ARA Press

Rockets of the World, Fourth Edition

by  Peter Alway

Reviewed By  Ben Guenther, IPMS# 20101

MSRP: $35 ISBN: 978-0-615-22317-9 Hardcover, 8.5 x 11", 384 pages 184 b&w photos, 199 drawings Publisher: National Association of Rocketry, 2008 Review copy courtesy of ARA Press Website: www.arapress.com For historical and current rockets this is a one source reference book. While much of this book is devoted to the rockets of the USSR/Russia and of the United States this book does cover twelve other countries' rockets. From the Congreve rockets in the early 19th century to Alfred Maul's 1912 camera rocket, the rockets of Robert Goddard (1926-1937) and to the present day, each rocket is given a historical summary and a dimensional/color-keyed data drawing. In addition, most rockets also have a b&w photo whether static or at launch. From a modeling point of view the most note worthy and worth while feature are the drawings, all 199 of them, most of which take up a full page at a time. They provide station locations of various features, diameters and radii where required. One has to check the information box as to the scale, which will vary by rocket as to fit the page, but it is noted as well as whether or not the dimensions are in inches or metric. The hard bound book will protect the pages from harm for years to come and the pages do open up quite easily which is helpful. Besides this impressive collection of technical information one is provided with an extensive bibliography and information on mail order sources of drawings and photographs. Whether you are a modeler, model rocketeer or just a space buff you will find this book most useful and I highly recommend it. One note of advice, the previous edition published in 1999 sold out quickly and prices on the secondary market have been high ever since. If you missed out the last time or just want to get it presently, I would get it now rather than later. I would like to thank IPMS/USA and ARA Press for the opportunity to review this book. [Editor's Note: ARA Press offers, to IPMS Members, a 15% discount on anything in the store by typing the code 'IPMS-R' into the box at checkout.]