[FPSPACE] The Definitive Soviet space history book

[Woods, Dave]

This was a tremendous project undertaken by Asif.  The
introduction pages mention a lot of people he had extensive
discussions with, both eastern and western, in the
preparation of the manuscript.  He also had contributions
of illustrations that are used throughout the book, 
including some of his own.  There are some of the
various missiles involved by Peter Gorin, some spacecraft
illustrations my me, Igor Afanasyev, Ralph Gibbons, and
others,  Corona imagery of the N-1 on the pad from 
Charles Vick, as well as photos of various personalities
from his archives and others like Dennis Newkirk, Bart
Hendrixx, etc.  I received an advanced copy in exchange for 
my small contribution to this whole effort.  Hopefully, the 
GPO will have copies available for the public shortly.

Dave

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Will Marchant [SMTP:kc6rol@amsat.org]
> Sent:	Thursday, August 31, 2000 9:22 AM
> To:	Woods, Dave
> Subject:	Re: [FPSPACE] The Definitive Soviet space history book
> 
> Hi Dave:
> Thanks for the summary!  How did you get your copy?  The NASA folks told
> me they wouldn't sell it because the price hadn't been set yet.  Was
> yours a handout at a conference?  Thanks for any info!
> 	Will
> 
	Will Marchant
	marchant@ssl.berkeley.edu       http://chips.ssl.berkeley.edu/
	kc6rol@amsat.org
http://www.citizen.infi.net/~wmarchan/

> "Woods, Dave" wrote:
> > 
> > The thing I find so impressive with the book is the set of
> > footnotes and reference: typically four or five per page.
> > At 1011 pages thats ....... a lot.  It is indeed an impressive
> > work, with numerous pictures of the various personalities
> > and technical illustrations of some of the hardware involved.
> > Definitely a must-add-to-your-library edition.
> > 
> > Dave
> > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Dwayne Allen Day [SMTP:wayneday@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu]
> > > Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2000 8:53 AM
> > > Cc:   fpspace@solar.rtd.utk.edu
> > > Subject:      [FPSPACE] The Definitive Soviet space history book
> > >
> > >
> > > Fellow FP Spacer and all-around-nice guy Asif Siddiqi has a new book
> out
> > > on the history of the Soviet space program and it is one damn
> impressive
> > > piece of work.
> > >
> > > First, I have to mention the dimensions.  This thing is huge.  It is
> > > easily two inches thick (4 meters for those members of the audience
> using
> > > the metric system) and it probably weighs three pounds (7.8 hectares
> for
> > > our metric friends).  Seriously, everyone should get a copy simply to
> use
> > > for personal defense.  Hold it up in front of you and you can deflect
> a
> > > bullet aimed at your heart.  Throw it with sufficient velocity and you
> can
> > > crush a man's skull.
> > >
> > > Okay, okay I know...
> > >
> > > The book is titled Challenge to Apollo and it covers the history of
> the
> > > Soviet space program from 1945 until 1974.  The book is 1011 pages
> long.
> > >
> > > (Yes, that is right.  Let me repeat it:  ONE THOUSAND AND ELEVEN
> PAGES.)
> > >
> > > I admit to not having even started to read it.  However, everyone who
> has
> > > read it who I have talked to (about half a dozen people) has said it
> is
> > > outstanding.  Not just okay.  Not just good.  But outstanding.
> > > It covers everything, from Korolev's time in the prison camp to the
> lunar
> > > program to the Salyut space stations.  This is now the DEFINITIVE
> > > English-language space history book.  As we say in Washington, our man
> > > Asif now has some pretty impressive creds...
> > >
> > > It is a NASA SP publication.  Hard cover with quite a few
> illustrations,
> > > line drawings, and many many tables and appendices and all that kind
> of
> > > stuff.
> > >
> > > So, if you are at all interested in the Soviet space program (and if
> you
> > > aren't, what the heck are you doing in FPSpace?!), then you should
> > > immediately get this book, quit your job, and spend the next three
> months
> > > of your life reading it.
> > >
> > > Go buy Challenge to Apollo.  You hear me?  Get it right now.
> > >
> > > DDAY
>