Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Amazon Prime includes:
Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.
Amazon Prime members enjoy:- Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
- Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
- Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
- A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
- Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
- Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access
Important: Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.
-40% $20.99$20.99
Ships from: Amazon.com Sold by: Amazon.com
$15.25$15.25
Ships from: Amazon Sold by: TriStar Books
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
OK
Image Unavailable
Color:
-
-
-
- To view this video download Flash Player
- VIDEO
Audible sample Sample
When the Heavens Went on Sale: The Misfits and Geniuses Racing to Put Space Within Reach Hardcover – May 9, 2023
Purchase options and add-ons
With the launch of the Falcon 1 rocket in 2008, Elon Musk's SpaceX became the first private company to build a low-cost rocket that could reach orbit. And that milestone carried major implications: Silicon Valley, not NASA or nation states, was suddenly cemented as the epicenter of the new Space Age. Start-ups and the wealthy investors behind them began to realize that the universe—ungoverned and infinite—was open for business. Welcome to the Wild West of aerospace engineering.
When the Heavens Went on Sale tells the remarkable, unfolding story of this frenzied intergalactic land grab. Through his trademark immersive reporting, Ashlee Vance follows four pioneering companies—Astra, Firefly, Planet Labs, and Rocket Lab—as they build new space systems and attempt to launch rockets and satellites into orbit by the thousands. While the public fixated on the space tourism being driven by the likes of Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson, these new companies arrived with a different set of goals: to make rocket and satellite launches fast and cheap, thereby opening Earth's lower orbit for business—and setting it up as the next playing field for humankind's technological evolution, where we can connect, analyze, and monitor everything on Earth.
Vance has had a front-row seat and singular access to this peculiar and unprecedented moment in history. When the Heavens Went on Sale travels through private company headquarters, labs, and top-secret launch locations around the world, including California, Texas, Alaska, New Zealand, Ukraine, India, and French Guiana. He chronicles it all in full color: the private jets, communes, gun-toting bodyguards, drugs, espionage investigations, and multimillionaires guzzling booze to dull the pain as their fortunes disappear.
With the most detailed and intimate reporting of Vance's career, When the Heavens Went on Sale reveals the spectacular chaos of the new business of space, and what happens when the idealistic, ambitious minds of Silicon Valley turn their unbridled vision toward the limitless expanse of the stars. This is the most pressing and controversial technology story of our time, a tale of fascinating characters chasing unimaginable stakes as they race to space.
- Print length528 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherEcco
- Publication dateMay 9, 2023
- Dimensions6 x 1.57 x 9 inches
- ISBN-100062998870
- ISBN-13978-0062998873
Books with Buzz
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more
Frequently bought together
Similar items that may ship from close to you
From the Publisher
|
|
|
---|---|---|
|
|
|
Elon Musk | When the Heavens Went On Sale | |
---|---|---|
Customer Reviews |
4.6 out of 5 stars
39,879
|
4.6 out of 5 stars
256
|
Price | $17.75$17.75 | $20.99$20.99 |
Editorial Reviews
Review
"The spectacle of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and other technology scions shooting themselves into space may give you the idea that the whole experience is an ego trip, but Vance, the author of a best-selling biography of Musk, encourages readers to think bigger. He follows four companies — Astra, Firefly, Planet Labs and Rocket Lab — in this interplanetary land grab, all with the hope of making Earth’s lower orbit the next site of technological innovation." — New York Times (“19 Works of Nonfiction to Read This Spring”)
"The book is an illuminating romp through an industry marinated in the signature mix of starry idealism and ruthless capitalism brewed in Silicon Valley in the second half of the 20th century." — The Economist
