Liftoff
Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days that Launched SpaceX
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Liftoff
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Narrated by:
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Rob Shapiro
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Written by:
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Eric Berger
About this listen
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 30 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.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2021 Eric Berger (P)2021 HarperCollins PublishersYou may also enjoy...
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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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Swapshots
- 2021-11-22
A fascinating story.
While I am no longer a Musk fan boy I still love to hear how one man changed an industry and achieved greatness for his dreams.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Cameron Turner
- 2021-03-20
Well told, inside story of the first 4 launches
I'm not usually one for memoir-style books. I'm fiction all the way, but I gave this a shot and I'm glad I did. At times it can be a bit over-detailed, but the stories, motivations, sacrifices and narrative are very interesting. It might be possible to cobble this level of detail together from multiple other sources, but this is a fantastic place to start.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Matthew
- 2023-05-21
Fantastic!
Extremely interesting! I didn’t realize just how close SpaceX. came to failing. I wish there were thousands more of Elons around!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2021-04-15
Best book about SpaceX
The book goes into incredible depth of the early days of SpaceX and each Falcon 1 flight. If you’re a space fan, SpaceX fan or anything inbetween I highly suggest this book!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tyler F
- 2022-05-20
This really should be adapted into a movie.
This is an amazing book detailing mostly from the SpaceX crews perspectives, not too much from Elon (but lots about Elon). Tons of drama, hardship, struggle, passion and nostalgia shines throughout. I’ve listened to this book over two days while working. It was great. Sad to hear it come to an end however. Looking forward to whatever books come in the future about SpaceX!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- DPye
- 2021-08-09
In depth and informative - an excellent account.
I felt like I already knew this story, having closely watched the many videos about SpaceX available online, but Eric Berger brings to life so many inside perspectives that I realize I didn't know the half of it.
This Audible production is excellent and very enjoyable.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2021-10-04
Amazing
I have been following spacex since the early days of falcon 9 but this story presented me with an amazing underdog story of a brilliant team of engineers that i was not prepared for. Erics writing is great and Rob Shapiro’s narration is of the same class. Can’t recommend enough!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michel Longpre Boisvert
- 2021-12-28
Passion
We can feel and understand their passion for making it happen. Fascinating story behind the scenes.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- CrashTack
- 2022-05-20
I never knew
A child of Apollo, I never knew the SpaceX origin story.
Now I do. Great story, wonderfully told.
Enough detail for a geek, enough human interest for all.
Terrific.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lena
- 2021-05-24
A both personal and technical story
Excellent book that dives into the hard work and sacrifices of key employees driven by Elon's leadership during SpaceX's early days. The book goes into both personal and technical concepts which I enjoyed. Rob Shapiro is the best narrator, I felt as if I was living in the story and experiencing it first hand. Highly recommend for all SpaceX enthusiasts out there.
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