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This Is Rocket Science

True Stories of the Risk-taking Scientists Who Figure Out Ways to Explore Beyond Earth
Mar 29, 2014dixiedog rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
‘This is Rocket Science’ is a National Geographic sponsored book which speaks for its quality. While this book is rated juvenile, I would recommend it for children age 10 and older; teenagers and adult should enjoy it too. It offers a very good yet not to detailed introduction to the history of rockets; briefly reviews the history of the 20th Century’s key scientists that are considered to be the fathers of modern rocketry; provides information on the man’s race into space and to the moon, and the development of: the Saturn ‘V’ rocket, the US Space Shuttle, and the International Space Station (ISS). The concept for a space elevator, the use of propulsion systems like the Solar Sail and Ion Engines, plus the European Space Agency’s Rosetta probe and the US Dawn spacecraft are briefly introduced; that’s a fairly broad introduction into this subject in just 80 pages. I recommend this book as a very good introductory read for children and teenagers (budding scientists), or curious adults. Regretfully, Canada’s contribution to achievements in space, are not covered beyond a brief mention. The book is dated somewhat as it pre dates the retirement of the US Space Shuttle fleet and the proposed delivery dates for new launch vehicles Ares ‘I’ and ‘V’ as I believe they have been delayed. Senior Doctor-at-Bass! D. A.