Ignition!

An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants

By John Drury Clark | Publisher: Rutgers University Press

About the book

A classic work in the history of science, and described as “a good book on rocket stuff…that’s a really fun one” by SpaceX founder Elon Musk, readers will want to get their hands on this influential classic, available for the first time in decades.  


This newly reissued debut book in the Rutgers University Press Classics imprint is the story of the search for a rocket propellant which could be trusted to take man into space. This search was a hazardous enterprise carried out by rival labs who worked against the known laws of nature, with no guarantee of success or safety.

Acclaimed scientist and sci-fi author John Drury Clark writes with irreverent and eyewitness immediacy about the development of the explosive fuels strong enough to negate the relentless restraints of gravity. The resulting volume is as much a memoir as a work of history, sharing a behind-the-scenes view of an enterprise which eventually took men to the moon, missiles to the planets, and satellites to outer space.
 

Editions of Ignition!

Hardcover
ISBN 9780813599175
EBook
ISBN 9780813599182
PDF
ISBN 9780813599199

Read an Excerpt

A classic work in the history of science, and described as “a good book on rocket stuff…that’s a really fun one” by SpaceX founder Elon Musk, readers will want to get their hands on this influential classic, available for the first time in decades.  


This newly reissued debut book in the Rutgers University Press Classics imprint is the story of the search for a rocket propellant which could be trusted to take man into space. This search was a hazardous enterprise carried out by rival labs who worked against the known laws of nature, with no guarantee of success or safety.

Acclaimed scientist and sci-fi author John Drury Clark writes with irreverent and eyewitness immediacy about the development of the explosive fuels strong enough to negate the relentless restraints of gravity. The resulting volume is as much a memoir as a work of history, sharing a behind-the-scenes view of an enterprise which eventually took men to the moon, missiles to the planets, and satellites to outer space.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ignition! about?

A classic work in the history of science, and described as “a good book on rocket stuff…that’s a really fun one” by SpaceX founder Elon Musk, readers will want to get their hands on this influential classic, available for the first time in decades.  


This newly reissued debut book in the Rutgers University Press Classics imprint is the story of the search for a rocket propellant which could be trusted to take man into space. This search was a hazardous enterprise carried out by rival labs who worked against the known laws of nature, with no guarantee of success or safety.

Acclaimed scientist and sci-fi author John Drury Clark writes with irreverent and eyewitness immediacy about the development of the explosive fuels strong enough to negate the relentless restraints of gravity. The resulting volume is as much a memoir as a work of history, sharing a behind-the-scenes view of an enterprise which eventually took men to the moon, missiles to the planets, and satellites to outer space.
 

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Ignition!?

Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, Industrial processes > Technology: general issues > History of engineering and technology

Where can I read a sample of Ignition!?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780813599175

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Ignition!?

John Drury Clark

Who is the Publisher of the book Ignition!?

Rutgers University Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Ignition! is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780813599175) and ebook(ISBN 9780813599182) and pdf(ISBN 9780813599199)

Where can I buy Ignition! online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Ignition! from below

Where can I buy Ignition!?