Lost in Space: The Fall of NASA and the Dream of a New Space Age

By Greg Klerkx

Book Overview

The daring, revolutionary NASA that sent Neil Armstrong to the moon has lost its meteoric vision, says journalist and space enthusiast Greg Klerkx. NASA, he contends, has devolved from a pioneer of space exploration into a factionalized bureaucracy focused primarily on its own survival. And as a result, humans haven't ventured beyond Earth orbit for three decades. Klerkx argues that after its wildly successful Apollo program, NASA clung fiercely to the spotlight by creating a government-sheltered monopoly with a few Big Aerospace companies. Although committed in theory to supporting commercial spaceflight, in practice it smothered vital private-sector innovation. In striking descriptions of space milestones spanning the golden 1960s Space Age and the 2003 Columbia tragedy, Klerkx exposes the "real" NASA and envisions exciting public-private cooperation that could send humans back to the moon and beyond.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375727736
• ISBN13: 9780375727733
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Vintage
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Well written, lively, viewpoint subject to challenge.

"Ho, hum! Another book about space. Looks like it's by one of the 'blame NASA' crowd. Ardently peddling his own bit of vaporware, most likely." That was my reaction when I first heard of this book. Just the same, I bought it and read it, and now I'm glad that I did. Just in case you don't read to the end of this review, I'll put my conclusion up front: READ THIS BOOK. Klerkx does represent that NASA, after its heroic age leading up to the Apollo moon landings, got hardening of the mental arteries. Struggling just to survive as a sinecure for government bureaucrats and a jobs program for engineers, it became less and less venturesome, less and less innovative. As budgets and head count fell away, it became increasingly the captive of corporate aerospace giants. Today, among many space enthusiasts, it is regarded as a roadblock rather than an ally. Klerkx presents their case. As a longtime space enthusiast myself, I encounter this point of view all the time. Its advocates are a dime a dozen. What makes Klerkx different is that he's a trained journalist and makes a stronger case than I would have thought possible. It helps that he writes well -- he knows how to interview people and make their lives interesting to the reader. Just incidentally, he writes grammatically. Even the typos are rare in this book. I would have to read it clear through a third time to find any, and I could probably count them on the fingers of one hand. The book interviews a lot of people, many of whom once worked for NASA, but were axed in budget cuts, or becamse disillusioned and quit. Obviously their stories share a bias, but there are too many of them to brush off easily. Some had illustrious records in the glory days. Some have pursued outstanding second careers. Some doggedly stuck to space-related endeavors at great personal risk and sacrifice. Some put up astounding amounts of their own or other people's money. They believe what they are doing. It you attend space-related conferences, you've probably met some of these people, or passed them in the hall among the throng. Klerkx's book would be worth getting if only for its bios of some very interesting, but mostly unsung, people. That said, what about Kerkx's thesis? What if all of it were true: that NASA has become stagnant, uses every trick in the book to remain the gatekeeper of American space efforts, and is captive to giant aerospace corporations (down to just two of them, by now)? Even so, would it make sense to blame NASA for what has happened, and is still happening? I think the point is arguable. If you venture outside the smallish circle of space frontierspeople, you quickly discover that the vast majority of the public are either like the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, which wants the money returned to the taxpayers, or like any of the many lobbies for rival government expenditures. They may admire space achievements in a survey, but they don't want to spend more on it than they might, say, on a f

Space Executive

In what amounts to a comprehensive investigative journalism piece, Klerkx documents and writes the story that 95% of commercial space professionals already know, but which 95% of the American public does not.Written by somebody who loves space, and who grew up loving NASA, this is an eye opener for anybody else who loves space, and grew up loving NASA. You will are likely to have one of two reactions: 1) Wow, I did not know that. I never understood why we have not made more progress in space. We need to do something!; or 2) An automatic reaction to defend NASA, and attempt to discount what is an ugly truth.As a long-time space industry indsider, I know many of the people who Klerkx writes about, I noted one or two minor nits, but most of this easy read is based on fact, and I even learned a few things.Most of what passes as "space books" today is propaganda for the huge government/aerospace contractor marketing campaign. I highly recommend this book to those who want a factual look at some space secrets which are not generally known. Best of all, Klerkx does not conclude with a negative message, but provides an optimistic prescription to opening space for all of the people. To succeed our society needs to the facts that Klerkx documents.

Vision of a New Frontier

Fascinating read. The space agency that once defied all odds, and achieved one of the land mark events of the 20th century has become too entangled in bureaucratic infighting and budgetary restraints. For century's exploration as begun with government funding and expanded into the private sector. Why should space be any different? Who better to help man achieve his dreams of space exploration than the dreamers themselves? Mr. Klerkx arguments in this regard are insightful and intriguing. Lost in Space is well worth your time.

A Fascinating Read!

For those wishing to understand the vast and complicated history of NASA and human spaceflight, LOST IN SPACE is an essential and mesmerizing must-read. Klerkx tackles this difficult subject matter with comprehensive, concise, and eloquent first-hand accounts and perspectives. For space enthusiasts and those completely unfamiliar with this realm, LOST IN SPACE offers an absolutely compelling, behind-the-scenes look at our past, present, and potential future in spaceflight. It is impossible to read this book and not become truly engaged in the development of the next space age.

A refreshing antidote...

..to the usual right stuff glorification of an organization whose efforts to build on the thrill of Apollo have disappointed me and apparently also the author. The track record Klerkx puts together in this book of NASA's dealings with big contractors like Boeing is shocking, and it really throws into question whether NASA has what it takes to send people back to the moon or anywhere else. The stories of the entrepreneurs are interesting and the whole book moves along very nicely, without too much technical gobbledegook. A really interesting read, although it's pretty long, so give yourself some time!