Overview

"NASA's John F. Kennedy Center was the stage for the American adventure in space. Sprawled across 140,000 acres on Florida's Atlantic coast, it has hosted the succession of rocket launches that have rewritten our knowledge of aeronautics and our very understanding of the nature of the universe. This illustrated history includes: the earliest development of rockets in the United States and Germany; the missile race and the US-Soviet rivalry to be first in space; the great Apollo programme and the race to the Moon; the shuttle programme, the Space Station and the Hubble Telescope; the future of space exploration; and an insider's history of the heart of America's Space programme from its earliest days. It is clearly written, meticulously researched and packed with 150 spectacular full colour and archive photographs. It is written by a leading expert in space exploration and the author of the ""New York Times"" No.1 bestseller ""Star Wars: Episode 1, the Visual Dictionary""."

Full Product Details

9781554070398

Table of Contents

Reviews

A testament to human potential and the reality that geeks, at long last, deserve their own coffee-table books.--Michael Janairo Four Corners Business Journal (Farmington, NM) (12/11/2006) Reynolds takes readers on a narrative ride through the center -- its people and machines, triumphs and tragedies.-- (10/29/2006) An unbiased introductory history of the US space program in a style that educates and is enjoyable to read... Over a hundred clear, captioned, high-quality color and black-and-white photographs of various sizes creates a visually appealing book that works as a research tool and for displays.... Summing Up: Recommended.-- (07/01/2007) The large color photographs of rocket launches and space travel are beautiful and inspiring.... This book does contain many details that would help students writing reports. This title is an optional purchase for libraries or teachers who need to update their materials on the space program.-- (07/01/2007) It's the only complete history of the Center and provides armchair readers with a complete tour of Center history, operations and launch efforts. The mission-by-mission coverage leaves out nothing.-- (04/01/2007) Profusely illustrated history of America's spaceport... an appealing portrait of the physical installations behind the drama of ignition and lift-off.-- (10/15/2006) [Globe and Mail Christmas 2006 Gift Book selection] Combining authoritative text with more than 150 photos, the book provides a good glimpse into the day-to-day operations of the famous spaceport.--Globe and Mail (12/09/2006) [Starred review] A highly illuminating text to go with over 150 detailed, richly reproduced photos... extremely practical and enjoyable; Chapter 12, which follows along as the space shuttle is prepared for launch, is with the cover price alone.--Publishers Weekly Kennedy Space Center: Gateway to Space offers a meditation on the excitement of reaching for the stars... Reynolds tell the story for a general audience, using incisive text and more than 150 images... especially informative... a fine introduction to the history of the Kennedy Space Center. [Roger D. Launius, Chairman, Department of Space History, National Air and Space Museum]-- (12/01/2006) The epic story of the men and machines who put America into space -- and the amazing, 140,000-acre site in Florida that became our nation's crucial stepping stone to an era of unparalleled, out-of-this-world exploration. A story of derring-do, scientific how-to and dreams, it makes for one spectacular rocket ride of a book.-- (12/03/2006) Extremely meticulous... full of elegant descriptions and compelling details... exceptional color photographs... [will be] devoured by history or space enthusiasts from eight to eighty.-- (12/01/2006) This visual feast traces the development of the centre... [and] may be the next best thing to actually visiting.-- (12/10/2006) Packed with more than 150 spectacular images, Kennedy Space Center is the only complete history of this important site.--Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin (12/01/2006) This readable, remarkable volume has the depth of an all-encompassing historical timeline... The foreword grabbed me, and by the prologue I ws hooked.-- (03/01/2008)

A testament to human potential and the reality that geeks, at long last, deserve their own coffee-table books.--Michael Janairo Four Corners Business Journal (Farmington, NM) (12/11/2006)

