When The Heavens Went On Sale: The Misfits and Geniuses Racing to Put Space Within Reach

Ashlee Vance's "The New Space Race" is a thrilling account of the private companies driving the revolutionary new space race, from 3-million copy, New York Times bestselling author of Elon Musk. The book follows four pioneering companies as they race to control access to outer space, offering unprecedented access to private company headquarters, labs, and launch locations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 528 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2023
Publisher: Ebury Publishing

A remarkable exploration of the private companies leading the groundbreaking space race, from the acclaimed author of Elon Musk. In 2008, Elon Musk's SpaceX achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first private company to successfully construct a cost-effective rocket capable of reaching orbit. This transformative development shifted the focus of the new Space Age away from NASA and towards Silicon Valley.

Ashlee Vance delves into the captivating stories of four pioneering companies: Astra, Firefly, Planet Labs, and Rocket Lab. These under-the-radar enterprises are driven by a shared vision of harnessing the potential of Earth's lower orbit to connect, analyze, and monitor every aspect of our planet. While the extravagant space tourism aspirations of billionaires like Bezos and Branson capture the public's attention, these lesser-known companies are quietly working towards monetizing this valuable space resource.

Vance grants unprecedented access to private company headquarters, research facilities, and top-secret launch sites across the globe, from the United States to New Zealand, Ukraine to India. Through his vivid storytelling, he presents a gripping account of the opulent lifestyles of these entrepreneurs, complete with private jets, exclusive communes, armed bodyguards, drug scandals, and investigations into espionage. The book also sheds light on the immense fortunes these companies have amassed and the dramatic downfall of some as their dreams of conquering space are met with unexpected challenges and setbacks.

This is a pivotal and contentious technology story that resonates with readers worldwide. Welcome to the new frontier of the heavens, where the rules of the game are being rewritten by visionaries and pioneers.

Weight: 810g
Dimension: 165 x 243 x 49 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780753557754