FLY OR DIE. That was the choice SpaceX faced 12 years ago today when a small band of engineers and techs fueled the company’s last Falcon 1 rocket on a remote launch pad. Finally, after three painful failures and years of desperately hard work, this rocket soared skyward.
The remarkable story of how @elonmusk and his small team reached orbit in 2008 has gone largely untold—until now. I’m thrilled to say my book on the origins of SpaceX, Liftoff, will be published by William Morrow on March 2, 2021. Preorder now: bit.ly/LiftoffbyEricB…
I’ve worked hard to accurately tell the story of how SpaceX succeeded where so many companies failed. I spent a lot of time with Musk, who was expansive about those early years. But, equally important, dozens of the first SpaceX employees told me their stories.
Liftoff comes to life through the candid narratives of about a dozen of these key employees. Some names are instantly recognizable. There is Gwynne Shotwell, hired in mid-2002, to sell rockets and charge headlong at Musk’s side as they reshaped the launch industry.
Many SpaceX enthusiasts will also recognize Tom Mueller, the company’s first employee and architect of the Merlin engine. Mueller overcame a lot of odds even before he got to SpaceX. Likewise, Hans Koenigsmann is relatively well known today.
But for the first time Chris Thompson, the other member of the SpaceX founding team with Musk and Mueller, spoke publicly. He tells some hilarious stories about Pop-Tarts and pop art. And there is Tim Buzza, the launch director, who kept meticulous notes and shared them.
Then there are unsung heroes whose names are not well known. People like Anne Chinnery, Florence Li, Brian Bjelde and more. And there is Zach Dunn, who saved the company at 25,000 feet in the air, when all seemed lost. There's even a classic goulash recipe ... because reasons.
Writing Liftoff has been the privilege of my professional career. This is an amazing story, all the more remarkable for how far SpaceX has come from such hardscrabble beginnings. I can’t believe I got to tell it.
The dramatic inside story of the first four historic flights that launched SpaceX—and Elon Musk—from a shaky startup into the world's leading edge rocket company. In 2006, SpaceX—a brand-new venture with fewer than 200 employees—rolled its first, single-engine rocket onto a launch pad at Kwajalein Atoll. After a groundbreaking launch from the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the Falcon 1 rocket designed by Elon Musk’s engineers rose in the air for approximately thirty seconds. Then, its engine flamed out, and the rocket crashed back into the ocean. In 2007, SpaceX undertook a second launch. This time, the rocket rose far into space, but just before reaching orbit it spun out of control. Confident of success in 2008, Musk and his team launched their third rocket with several paying customers. The first stage executed perfectly, but instead of falling away, it thudded into the second stage. Another failure. Elon Musk had only budgeted for three attempts when he founded SpaceX.Out of money and with a single Falcon 1 rocket left in its factory, SpaceX decided to try one last, dramatic launch. Over eight weeks, engineers worked furiously to prepare this final rocket. The fate of Musk’s venture mirrored the trajectory of this slender, single-engine rocket aimed toward the skies. If it crashed and burned, so would SpaceX. In September 2008, SpaceX’s last chance for success lifted off . . . and accelerated like a dream, soaring into orbit flawlessly.That success would launch a miraculous decade for the company, in which SpaceX grew from building a single-engine rocket to one with a staggering 27 engines; created two different spacecraft, and mastered reusable-rocket descents using mobile drone ships on the open seas. It marked a level of production and achievement that has not been seen since the space race of the 1960s.But these achievements would not have been possible without SpaceX’s first four flight tests. Drawing on unparalleled access and exclusive interviews with dozens of former and current employees—engineers, designers, mechanics, and executives, including Elon Musk—Eric Berger tells the complete story of this foundational generation that transformed SpaceX into the world’s leading space company.Liftoff includes more than a dozen photographs.ISBN: 9780062979971ISBN 10: 0062979973Imprint: William MorrowOn Sale: March 2, 2021Trimsize: 6x9inPages: 288 pages$27.99
This sounds like the book Tom Mueller mentioned in a recent interview.
Pre-ordered! Looking forward to reading it.
You're in it! (thanks to the comment about longevity of Ratsat).
Thanks! Guess I better buy two then...
Can't wait to read it! Do you have a chapter on Russian ICBM adventure?
Not a chapter, no. The majority of the book focuses on the period between the creation of SpaceX (May 2002 and the fourth Falcon 1 launch, Sept. 2008)
One of the remarkable things is that SpaceX could well have gone the way of all of those failed rocket companies of the 80s and 90s. Can't wait to read how it succeeded and thus changed the world.
As Mueller told me, unlike previous startups he'd seen come along, which may have had a smart idea for a rocket design, or money, Elon had both.
Congrats! Will there be an audio book version?
Yes, there will. Not sure who is narrating yet.
