Document Created: 24 August 2007
Air & Space Power Journal Fall 2007
Blazing the Trail: The Early History of Spacecraft and Rocketry by Mike Gruntman. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=2), 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Suite 500, Reston, Virginia 20191-4344, 2004, 475 pages, $59.95 (hardcover).
As a certified space professional with over 20 years’ experience in space operations and engineering, I’ve never seen such a detailed record of the world history of rocketry and spacecraft. In the 18 chapters of Blazing the Trail, Mike Gruntman covers the “humble beginnings” to the “first thousand years” and provides a thorough description of the “long road that led us from simple fireworks to intercontinental ballistic missiles and powerful space launchers that open the ways to the cosmos” (p. 455). He also discusses the infrastructure required to support the development and testing of rockets and spacecraft, including the building of test and launch sites. Gruntman combines a heavy dose of engineering details with some political insights and sprinkles of humor to produce a well-written space-reference book.
Although it provides encyclopedia-type detail, overall, Blazing the Trail is easy to read and well formatted. However, since the term spacecraft comes first in the title, I expected more history on spacecraft than on rocketry. Just the opposite is true—about 70 percent on rockets and 30 percent on spacecraft. The first detailed discussion on spacecraft occurs in chapter 15, “The Breakthrough,” after over 300 pages on rocketry. Nevertheless, Gruntman interweaves technical and engineering facts, such as the size and performance of early rockets, with some key political factors behind both their successes and failures. For example, in chapter 16, “Opening the Skies,” the author outlines in detail the geopolitical environment and factors leading to development of the United States’ first reconnaissance satellite and formation of the National Reconnaissance Office. Additionally, the book contains over 300 figures, helping to bring the words to life and providing a unique perspective of the faces and places instrumental in “building the foundation” of future systems. The pictures of early systems make it easier to visualize how early rockets and spacecraft evolved from the fairly simple to the extremely complex. Given the extensive number of illustrations, I was surprised that the book does not include a “Table of Figures” to support quick reference and research. However, the frequent sidebars do help in this regard.
Although not outlined as clearly and consistently as the history of spacecraft and rockets, the book offers a unique discussion of the heritage of many US space corporations. For example, Gruntman cites how disagreements with Howard Hughes led to the resignation of two leading specialists (Simon Ramo and Dean Wooldridge [Ramo-Wooldridge]) and, with financial help from Thompson Products, eventually to the formation of Thompson Ramo Wooldridge (TRW) (p. 233). The author also covers the “why” behind the formation of Aerospace Corporation as a nonprofit institution to help the US Air Force make advances in ballistic-missile and military-space systems (p. 233).
Gruntman spices up the book with “engineering humor.” For example, in discussing the development of one satellite, he notes how a specially produced, expensive white paint was “required” for thermal control. However, it turns out that a common household paint was used by mistake. Nevertheless, the thermal control worked as required, offering an early lesson in cost control (p. 427).
Fundamental courses in space operations and extended research projects on rocketry and/or spacecraft should acquire this well-written, single-source “encyclopedia” as a must-use reference. Also, Blazing the Trail is definitely a must-read for all military and/or space-history enthusiasts.
Lt Col Kenneth Allison, USAF
Air Force Fellow, RAND
Santa Monica, California
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