Trending Bestseller

Return to Launch

No reviews yet Write a Review
Hardback
340 Pages
24 March 2026
$87.23
Ships in 3-5 business days

Delivery estimate

Hurry up! Current stock:
The rise of Cape Canaveral's "second space age" and the nation's expansion of spacefaring initiatives in the twenty-first century Return to Launch is the story of how one state reshaped the trajectory of the US space program and helped usher in a new era of spaceflight. Stephen Smith takes readers behind the scenes of Florida's Space Coast, revealing how local leaders, federal policymakers, and entrepreneurs transformed a region once bracing for economic collapse into the center of the NewSpace revolution. This is the first book to spotlight Florida's role in the rise of modern reusable space technologies and the shift from government-led missions to collaboration with private and commercial enterprise. Smith reveals how, after George W. Bush announced the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2004, the actions of individuals including Barack Obama and Elon Musk changed the course of NASA-with pushback from those who feared the loss of federal contracts. He tackles provocative questions, such as the government's responsibility for the jobs of citizens and whether national interests should consider local economic pressures. These themes make the book a fascinating read about the intersection of policy, economics, and innovation. For space enthusiasts, policy specialists, or anyone who lived through the highs and lows of the Space Shuttle era, Return to Launch offers fresh insights and surprising facts. From the first rocket to launch from Cape Canaveral in the decade after World War II to the arrival of commercial crew programs such as SpaceX and Blue Origin, the book connects past and present to illuminate what the future holds for American aerospace.

You Can Find This Title In

    Product Details
    ISBN-13
    9781683406563
    Author
    Stephen C. Smith
    Publisher
    UNIVERSITY PRESS OF FLORIDA
    Published
    24 March 2026
    Format
    Hardback
    Pages
    340

    This product hasn't received any reviews yet. Be the first to review this product!

    $87.23
    Ships in 3-5 business days

    Delivery estimate

    Hurry up! Current stock:

    Return to Launch

    $87.23

    Description

    The rise of Cape Canaveral's "second space age" and the nation's expansion of spacefaring initiatives in the twenty-first century Return to Launch is the story of how one state reshaped the trajectory of the US space program and helped usher in a new era of spaceflight. Stephen Smith takes readers behind the scenes of Florida's Space Coast, revealing how local leaders, federal policymakers, and entrepreneurs transformed a region once bracing for economic collapse into the center of the NewSpace revolution. This is the first book to spotlight Florida's role in the rise of modern reusable space technologies and the shift from government-led missions to collaboration with private and commercial enterprise. Smith reveals how, after George W. Bush announced the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2004, the actions of individuals including Barack Obama and Elon Musk changed the course of NASA-with pushback from those who feared the loss of federal contracts. He tackles provocative questions, such as the government's responsibility for the jobs of citizens and whether national interests should consider local economic pressures. These themes make the book a fascinating read about the intersection of policy, economics, and innovation. For space enthusiasts, policy specialists, or anyone who lived through the highs and lows of the Space Shuttle era, Return to Launch offers fresh insights and surprising facts. From the first rocket to launch from Cape Canaveral in the decade after World War II to the arrival of commercial crew programs such as SpaceX and Blue Origin, the book connects past and present to illuminate what the future holds for American aerospace.

    You Can Find This Title In

      This Title Is Categorised As