I recently came across the most fascinating thing: an autobiographically account of one of the men behind the evolution of rocket science in America.
But what's really great about it is that it was written in a manner that is very accessible to the layperson.
Even the introduction by the dearly missed Isaac Asimov was hugely entertaining, where he uses the following bit to describe the author of this book:
Is it any wonder why I want to get into the field of Aerospace Engineering?
Oh, and let's not forget the author's dedication:
The book is called Ignition! - An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants.
And best of all, you can get it as a nice and cleanly scanned PDF here: https://library.sciencemadness.org/libra...nition.pdf
But what's really great about it is that it was written in a manner that is very accessible to the layperson.
Even the introduction by the dearly missed Isaac Asimov was hugely entertaining, where he uses the following bit to describe the author of this book:
Quote:Now it is clear that anyone working with rocket fuels is outstandingly mad. I don't mean garden-variety crazy or a merely raving lunatic. I mean a record-shattering exponent of far-out insanity.
Is it any wonder why I want to get into the field of Aerospace Engineering?
Oh, and let's not forget the author's dedication:
Quote:This book is dedicated to my wife Inga, who heckled me into writing it with such wifely re-marks as, "You talk a hell of a fine history. Now set yourself down in front of the typewriter — and write the damned thing!"
The book is called Ignition! - An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants.
And best of all, you can get it as a nice and cleanly scanned PDF here: https://library.sciencemadness.org/libra...nition.pdf