the crash of Flight 4590 grounded the Concorde forever?Concorde is an enthralling personal account of what it takes to fly planes faster than the speed of sound, and of the events that lay behind 114 needless deaths—the 113 victims of the crash and, ultimately, Concorde herself.PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. Read more

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The clearest, most visual e-guide to space and the Universe for complete beginners to astronomy.Have you ever asked yourself how big the Universe is, how far it is to the nearest star, or what came before the Big Bang? Then this is the ebook for you. How Space Works shows you the different types of object in the Universe (so you'll know your pulsars from your quasars) and introduces you to some of the strangest and most wonderful things known to science, including dark matter particles and ancient white dwarf stars that are almost as old as the Universe itself. The ebook starts with an explanation of our view of the Universe from Earth, then takes a tour of the Solar System, the stars and galaxies, and the furthest reaches of space. The last chapter looks at the technology we use to explore the Universe, from the International Space Station to Mars rovers and the new and revolutionary reusable rockets.Illustrated with bold graphics and step-by-step artworks - and peppered with bite-sized factoids and question-and- answer features - this is the perfect introduction to astronomy and space exploration. Read more

Space Atlas combines updated maps, lavish photographs, and elegant illustrations to chart the solar system, the universe, and beyond. For space enthusiasts, science lovers, and star gazers, here is the newly revised edition of National Geographic's enduring guide to space, with a new introduction by American hero Buzz Aldrin.In this guided tour of our planetary neighborhood, the Milky Way and other galaxies, and beyond, detailed maps and fascinating imagery from recent space missions partner with clear, authoritative scientific information. Starting with the sun and moving outward into space, acclaimed science writer and physicist James Trefil illuminates each planet, the most important moons, significant asteroids, and other objects in our solar system. Looking beyond, he explains what we know about the Milky Way and other galaxies--and how we know it, with clear explanations of the basics of astrophysics, including dark matter and gravitational waves. For this new edition, and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his moonwalk, astronaut and American hero Buzz Aldrin offers a new special section on Earth's moon and its essential role in space exploration past and future. Read more

A classic work in the history of science. Readers will want to get their hands on this influential classic, available for the first time in decades.   This newly reissued debut book in the Rutgers University Press Classics imprint is the story of the search for a rocket propellant which could be trusted to take man into space. This search was a hazardous enterprise carried out by rival labs who worked against the known laws of nature, with no guarantee of success or safety. Acclaimed scientist and sci-fi author John Drury Clark writes with irreverent and eyewitness immediacy about the development of the explosive fuels strong enough to negate the relentless restraints of gravity. The resulting volume is as much a memoir as a work of history, sharing a behind-the-scenes view of an enterprise which eventually took men to the moon, missiles to the planets, and satellites to outer space.   Read more

“A colorful page-turner.” —Walter Isaacson, New York Times Book Review“As important a book on space as has ever been written.” —Homer Hickam, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Rocket BoysThe dramatic inside story of the historic flights that launched SpaceX—and Elon Musk—from a shaky start-up into the world’s leading-edge rocket company.SpaceX has enjoyed a miraculous decade. Less than 20 years after its founding, it boasts the largest constellation of commercial satellites in orbit, has pioneered reusable rockets, and in 2020 became the first private company to launch human beings into orbit. Half a century after the space race it is private companies, led by SpaceX, standing alongside NASA, pushing forward into the cosmos, and laying the foundation for our exploration of other worlds.But before it became one of the most powerful players in the aerospace industry, SpaceX was a fledgling start-up, scrambling to develop a single workable rocket before the money ran dry. The engineering challenge was immense; numerous other private companies had failed similar attempts. And even if SpaceX succeeded, they would then have to compete for government contracts with titans such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing, who had tens of thousands of employees and tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue. SpaceX had fewer than 200 employees and the relative pittance of $100 million in the bank.In Liftoff, Eric Berger, senior space editor at Ars Technica, takes readers inside the wild early days that made SpaceX. Focusing on the company’s first four launches of the Falcon 1 rocket, he charts the bumpy journey from scrappy underdog to aerospace pioneer. We travel from company headquarters in El Segundo, to the isolated Texas ranchland where they performed engine tests, to Kwajalein, the tiny atoll in the Pacific where SpaceX launched the Falcon 1. Berger has reported on SpaceX for more than a decade, enjoying unparalleled journalistic access to the company’s inner workings. Liftoff is the culmination of these efforts, drawing upon exclusive interviews with dozens of former and current engineers, designers, mechanics, and executives, including Elon Musk. The enigmatic Musk, who founded the company with the dream of one day settling Mars, is the fuel that propels the book, with his daring vision for the future of space.Filled with never-before-told stories of SpaceX’s turbulent beginning, Liftoff is a saga of cosmic proportions. Read more

