Product Description

This comprehensive history of the Russian Soviet space programme, from its origins to the present, addresses the technical, political, historical, human and organisational issues and provides a balanced focus on manned and unmanned programmes. It is the first book to access the Russian space programme over the ten-year period since the fall of communism and provide an historical and contemporary treatment.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #732703 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 330 pages

Review

From the reviews of the first edition:

"Harvey presents a good summary of all aspects of the Russian space program and an excellent summary of Russian activities since the Cold War ended. … Harvey writes very well and includes well-chosen anecdotes. … Highly recommended as a thorough, well-balanced, up-to-date treatise of the Russian space program." (W. E. Howard III, Choice, September, 2001)

"The author describes the various satellite programs, the facilities, international cooperation and the space industry in a logical manner, providing at the same time the necessary links with the past. The descriptions are concise and to the point, accompanied by tables where appropriate and a few illustrations. … This is a ‘must have’ book - it is highly recommended." (News Bulletin of the Astronautical Society of Western Australia, Vol. 28 (2), 2002)

"This is the third of Brian Harvey’s books about the Soviet / Russian space programme … . I found this new work informative and refreshing … . The book follows the decline of the old Soviet military programme as the USSR disintegrated and describes the more modest Russian projects which followed it. Many different types of military missions are described with photographs, or sketches, of the satellites themselves. … Personally, I liked this book and enjoyed reading it." (John Davies, The Observatory, Vol. 121 (1164), 2001)

"This book covers the period 1992-2000. He reviews the previous achievement of the Soviet Union putting into context the programmes flown under both regimes. It is a good companion volume to the one he wrote earlier on the Soviet Programme. The pictures are really excellent." (Rex Hall, Spaceflight, Vol. 43 (8), 2001)

"Space writer Brian Harvey’s Russia in Space offers a comprehensive guide to the nuts and bolts of today’s Russian space programme, plus an assessment of where the Russians now are in space, how they got there, and where they might go next. … Harvey has produced a useful and timely guide for evaluating Russia as a partner in Western space activities." (James Oberg, New Scientist, February, 2001)

Book Info
A relation of the inside story of the traumatic events that have engulfed the Russian space program, dragging it behind the United States. Also details the new developments in the Russian program, which emphasize cooperation with America rather than competition, projecting a possible bright future Russian spacefaring. Softcover. DLC: Astronautics--Russia (Federation)--History.

Customer Reviews

Russia in Space
Harvey presents a good summary of all aspects of the Russian space program and an excellent summary of Russian activities since the Cold War ended. The author includes very thorough, item-by-item descriptions of each aspect of the manned program, international participation, and of military, scientific, communication, and other civilian satellites including their design, their launch vehicles, their engines, and their launch sites. Harvey documents the decline in the Russian program and comes down somewhat hard on the problems that the Russians have faced since the downfall of the Soviet regime. Yet, despite the decline, the book is hopeful about the longer-term reconstitution of the Russian space program. Harvey writes well and includes well-chosen anecdotes. Good photographs, tables, and maps; complete summary of Russian space launches from 1992 to 2000; six pages of notes and references; seven-page index. Highly recommended as a thorough, well-balanced, up-to-date treatise of the Russian space program. All levels.

Russia may very well hold the key to space
For those who think that NASA is the only way to go into space, read this excellent book, and you will see that the Soviets, and now Russia, really have an incredible history, and a bright future ahead, providing they can cope with their financial problems. The quality and imagination of the russian space program is incredible, and it would be a invaluable loss if it had to collapse completely... because it may very well be this program that will get us out of our craddle.