by daly on 10/8/24, 8:08 PM with 0 comments
We rocket enthusiasts all know Werner von Braun and Willy Ley. This
first-person account in "Countdown To Launch!" introduces another
rocket pioneer. Raised in the post-war midwest during the nuclear
missile race, living within the circular error probability of a
military base strike, Ralph Hollis led a group of high school students
to design and build two-stage rockets. One of these was capable of
reaching 35.000 feet and returning gently to earth using hand designed
parachute mechanisms. Ralph used very primitive computers to help in
the construction of vital U.S. missiles such as the Minuteman III and
ring laser gyroscopes for submarines. Joining the pantheon of Werner
and Willy, Ralph Hollis give a first-person pioneer insight we rocket
enthusiasts thirst to hear. If you love rockets, you need this book.