So awesome that this came together. A bunch of us wanted the stories of early SpaceX to be told and @SciGuySpace was the perfect author for this. The early draft is really good. This will be a best seller
Thank you for telling it
I know its a good story, and I know its well written - can't wait to get the hardcopy!
Sent in my very final text edits for Liftoff this afternoon. So, basically, it's done! I'll leave you with this gorgeous overview of Omelek Island, where it all began. Photo courtesy of SpaceX.https://www.harpercollins.com/products/liftoff-eric-berger
Amazon.co.uk just cancelled my order
Small beginnings, indeed, on a TINY island! - Didn't know it was that small. Sure buy from me, can hardly wait till next year.
Quote from: Oersted on 10/28/2020 01:06 pmSmall beginnings, indeed, on a TINY island! - Didn't know it was that small. Sure buy from me, can hardly wait till next year.If it helps any with conceptualizing it, Omelek is part of the larger Kwajalein atoll, so that island is one of a ring, separated by basically wading depth water (ok, more than that, but not much). Omelek itself is super tiny but there’s a lot of ~Omelek (or bigger) chunks of Kwajalein right next to each other.
Quote from: Redclaws on 11/17/2020 02:11 pmQuote from: Oersted on 10/28/2020 01:06 pmSmall beginnings, indeed, on a TINY island! - Didn't know it was that small. Sure buy from me, can hardly wait till next year.If it helps any with conceptualizing it, Omelek is part of the larger Kwajalein atoll, so that island is one of a ring, separated by basically wading depth water (ok, more than that, but not much). Omelek itself is super tiny but there’s a lot of ~Omelek (or bigger) chunks of Kwajalein right next to each other.I know the booster was flown in to Kwaj. How did they get it from the airport to Omelek?
<snip>This is the only full history on SpaceX and it was done phenomenally well.
When something is really good - or really bad - I tend to get to the point This is the only full history on SpaceX and it was done phenomenally well.
On the heels of yesterday’s launch and the incredible talent at SpaceX, I had to share my favorite @ElonMusk (and @Dr_ThomasZ) story.(h/t to @SciGuySpace ‘s upcoming book #Liftoff for this gem)
Quote from: Talking Tesla@SciGuySpace Eric Berger talks about how @spacex might be affected by a Biden Administration and gives a sneak peak into his upcoming book Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceXhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/5PtkhIY1Xd7duv4LyPww8I?si=HwrzhPLrSAqSHoxsozxWbQhttps://twitter.com/talkingtesla/status/1334649410156957697
@SciGuySpace Eric Berger talks about how @spacex might be affected by a Biden Administration and gives a sneak peak into his upcoming book Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX
Quote from: rdale on 11/20/2020 04:36 pm<snip>This is the only full history on SpaceX and it was done phenomenally well.Did you check out "HERE BE DRAGONS: A HISTORY OF THE FIRST ERA OF SPACEX" written by Stewart Money? It covers SpaceX during the same time period as Eric Berger's book.
"Liftoff reads like something out of the golden age of Science Fiction but this isn't a novel by Robert Heinlein or Arthur C. Clarke. This is the true, astounding story of the men and women who spun those sci-fi dreams into reality. This is as important a book on space as has ever been written and it's a riveting page-turner, too! -- HOMER HICKAM, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Rocket Boys“This might be the best space book I've ever read. Liftoff will prove to be a defining story not only for the commercial space industry, but for the Space Age writ large, and there's no one better than Eric Berger to tell it.” -- KELLIE GERARDI, author of Not Necessarily Rocket Science“Eric Berger brings to life the passion and sacrifice of the early SpaceX team as they navigated through countless obstacles toward unlikely success. The skillfully described technical details, paired with a candid glimpse into individual personalities, makes Liftoff a must read for space enthusiasts and novices alike.” -- KAREN NYBERG, NASA Astronaut"The elegant brilliance of the engineering that allows today’s space rockets to land themselves back on earth—or at sea—right way up, and on target to the inch, is all the doing of the teams assembled by Elon Musk—and the story of how he did it, and how for sure he will get us to Mars whether we like it or not, is told in appropriately stellar fashion by Eric Berger in a book that held me captive, in earth orbit, from prologue to epilogue, countdown to splashdown." -- SIMON WINCHESTER, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Perfectionists“Eric Berger has followed the exploits of SpaceX and its founder, Elon Musk, from its very early days. In Liftoff, Eric relates the many personal accounts collected in one-on-one interviews with Musk and many of his key leaders and associates. He chronicles the frenetic pace of Falcon 1 development and the toll it took on many of the early employees. This is a book that will hold your rapt attention from start to finish.” -- CHARLES BOLDEN, Former NASA Administrator and Four-Time Astronaut
Quote from: Zed_Noir on 11/20/2020 05:25 pmQuote from: rdale on 11/20/2020 04:36 pm<snip>This is the only full history on SpaceX and it was done phenomenally well.Did you check out "HERE BE DRAGONS: A HISTORY OF THE FIRST ERA OF SPACEX" written by Stewart Money? It covers SpaceX during the same time period as Eric Berger's book.I sent him money for the book two weeks ago and no reply and no book Not a good sign.