�Starred review� A highly illuminating text to go with over 150 detailed, richly reproduced photos... extremely practical and enjoyable. Authoritative text with more than 150 photos provides a good glimpse into the day-to-day operations of the famous spaceport. Packed with more than 150 spectacular images, Kennedy Space Center is the only complete history of this important site. [Starred review] A highly illuminating text to go with over 150 detailed, richly reproduced photos... extremely practical and enjoyable. Provides armchair readers with a complete tour of Center history, operations and launch efforts. The mission-by-mission coverage leaves out nothing. Unbiased introductory history of the US space program... enjoyable to read... clear, captioned, high-quality color and black-and-white photographs.--M.S. McCullough Choice (07/01/2007) A story of derring-do, scientific how-to and dreams, it makes for one spectacular rocket ride of a book.--Neil Pond American Profile (12/03/2006) A meditation on the excitement of reaching for the stars... [uses] incisive text and more than 150 images... especially informative.--Roger D. Launius Air and Space (12/01/2006) It's the only complete history of the Center and provides armchair readers with a complete tour of Center history, operations and launch efforts. The mission-by-mission coverage leaves out nothing. [Globe and Mail Christmas 2006 Gift Book selection] Combining authoritative text with more than 150 photos, the book provides a good glimpse into the day-to-day operations of the famous spaceport. [Starred review] A highly illuminating text to go with over 150 detailed, richly reproduced photos... extremely practical and enjoyable; Chapter 12, which follows along as the space shuttle is prepared for launch, is with the cover price alone. This readable, remarkable volume has the depth of an all-encompassing historical timeline... The foreword grabbed me, and by the prologue I ws hooked. The large color photographs of rocket launches and space travel are beautiful and inspiring.... This book does contain many details that would help students writing reports. This title is an optional purchase for libraries or teachers who need to update their materials on the space program.--Denise A. Brush, Rowan University Science Books and Films (07/01/2007) An unbiased introductory history of the US space program in a style that educates and is enjoyable to read... Over a hundred clear, captioned, high-quality color and black-and-white photographs of various sizes creates a visually appealing book that works as a research tool and for displays.... Summing Up: Recommended.--M.S. McCullough Choice (07/01/2007) Profusely illustrated history of America's spaceport... an appealing portrait of the physical installations behind the drama of ignition and lift-off.--Gilbert Taylor Booklist (10/15/2006) Kennedy Space Center: Gateway to Space offers a meditation on the excitement of reaching for the stars... Reynolds tell the story for a general audience, using incisive text and more than 150 images... especially informative... a fine introduction to the history of the Kennedy Space Center. [Roger D.]--Roger D. Launius Air and Space (12/01/2006) The epic story of the men and machines who put America into space -- and the amazing, 140,000-acre site in Florida that became our nation's crucial stepping stone to an era of unparalleled, out-of-this-world exploration. A story of derring-do, scientific how-to and dreams, it makes for one spectacular rocket ride of a book.--Neil Pond American Profile (12/03/2006) Reynolds takes readers on a narrative ride through the center -- its people and machines, triumphs and tragedies.--Kurt Loft Tampa Tribune (10/29/2006) Extremely meticulous... full of elegant descriptions and compelling details... exceptional color photographs... [will be] devoured by history or space enthusiasts from eight to eighty.--Rachel Wadham VOYA (12/01/2006) This visual feast traces the development of the centre... [and] may be the next best thing to actually visiting.--Jodi DeLong Halifax Chronicle Herald (12/10/2006) A testament to human potential and the reality that geeks, at long last, deserve their own coffee-table books.--Michael Janairo Four Corners Business Journal (Farmington, NM) (12/11/2006)

Profusely illustrated history of America's spaceport... an appealing portrait of the physical installations behind the drama of ignition and lift-off. -- Gilbert Taylor Booklist (10/15/2006)

Author Information

David West Reynolds is the author of six books, including Apollo: The Epic Journey to the Moon and the number 1 New York Times best-seller, Star Wars: Episode I, The Visual Dictionary. He holds a doctorate from the University of Michigan and is an expert in space exploration and its history.

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