Endorsed by top leaders and voices in the space industry and beyond, including: Kevin Weil - Chief Product Officer of OpenAI, former executive at Planet, Instagram, and TwitterCharles F. "Charlie" Bolden Jr. - former NASA Administrator, astronaut, and U.S. Marine Corps Major GeneralKathryn Lueders - General Manager of Starbase at SpaceX, former NASA Associate AdministratorEric Berger - Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica, and author of Liftoff and ReentryScott Pace - Director of the Space Policy Institute at the George Washington University; former Executive Secretary of the National Space CouncilChristian Davenport - Reporter at The Washington Post and author of Space BaronsAshlee Vance - Author of When the Heavens Went on Sale, reporter at Bloomberg BusinessweekDan Hastings - Head of Aeronautics & Astronautics Department at MITDava Newman - Professor of Aeronautics at MIT, former NASA Deputy Administrator Your guide - using the compelling stories of changemakers and the tools of economics - to the transformation and future possibilities of the business and economics of space.Space is a place of unparalleled possibility for humanity, and it's undergoing a revolution. A wave of companies led by gutsy entrepreneurs are unlocking opportunities that fire the imagination and open up new business models. No, it's not hotels on Mars or day trips to orbit (yet), but it's an awe-inspiring transformation driven by innovative technologies, creative approaches, hard work, and - for the first time - market forces. Above all, this revolution is uncovering the simple but unfamiliar truth that space is a place: a place where countries, markets, and each of us can play a vital role in realizing some of our biggest, boldest dreams.But we won't succeed through dreams alone. The space economy is just that—an economy—governed by the same laws of supply and demand that apply here on Earth. The authors, who teach a highly popular course on the topic at Harvard Business School, bring the revolution in space to life through players you know—like SpaceX and Blue Origin—and many you may not, like Astroscale, founded by a Japanese IT executive who quit his job to start a company to clean up space debris. They also bring to bear fundamental tools from economics to understand how the market in space is forming, how it's fast becoming a source of value for businesses across industries and for society as a whole, and how we can best ensure that its growth benefits us all.  With clarity and rigor, Weinzierl and Rosseau get past the breathless hype to explain what's real, what's not, what comes next, and how you can be part of it. Read more

Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc. has been the industry’s trusted source for official FAA publications for over 80 years. Look for the ASA wings to ensure you’re purchasing the latest authentic FAA release.This textbook presents the elements of applied aerodynamics and aeronautical engineering which relate directly to flight training and general flight operations. Originally published by the U.S. Navy and revised in 1965.A long-established U.S. Navy publication also used by the U.S. Air Force as well as by the FAA as a source reference for their own publications, for more than 50 years this textbook has been a definitive source that communicates the complexities of applied aerodynamics and aeronautical engineering for both the beginner and the experienced pilot. Flight safety and effectiveness depends greatly on the understanding and appreciation of how and why an airplane flies, and this resource teaches aerodynamic principles, providing the foundation for developing precise flying techniques and operational procedures.The information in Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators is applicable to flight training, transition training, reciprocating and turbine-powered airplanes, and general flying operations. It offers the elements of both theory and application, covering basic aerodynamics, high-speed aerodynamics, airplane performance, stability and control, operation strength limitations, and the application of aerodynamics to specific problems of flying, such as the region of reversed command, wind shear, effects of ice and frost, ground effect, and collision avoidance. Also included are an index and a list of selected references. Read more