“Ashlee Vance writes about a new kind of space race marked by private companies launching rockets and putting a massive number of satellites into orbit. The characters behind this new fight to dominate the skies are just as interesting as the ones [Tom] Wolfe wrote about decades ago. . . .Vance’s behind-the-scenes access to the companies helps explain the challenges the private space industry faces and propels the book along as he describes failed rocket launches and globe-trotting investors.” — Associated Press
“The frenzied race by stargazing entrepreneurs to build a new economy in space is one of the most exciting tales of our time. Ashlee Vance, with his immersive reporting and exuberant writing, has captured the ambition and idealism of the colorful characters who are not only transforming our world but our heavens. It’s the next tech frontier, and Vance turns it into a thriller.” — Walter Isaacson, bestselling author of Steve Jobs and The Code Breaker
“A new testament for New Space, and an eloquent, expertly-reported ode to the swaggering geniuses who are opening the final frontier.” — Brad Stone, bestselling author of The Everything Store and Amazon Unbound
“Vance has delivered that rare book that educates and entertains while opening the reader up to a brand-new universe of wonderful characters and ideas. It's non-fiction that reads like a novel.” — Andy Weir, New York Times bestselling author of The Martian and Project Hail Mary
“Through incisive reporting and colorful prose, Ashlee Vance takes us on a thrilling ride to the outer limits of human achievement.” — Sheelah Kolhatkar, New Yorker staff writer and bestselling author of Black Edge
“[A] fantastic new book . . . I can highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in space, especially if you want to know how space startups work behind the public promises and marketing . . . [When the Heavens Went on Sale] provides real insight into these companies and the people who toil in them.” — Ars Technica
"[An] energetic account...[Vance] ably captures 'the spectacular madness of it all.' With enthusiasm and solid research, this book is an entertaining, informative look at cutting-edge technology." — Kirkus
“[An] exciting account…[Vance] provides finely observed portraits of the figures behind the aerospace companies…The focus on figures outside the limelight offers a fresh look at the new space race, and Vance’s feels-like-you’re-there storytelling captures the 'spectacular madness' of the moonshots. It’s The Right Stuff for the silicon age.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Well-researched and insightful. . . . An excellent addition to science or biography collections.” — Library Journal
“One of the best books ever written about NewSpace. . . . An incredibly entertaining account of today’s space industry. . . . Well-written and thrilling . . . . When the Heavens Went on Sale is a timely read that introduces readers to the exciting business of launching small satellites. The space-based economy is just getting started.” — National Space Society
“Vance’s book is an exuberant ride, happily hopping around the Pacific Rim from Kwajalein Atoll to California, from New Zealand to Kodiak Island, reveling in the do-it-yourself ethos of the new space business. . . . Vance makes a good case that the new generation of space entrepreneurs has managed to set up the launchpad. Most of the mission is still ahead — but listen closely and you can start to hear the countdown.” — New York Times Book Review
“A fascinating read about an emerging, rapidly changing industry . . . . If, for any reason, you thought the people in the space industry were boring, When the Heavens Went on Sale will make it clear they far from it.” — The Space Review
"Exhuberant." — Washington Post
“Full of colorful people, risky investments, and teachable explosions, Vance’s book is fascinating…” — Philadelphia Inquirer
"The book chronicles an enthralling Wild West of ego, idealism, and regulation-skirting greed, where soaring dreams are weighed down by economics and physics. CEOs, investors, engineers, and welders alike are smitten, but their efforts yield mostly pedestrian tools that track cargo ships, measure crop growth, or make phone calls. Still, the projects keep multiplying. “Something about space,” Vance writes, “allows humans to perceive themselves as being part of a timeless story and casting their lot in with the infinite.” — Harvard Business Review
About the Author
Ashlee Vance is the New York Times bestselling author of Elon Musk and a feature writer at Bloomberg Businessweek. He's also the host of Hello World, a travel show that centers on inventors and scientists all over the planet. Previously, he worked as a reporter for The New York Times, The Economist, and The Register.
