In this hardbound edition of book 25 of the new series, Tom Swift is approached by a rich man with a dream of building a city that can float above crowded cities and land without creating more ecological woes. His dream is a flying platform on which such aa dream town might be built, and he believes Tom is just the man to realize it! The inventor struggles with finding a technology to make this happen before he must tell his benefactor it is "impossible." But, a chance discovery on an Internet site devoted to making fun on crackpot inventors and their ideas sets him on the path to an answer. However, nothing runs smoothly in Tom's world and he soon finds an old foe is out to track him down, hurt or kill him and Bud Barclay, and ruin the HoverCity. Who will win in this multi-battle showdown?
In the 29th novel of this series, Tom Swift decides to "dust off" and see if he can make an early dream come true. At the age of sixteen he had built a small jet he called his Nuclear Hyperplane. It was anything but either of those things. Now, nearly sixteen years later he believes he might do something to make that dream come true. He sets out to design an aircraft that might travel at five times the speed of sound.Because he is award that he cannot continuously spend without bringing some sales into Swift Enterprises, he plans to build a hypersonic passenger jet capable of getting half way around the world in about three-and-a-half hours. It is an ambitions plan.It comes to the attention of at least two unfriendly entities, both of whom try to ruin his plans; at least one believes that killing the inventor is the way to accomplish this.By taking things in little steps, he inches closer and closer to his dream, but can he manage to do it while remaining safe?
This volume from The NASA History Series presents an overview of the science of hypersonics, the study of flight at speeds at which the physics of flows is dominated by aerodynamic heating. The survey begins during the years immediately following World War II, with the first steps in hypersonic research: the development of missile nose cones and the X-15; the earliest concepts of hypersonic propulsion; and the origin of the scramjet engine. Next, it addresses the re-entry problem, which came to the forefront during the mid-1950s, showing how work in this area supported the manned space program and contributed to the development of the orbital shuttle. Subsequent chapters explore the fading of scramjet studies and the rise of the National Aerospace Plane (NASP) program of 1985–95, which sought to lay groundwork for single-stage vehicles. The program's ultimate shortcomings — in terms of aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials — are discussed, and the book concludes with a look at hypersonics in the post-NASP era, including the development of the X-33 and X-34 launch vehicles, further uses for scramjets, and advances in fluid mechanics. Clearly, ongoing research in hypersonics has yet to reach its full potential, and readers with an interest in aeronautics and astronautics will find this book a fascinating exploration of the field's history and future.
This absorbing book describes the long development of the Soviet space shuttle system, its infrastructure and the space agency’s plans to follow up the first historic unmanned mission. The book includes comparisons with the American shuttle system and offers accounts of the Soviet test pilots chosen for training to fly the system, and the operational, political and engineering problems that finally sealed the fate of Buran and ultimately of NASA’s Shuttle fleet.
Tom Swift, Jr., and his friend, Bud Barclay, try to recover a missile, which was mysteriously thrown off course, containing valuable data from Jupiter.
Contains papers presented at the Air Force Historical Foundation Symposium, held at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, on September 21-22, 1995. Topics addressed are: Pt. 1, The Formative Years, 1945-1961; Pt. 2, Mission Development and Exploitation Since 1961; and Pt. 3, Military Space Today and Tomorrow. Includes notes, abbreviations & acronyms, an index, and photographs.
Some vols. include supplemental journals of "such proceedings of the sessions, as, during the time they were depending, were ordered to be kept secret, and respecting which the injunction of secrecy was afterwards taken off by the order of the House."
Dive into the fascinating world of space technology with this comprehensive book covering the history, science, innovations, challenges, collaborations, future trends, policy, and even the impact of space technology on everyday life. From the early pioneers in space exploration to the advancements in rocket technology and the development of the space tourism industry, this book offers a captivating look at how space technology has shaped our world and holds exciting possibilities for the future. Whether you're a space enthusiast, a technology buff, or simply curious about the mysteries of the universe, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the wonders of space exploration. Get your copy today and embark on a journey through the cosmos without leaving your home.
Long before the NASA was the throes of planning for the Apollo voyages to the Moon, many people had seen the need for a vehicle that could access space routinely. The idea of a reusable space shuttle dates at least to the theoretical rocketplane studies of the 1930s, but by the 1950s it had become an integral part of a master plan for space exploration. The goal of efficient access to space in a heavy-lift booster prompted NASA's commitment to the space shuttle as the vehicle to continue human space flight. By the mid-1960s, NASA engineers concluded that the necessary technology was within reach to enable the creation of a reusable winged space vehicle that could haul scientific and applications satellites of all types into orbit for all users. President Richard M. Nixon approved the effort to build the shuttle in 1972 and the first orbital flight took place in 1981. Although the development program was risky, a talented group of scientists and engineers worked to create this unique space vehicle and their efforts were largely successful. Since 1981, the various orbiters -Atlantis, Columbia, Discovery, Endeavour, and Challenger (lost in 1986 during the only Space Shuttle accident)- have made early 100 flights into space. Through 1998, the space shuttle has carried more than 800 major scientific and technological payloads into orbit and its astronaut crews have conducted more than 50 extravehicular activities, including repairing satellites and the initial building of the International Space Station. The shuttle remains the only vehicle in the world with the dual ability to deliver and return large payloads to and from orbit, and is also the world's most reliable launch system. The design, now almost three decades old, is still state-of-the-art in many areas, including computerized flight control, airframe design, electrical power systems, thermal protection system, and main engines. This significant new study of the decision to build the space shuttle explains the shuttle's origin and early development. In addition to internal NASA discussions, this work details the debates in the late 1960s and early 1970s among policymakers in Congress, the Air Force, and the Office of Management and Budget over the roles and technical designs of the shuttle. Examining the interplay of these organizations with sometimes conflicting goals, the author not only explains how the world's premier space launch vehicle came into being, but also how politics can interact with science, technology, national security, and economics in national government.
