A Book Review Of The Book "Reentry"

I want to continue talking about space travel. I have a great book recommendation for you this morning. First, I want to introduce the author to you. Like me, in his childhood, Eric Berger was fascinated with space travel. He decided to become an astronomer. He went to the University of Texas. He earned a B.S. degree in astronomy. His next steps would have been an M.S. and a Ph. D in astronomy. He decided to take a radically different course in life. He chose a career in writing. He decided to attend the prestigious University of Missouri School of Journalism. He earned an M.A. degree. For the past 17 years, he has been the science writer for The Houston Chronicle. I first got to know Eric through his first book "Liftoff." It was the history of how Space X went from a startup to the success of the Falcon 1 rocket. I found Eric to be a great storyteller. When you pick up a book he has written, you will be entertained and enlightened. With his background in science, he was able to take very complicated technical matters and explain them in such a way that non-technical people could understand them. He also has this marvelous talent to get people to completely relax and "tell all" during the interview process. Eric has written a new book that I just finished reading. Its title is "Reentry." Here is a summary of the book: Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age Hardcover – September 24, 2024 by Eric Berger (Author) 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 125 ratings 4.7 on Goodreads 129 ratings #1 Best Seller in Astronautics & Space Flight See all formats and editions ________________________________________ USA Today Bestseller How did a shaky startup defy expectations and become the world’s leading spaceflight company? Get the untold story of the team of game-changers, led by a well-known billionaire, who are sending NASA astronauts to space—and just might carry the human race to Mars. One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn’t do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel. For the first time, Reentry relates the definitive chronicle of how this daring team was able to redefine what it takes to reach the stars. With Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist Eric Berger, author of Liftoff, as your guide, you’ll accompany SpaceX’s innovative thinkers during their toughest trials and most audacious moments, including: • Creating the first orbital rockets that land by themselves and fly again • Transporting a 120-foot rocket from Texas to Florida • Recovering from a “Hell’s Bells” accident before the first Falcon Heavy launch • Frantically searching the ocean for the first rocket that splashed down intact • Identifying the $20 part that led to a rocket exploding in flight • Slicing up an engine days before it launched into space From launchpad explosions to a pernicious cricket infestation to the demanding management style of Musk himself, the rise of SpaceX was beset with challenges and far from inevitable. Find out how the startup beat the odds and flew high enough to outpace their rivals . . . and where they’re going next. This book is the fascinating history of how the Falcon 9 rocket went from being an idea in Elon Musk's head to one of the most incredible launch vehicles on planet Earth. It is the first major booster system to be reusable. NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, and the China National Space Agency (CNSA) have not been able to equal yet. This book is a page-turner that you will not be able to put down.