A fascinating read about an emerging, rapidly changing industry . . . If, for any reason, you thought the people in the space industry were boring, When the Heavens Went on Sale will make it clear they far from it The Space Review Vance also explores the broader implications of this new space era, both for humanity and for the planet. He examines the potential benefits and risks of opening up space to more players, such as democratizing access to information, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, creating new industries and jobs, but also increasing orbital debris, disrupting astronomy, and sparking geopolitical conflicts. He also raises some ethical and philosophical questions about our relationship with space, such as what it means to be a spacefaring civilization, who owns and governs space, and what are our responsibilities towards other life forms. Vance: I want people to know that, yes, this is a space book and a business book, but it's really meant to be a story of larger-than-life characters in stranger-than-fiction situations. I worked very hard — and spent five years getting myself in all these rooms — to give people what I think is the first time ever sitting inside these companies and seeing what commercial space looks like at this level. I wanted to open this world up to the readers.

Illuminating... For an insight into the people and culture driving the new space age, Mr Vance's book is the place to start. After the wonder of the Moon landings, space somehow contrived to become boring. These days it is exciting again Economist This is the most pressing and controversial technology story of our time, a tale of fascinating characters chasing unimaginable stakes. Welcome to the new Wild West above the clouds.

Before we look at these companies’ pursuits, let’s first see what they have in common and how these traits have changed the space industry forever. An] exciting account... provides finely observed portraits of the figures behind the aerospace companies...offers a fresh look at the new space race, and Vance's feels-like-you're-there storytelling captures the "spectacular madness" of the moonshots. It's The Right Stuff for the silicon age Publishers Weekly (starred review) Ashlee Vance is the New York Timesbestselling author of Elon Muskand a feature writer at Bloomberg Businessweek. He is also the host of Hello World, a travel show that centers on inventors and scientists all over the planet. Previously, he worked as a reporter for the New York Times,the Economist, andthe Register. In When the Heavens Went on Sale, Ashlee Vance illuminates our future and unveils the next big technology story of our time: welcome to the Wild West of aerospace engineering and its unprecedented impact on our lives. Vance: Well, it's an area that I focus on less clearly in the book, and less in general. I just get so much more excited about low Earth orbit, because I think that's where the action is really taking place. I find a lot of this other stuff interesting and worthwhile but just so long term.

Since this is a book about satellites and not astronauts, very little is said about the human settlement of space. Some company leaders, for example, believe sending people to Mars is an interesting idea. However, they also show more interest in their own efforts to commercialize low Earth orbit. Others, such as some of the founders of Planet, belong to an organization called the Open Lunar Foundation that wants to establish a human settlement on the Moon. For readers interested in Musk or technology and innovation. This book will be an excellent addition to science or biography collections." — Library Journal So, if you're simply fascinated by Silicon Valley’s bold entrepreneurial spirit in the space arena or can't help but gaze at the night sky wondering about the cosmos, you're in for a treat. In this book by Ashlee Vance’s When the Heavens Went on Sale, we’ll explore how four pioneering aerospace companies are shaping this booming industry and the future of space exploration. Reading about Vance’s interactions with several Astra employees is also very interesting. Some are true believers in the future of space exploration. Others, on the other hand, view what they do as just a job. Regardless of their beliefs, these interviews are memorable. Rather than reading comments from a legendary NASA astronaut, a famous space engineer or scientist, or a billionaire space entrepreneur, it is nice to hear what ordinary people behind the scenes think about spaceflight. No two people have the same opinion about space, and this is clearly demonstrated in the book. Cofounded by a trio of self-proclaimed space-nerds-slash-hippies – Robbie Schingler, Will Marshall, and Chris Boshuizen – Planet began with a unique vision. The founders believed in the power of these miniature satellites, lovingly named Doves, to be a force for good. These weren't stealthy spy satellites for snooping; they were the all-seeing eyes that could help us better understand and optimize our world.PDF / EPUB File Name: When_the_Heavens_Went_on_Sale_-_Ashlee_Vance.pdf, When_the_Heavens_Went_on_Sale_-_Ashlee_Vance.epub NASA's space shuttle Atlantis stands atop Mobile Launch Platform-3 just hours before the liftoff of STS-135, the final mission of the 30-year space shuttle program in July 2011. (Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls)

That's Firefly's story in a nutshell. It's all about big dreams, game-changing innovation, and a determination to break the aerospace industry’s mold. When the Heavens Went on Sale: The Misfits and Geniuses Racing to Put Space Within Reach (2023) by Ashlee Vance. The Space Barons: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos by Christian Davenport (2018) Vance has delivered that rare book that educates and entertains while opening the reader up to a brand-new universe of wonderful characters and ideas. It's non-fiction that reads like a novel Andy Weir, author of THE MARTIAN and HAIL MARYFull Book Name: When the Heavens Went on Sale: The Misfits and Geniuses Racing to Put Space Within Reach

The frenzied race by stargazing entrepreneurs to build a new economy in space is one of the most exciting tales of our time. Ashlee Vance, with his immersive reporting and exuberant writing, has captured the ambition and idealism of the colourful characters who are not only transforming our world but our heavens. It's the next tech frontier, and Vance turns it into a thriller Walter Isaacson, bestselling author of STEVE JOBS

It surprised me that the author didn't spend much time/paper diving deeper into space-related opportunities - I think there's much more there than it was covered (incl. access to minerals/rare substances).