Product details
- Publisher : Ecco (May 9, 2023)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 528 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0062998870
- ISBN-13 : 978-0062998873
- Item Weight : 1.4 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 1.57 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #244,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #64 in Engineering Patents & Inventions
- #711 in Biographies of Business & Industrial Professionals
- #1,429 in Entrepreneurship (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
Videos
Videos for this product
0:31
Click to play video
When the Heavens Went on Sale
Harper Collins
About the author
Ashlee Vance is an award winning feature writer for Bloomberg Businessweek magazine. Vance is also the host and writer of the Emmy-nominated "Hello World" TV series and producer of several upcoming documentary films. Previously, he worked for The New York Times and The Register. He's the author of the best-selling biography on Elon Musk and his most recent work is "When The Heavens Went on Sale" about the rise of the commercial space industry. HBO is currently developing a TV series and a documentary based on Vance's books.
Vance was born in South Africa, grew up in Texas and attended Pomona College. He has spent more than two decades covering the technology industry from San Francisco and is a noted Silicon Valley historian.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonReviews with images
-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Vance’s writing style is impressive, seamlessly blending humor, adventure, and profound insights into a thoroughly engrossing read. It's fascinating to see how the field of space exploration has become more accessible and exciting than ever before, and the book goes deep in highlighting the daring individuals who are driving the evolution of the field with their relentless innovation, creativity, and pure insanity.
The book is an exceptional work that is highly recommended for anyone interested in space exploration or just wanting an engaging and inspiring read. Vance’s exceptional storytelling and attention to detail make this book a truly unforgettable experience.
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2023
Vance’s writing style is impressive, seamlessly blending humor, adventure, and profound insights into a thoroughly engrossing read. It's fascinating to see how the field of space exploration has become more accessible and exciting than ever before, and the book goes deep in highlighting the daring individuals who are driving the evolution of the field with their relentless innovation, creativity, and pure insanity.
The book is an exceptional work that is highly recommended for anyone interested in space exploration or just wanting an engaging and inspiring read. Vance’s exceptional storytelling and attention to detail make this book a truly unforgettable experience.
Planet Labs, a maker of shoe-boxed sized satellites equipped with high resolution cameras in a multi-satellite constellation to capture pictures of every spot on the ground every day and made available through an online service for purchase. Think Russian troop build ups close to Ukraine and secret Iran or North Korean missile launches.
Rocket Lab, a small homegrown rocket satellite launcher originally out of New Zealand that became a viable launcher with both NZ and American citizenship. Ad Astra, another small homegrown rocket launcher from Alameda, California with wild trial launches out of the Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak Island, Alaska. And flailing Firefly—a slightly larger small rocket launcher from a remote spot in Texas, founded by an American and financially saved by a Ukrainian businessman thought to be a Russian plant by the US government.
The book ends with a visit to Leolabs. Leolabs is like an air traffic control system for low earth orbit. Companies like SpaceX and Planet Labs pay Leolabs to find and track their machines and receive automated notices when a collision is expected, causing a small shift on orbit to avoid it. It’s sad to say that such a company is needed, yet refreshing to find such a commercial company exists.
This Reviewer found the stories of Rocket Lab and Planet Labs inspiring. Ad Astra came across as hopeful and determined, while Firefly was simply hilarious.
This book is highly recommended for those interested in space information not found on routine news feeds.
The book captures the spirit of innovation and determination that fueled the race to put space within reach. It delves into the challenges, setbacks, and triumphs of the visionaries and their groundbreaking achievements. The narrative is richly detailed, immersing the reader in the excitement and drama of this extraordinary quest.
The author's writing style is engaging and accessible, making complex scientific concepts comprehensible and captivating. The book seamlessly blends historical accounts with personal anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories, offering a well-rounded perspective on the human side of space exploration.
When the Heavens Went on Sale is a must-read for anyone with an interest in space, science, and the relentless pursuit of the unknown. It will leave you inspired, awestruck, and with a profound appreciation for the indomitable spirit of exploration.