Reentry

SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets That Launched a Second Space Age

By: Eric Berger

Narrated by: Rob Shapiro

How did a shaky startup defy expectations and become the world's leading spaceflight company? Get the untold story of the team of game-changers, led by a well-known billionaire, who are sending NASA astronauts to space—and just might carry the human race to Mars.

One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn't do it alone; the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel.

For the first time, Reentry relates the definitive chronicle of how this daring team was able to redefine what it takes to reach the stars.

With Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist Eric Berger, author of Liftoff, as your guide, you'll accompany SpaceX's innovative thinkers during their toughest trials and most audacious moments, including:

- Creating the first orbital rockets that land by themselves and fly again

- Transporting a 120-foot rocket from Texas to Florida

- Recovering from a "Hell's Bells" accident before the first Falcon Heavy launch

- Frantically searching the ocean for the first rocket that splashed down intact

- Identifying the twenty-dollar part that led to a rocket exploding in flight

- Slicing up an engine days before it launched into space

From launchpad explosions to a pernicious cricket infestation to the demanding management style of Musk himself, the rise of SpaceX was beset with challenges and far from inevitable. Find out how the startup beat the odds and flew high enough to outpace their rivals... and where they're going next.

©2024 Eric Berger (P)2024 Podium Audio

Just phenomenal

Although I don’t agree with and wouldn’t endorse everything Elon Musk does or has done, this book giving me more data and facts about SpaceX is very legit.
I like to do my own research and cross check accounts to etc., this book is truly a master piece!

The desire if the individual Sparcx'r

Look its a great read/listen but Eric falls into the liberal trope of Elon bad at the end. He very forcefully calls out the positive positions of Elon then point outs the weak positions of people who quit and gave up. To work at SpaceX is to cast off your preconceived notion of individual and embrace the idea of greater good. we will accomplish the
goals set by Elon and accomplish the soon

Great Detail

I felt like this was an honest take from interviewing employees and people who interracted with SpaceX and their employees. It doesn't pull any punches on what the work environment is at SpaceX or what it is like to work for Musk

Excellent read

Eric has done an awesome job of telling the epic story of Spacex and the impossible tasks of designing, testing, blowing up and ultimately launching rockets

Fantastic insights and a true behind the scenes encounter

The first hand experience is evident in the rich details and insightful stories. Love hearing the tumultuous and wild ride that the company has gone through to get to where it is at. Having watched the company grow as a spectator, these inside stories paint new perspectives and tell true tales about the hardships and struggles fought by those down in the trenches. What a wonderful book!

Both biased and impartial

Berger manages to widely paint the importance and amazement of SpaceX and Musk's success with his biased enthusiasm for spaceflight, but the same time adds brilliant details criticizing Musk and other players in the space industry, thereby reminding us that history and people have many more sides to them than we often make ourselves believe. People, just like rocket science, is complex, and you you can't judge or take informed decisions until you've fully immersed yourself in the subject and its history.

Great Inside Story

I was very pleased with the mix of insider information, along with the science behind space flight being explained in a way that lay people can understand.

Solid Sequel to Liftoff

Eric Berger continues to chronicle the story of SpaceX, with solid analysis and great perspectives from the people who were hands on in the days of Falcon 9 development.

A great follow up

This book seems a balanced insight into SpaceX, explaining the great achievements without being a fan boy, to describing the personalities and the technical struggles within. Thoroughly recommend

The author is very engaged and supportive of the vision of human space flight.

Overall, the book was engaging informative, without being overly technical which some readers may enjoy. I think it was an excellent portrayal of SpaceX, their accomplishments and with the right leadership what can be achieved.

However, I felt that the comments at the end of the book where unfortunate and seem to telegraph the authors liberal point of view with some confirmation bias. It really was unnecessary for the author to interject a personal opinion. Stick the writing books.