Ignition!

An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants

John Drury Clark

Recommended By

Book Reviews

One of Elon Musk's favorite books about space.

Book Synopsis

Ignition! by John Drury Clark is a fascinating exploration of the history, science, and engineering behind rocket propellants.

From the early days of gunpowder to the cutting-edge research of the mid-20th century, Clark provides a comprehensive overview of the explosive and propulsive compounds that have fueled mankind's voyage into space.

Through a captivating narrative, he delves into the complexities of creating reliable and powerful rocket propellants, discussing the challenges faced by scientists and engineers along the way.

Clark recounts thrilling stories of accidents and near-disasters, highlighting the risks inherent in the pursuit of propellant perfection.

He offers valuable insights into the vital role propellants play in rocketry, shedding light on the chemical reactions that produce the incredible forces needed to overcome gravity's grip.

With remarkable clarity, Clark demystifies the technical details of rocket propellants, making this book accessible to both scientists and the general reader.

Ignition! is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the explosive power that has propelled humanity's greatest technological achievements.

Explore More Books

See All
Montaigne's Essays
Nourishing Traditions
Intellectual Life in the Middle Ages
The Museum of Other People
The Smartest Guys In The Room
Tao of Philosophy
A Wrinkle in Time
Mathematics: Its Content, Methods and Meaning
You Can Be a Stock Market Genius
The Overview Effect
Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter
All Over but the Shoutin'
Where Do School Funds Go?
Endure
The Captive Mind
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Razor's Edge
English Culture and the Decline of the Industrial Spirit, 1850-1980
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
Guns, Germs, and Steel
The Ride of a Lifetime
Creative Selection
The Alchemist
The American Story
All I Want to Know is Where I'm Going To Die So I'll Never Go There
The Surrender Experiment
The Experience Machine
The God Delusion
Catching the Big Fish
A Guide To Econometrics
Hackers & Painters
The Unincorporated Man
Startup
The Origin of Species
The Wisdom of Crowds
Negotiating The Impossible
Rise of the Machines
The Bully Pulpit
Breaking Out of Beginner's Spanish
Rick and Morty Book Two
The New New Thing
Recapturing The Spirit Of Enterprise
The Art of Asking
The Selfish Gene
The Fountainhead
Dictionary of Untranslatables
The Book of Why
Central Banking 101
Command
Lights Out
War Nerd
The Essays of Warren Buffett
The Rational Optimist
Principles of Economics
The Humanure Handbook
P53
Digital Gold
The Advantage
The Inner Studio
Infrastructure
Foundation and Empire
A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis
Twilight of the Bombs
Energy Myths and Realities
Q.E.D.
The Act of Creation
How to Dress an Egg
The Heart
The Devil’s Financial Dictionary
Albert Einstein
Incognito
An Agricultural Testament
Mindfulness in Plain English
The Omnivore's Dilemma
Discourses on Livy
Last Chance to See
Filters Against Folly
Altars of Unhewn Stone
The Dog Stars
Eradication
Why Globalization Works
In Praise of Slowness
An Unquiet Mind
The Power To Compete
The Friction Project
A History of Knowledge
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics
Stalingrad
Skunk Works
We Learn Nothing
Automate This
Philosophy and Scientific Realism
The Amateur
Product Design for the Web
America's Cultural Revolution
Painting and Experience in Fifteenth-Century Italy
Very Good, Jeeves
The Kitchen Cookbook
Behind the Beautiful Forevers
The Power of Glamour