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Liftoff
- Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX
- Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
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Summary
The dramatic inside story of the first four historic flights that launched SpaceX - and Elon Musk - from a shaky start-up into the world's leading-edge rocket company.
SpaceX has enjoyed a miraculous decade. Less than 20 years after its founding, it boasts the largest constellation of commercial satellites in orbit, has pioneered reusable rockets and in 2020 became the first private company to launch human beings into orbit. Half a century after the space race SpaceX is pushing forward into the cosmos, laying the foundation for our exploration of other worlds.
But before it became one of the most powerful players in the aerospace industry, SpaceX was a fledgling start-up, scrambling to develop a single workable rocket before the money ran dry. The engineering challenge was immense; numerous other private companies had failed similar attempts. And even if SpaceX succeeded, they would then have to compete for government contracts with titans such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing, who had tens of thousands of employees and tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue. SpaceX had fewer than 200 employees and the relative pittance of $100 million in the bank.
In Liftoff, Eric Berger takes listeners inside the wild early days that made SpaceX. Focusing on the company’s first four launches of the Falcon 1 rocket, he charts the bumpy journey from scrappy underdog to aerospace pioneer, drawing upon exclusive interviews with dozens of former and current engineers, designers, mechanics and executives, including Elon Musk. The enigmatic Musk, who founded the company with the dream of one day settling Mars, is the fuel that propels the book, with his daring vision for the future of space.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
Critic reviews
"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, 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)
“This is a book that will hold your rapt attention from start to finish." (Charles Bolden, former NASA administrator and four-time astronaut)
"Just read it." (Elon Musk)
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What listeners say about Liftoff
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- David Halgoa
- 09-05-22
inspirational
fabrastic journey told. eye opening story on determination, dedication ,extreme focus and drive. a must read for anyone interested in this company story and achievements.
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- Skippy the Magnificent
- 14-01-22
The reviews don’t lie
As huge space nerd, SpaceX (naturally) is a company that interests me greatly - so this book immediately appealed to me.
However, it was ultimately the great reviews that swayed me to pick this up and give it a go. These sorts of books don’t always live up to their titles. This book exceeds its title tenfold.
I was hooked immediately. Finished in three days. An absolutely gripping story about an incredible company - and all of the remarkable people who gave it life - with no stone left unturned. A worthwhile read for anyone from any walk of life.
The (albeit superstitious) SpaceX connection to Scotland via Gwynne Shotwell particularly stood out to me, being from Glasgow myself. However it is just one of the many wonderful little quirks that this story highlights, as it is full of them.
Kudos to the author and narrator for this wonderful (audio)book. I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish - and you will too.
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- Vasyl
- 09-09-21
This is a truly epic and inspiring story
I could not stop listening to this book. Never expected story of a company to be that dramatic and inspiring.
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- Hayley Susan
- 21-06-23
Worth reading
Very interesting and insightful if like me you know virtually nothing about how to go about building and launching rockets
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- Mario Nugnes
- 07-09-21
Fantastic story on SpaceX and Elon Musk
A very good historical book on the early days of SpaceX and Elon Musk. It is very nice to know the inside of the company, the method that they are using to solve problems and to engineer. Very instructive.
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- Mr HM EAST
- 15-08-22
Absolutley brillant and mindblowing story,
This book is absolutely brilliant. First-hand accounts of one of the most inspiring founder stories from the team who created SpaceX. Great structure and insight.
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- old geek
- 04-12-22
A story everyone should read
In 100 years time people will be referring to this book as an amazing account of a few years that changed not only technology but the way that people can reach ever higher to achieve a goal despite constant knockbacks. Amazing.
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- Matthew H.
- 01-04-21
Fascinating insight into the early days of SpaceX
Fascinating origin story of SpaceX with some incredible accounts of how close it came to collapse
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- Michael Fasosin
- 09-04-21
Arguably one of the best books I have listened to
Thank you for bringing the personal stories of all the Space X pioneers to life. I love the very engaging way the book brought each person to life. It felt like you know each person intimately and felt their joys and pains. Above all, this book helps you see how group think in the aerospace sector has held innovation back for years. Ultimately, well done to Shortwell and Elon what a great team. Innovation has a human cost. Those people that Eric so thoughtfully wrote about like Zac Dunn are hero’s to me. Thank you Eric!
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- Jessica
- 11-06-23
Brilliant
My father, a chartered engineer, recommended this to me on the start of my audiobook journey. It was fantastic, I felt like i was there for the fourth launch and almost cried on my way to work!
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