Less than 50 days now until the release of Liftoff! I'm going to be sharing thoughts from a few people I greatly respect who have read an early copy. First up is @realhomerhickam, who inspired more than a few SpaceXers.Pre-order: bit.ly/LiftoffbyEricB…
This SN9 drama reminds me a little bit of Flight Three of the Falcon 1 rocket, in 2008. Window for that launch closed at 3:30pm Kwaj time. SpaceX and Army had performed a collision analysis to ensure it was safe to launch during that window. But at 3:20 a storm blew over Omelek.
With frantic, last minute calls SpaceX negotiated a 10-minute extension. The fast-moving storm cleared, and the rocket lifted off at 3:34pm local time. It was pretty glorious until stage separation ...
Space News has published an excerpt from the Prologue and Chapter 1 of LIFTOFF. Check it out!
Book excerpt | Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceXby Eric Berger — February 25, 2021The seeds for everything SpaceX has grown into today were planted during the early days of the Falcon 1 program.
I'll be doing a @reddit AMA on Tuesday in r/space to discuss LIFTOFF, SpaceX, and space in general. Anything goes!https://www.reddit.com/r/space/
BOOK EXCERPT —The 2008 moment when triumph turned to torment for SpaceXFlight Three of the Falcon 1 rocket could make or break the company.ERIC BERGER - 3/1/2021, 1:00 PMThis is an excerpt from chapter eight of the book LIFTOFF: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX by our own Eric Berger. The book will be published on March 2, 2021. In this excerpt, it is the summer of 2008, and SpaceX has attempted to launch the Falcon 1 rocket twice already, failing both times. As the company's engineers prepare for a third launch attempt from tiny Omelek Island in the Kwajalein Atoll, time and money are running out...
Mueller said the original pump from Barber-Nichols weighed 150 pounds, with an output of about 3,000 horsepower. Over the next fifteen years, SpaceX engineers continued to iterate, changing the design and upgrading its parts. The turbopump in the modern-day Falcon 9 rocket’s Merlin engine still weighs 150 pounds, but produces 12,000 horsepower.
.@SciGuySpace has ended my multi-year streak of owning Mars. Still, you should buy his wonderful book amazon.com/Liftoff-Desper…
"Berger’s stories from the early days of SpaceX lay bare the relentless work, uncertainty and personal sacrifices early staffers faced while getting the company off the ground." My review of @SciGuySpace's new book "Liftoff."
Review: Liftoffby Jeff FoustMonday, March 1, 2021[…]Liftoff is rich with anecdotes from the early days of SpaceX that, put together, provide insights into the company that will be new for almost anyone who didn’t work at the company.
I hope Eric is planning to write the sequels - this story is still unfolding before our eyes!
He said there are a couple of subsequent stories that would be good to write: F9 development, especially reusability, and Starship.
The UK dust jacket is ... different.
Starting now! I'm speaking about the early days of SpaceX at NASA's symposium on the rise of commercial space.
I'll be joined by SpaceX's first launch and test director, Tim Buzza, in a @reddit AMA tomorrow to discuss LIFTOFF and the Falcon 1. @TimBuzza64 knows all the good stories! Ask your questions now:https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/m9cdrq/interested_in_the_new_spacex_book_liftoff_author/
At one point a camera on a mast seemed shaky so I sent him an email. Not 5 minutes later, on the other side of the world ona coral atoll, someone climbed up the tower to bolt the camera down. I saw a face flash by - I swear it was Elon's brother Kimball.
For some reason, LIFTOFF is on sale at Amazon for $11.99. This is a fabulous deal for a hardcover copy.
Hung out with the stars of LIFTOFF this weekend—the brilliant rocket scientists who changed launch forever at SpaceX with the Falcon 1.
The book’s publication spurred a get together for the techs and engineers who built and launched Falcon 1s from Kwaj. First time some of them had seen one another in more than a decade. Amazing to see the band back together.
13 years ago, today, the Falcon 1 reached orbit for the first time. It almost didn't. Weeks earlier, the rocket imploded during transit. This is a photo of that singular incident, with Flo Li supporting Zach Dunn, inside a C-17. The whole story:https://www.harpercollins.com/products/liftoff-eric-berger?variant=32126620205090
Loving this book. Also, when it came to the glossy pictures in the middle, it struck me that across two pages of photos filled with presidents, astronauts, and space industry giants, I had just met or spoke to most of those people (or their spouse) within the last week or so.
Congrats @SciGuySpace! We're delighted to inform you that "Liftoff" made it to our list of best Aerospace books of all time!