Prelude to Space
Cover of the first edition
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| Author | Arthur C. Clarke |
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| Cover artist | Bunch (per signature) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | World Editions Inc. |
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Publication date
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1951 |
| Media type | Print (Digest) |
| Pages | 160 |
Prelude to Space is a science fiction novel written by British author Arthur C. Clarke in 1947. It appeared for the first time in 1951 in magazine format by World Editions Inc, as number three in the series Galaxy Science Fiction.Sidgwick & Jackson published it in novel form for the British readership in 1953, followed the next year by a United States hardcover edition from Gnome Press and a paperback from Ballantine Books.
Prelude to Space recounts the fictional events leading up the launch of Prometheus, the world's first spacecraft capable of reaching the Moon. Prometheus consists of two components, named Alpha and Beta. Alpha is designed for travel from Earth orbit to the Moon and back. It is not capable of independent atmospheric flight. Beta is a nuclear-powered flying wing which carries Alpha into orbit. Beta uses a nuclear reactor to superheat either air (when flying in the lower, denser, part of the atmosphere) or its own internal supply of methane (in the higher reaches of the atmosphere and in space) to achieve thrust. Beta functions as a ramjet in the lower atmosphere and must be launched using an electric launch track. The return journey to the Moon proceeds as follows: Beta carries Alpha into Orbit; Alpha separates from Beta and refuels from tanks previously carried into orbit by Beta; Alpha flies to and lands on the Moon while Beta remains in Earth orbit; Alpha returns to Earth orbit and the crew returns to Earth aboard Beta; Alpha remains in orbit to await the next flight.
Prelude was written before the Apollo missions landed men on the moon and follows the ideal that space travel is realistic and within the grasp of the population. Clarke wrote a new preface in 1976 in which he admits that he had some propagandist goals in writing Prelude to Space — he was an influential member of the astronautics community when the idea of rockets leaving earth's atmosphere was scoffed at by many scientists.
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