Overview
During the Cold War, rocket launches were often highly publicized as the global arms race quickened, with an explosion in development of ICBMs and manned spacecraft. Though launches are seldom broadcast today, rockets may be far more important in our daily lives than they were in decades past. We depend on satellites for telephone, internet and television service, in addition to intelligence gathering and scientific space exploration.This comprehensive directory describes spaceports and rocket launch sites around the world, including some that are under development or have been proposed for the future. Covering sites from the U.S. and former U.S.S.R. states to lesser-known spaceports in countries like Norway and Sweden, it provides an overview of launch operations and activities as well as unique milestones for each site. Numerous photographs are included. Appendices provide chronologies and launch tables for several major launch centers.
Synopsis
During the Cold War, rocket launches were often highly publicized as the global arms race quickened, with an explosion in development of ICBMs and manned spacecraft. Though launches are seldom broadcast today, rockets may be far more important in our daily lives than they were in decades past. We depend on satellites for telephone, internet and television service, in addition to intelligence gathering and scientific space exploration.
This comprehensive directory describes spaceports and rocket launch sites around the world, including some that are under development or have been proposed for the future. Covering sites from the U.S. and former U.S.S.R. states to lesser-known spaceports in countries like Norway and Sweden, it provides an overview of launch operations and activities as well as unique milestones for each site. Numerous photographs are included. Appendices provide chronologies and launch tables for several major launch centers.