Books by David Baker

Describes the origin of the reusable launch vehicle concept during the 1960s, its evolution into a viable flying machine in the early 1970s, and its subsequent design, engineering, construction and operation.

The International Space Station (ISS) is a permanently manned earth-orbiting complex where astronauts carry out research into a wide range of scientific activities.

This book, extensively illustrated with technical drawings and photographs, tracks the story of each of the successful post-Apollo 11 Moon-landing missions, majoring on the hardware and instruments developed, in addition to the engineering modifications made to the Lunar Module and the Apollo spacecraft for this greatly expanded scientific role.

How did time begin? What conditions led to humans evolving on Earth? Will we survive the Anthropocene? And is it really true that we're all made from stars?Combining knowledge from chemistry, biology, and physics, with insights from the social sciences and humanities, A Brief History of the Last 13.8 Billion Years follows the continuum of historical change in the cosmos - from the Big Bang, through the evolution of life, to human history. In this compelling and revealing book, David Baker traces the rise of complexity in the cosmos, from the first atoms to the first life and then to humans and the things we have made. He shows us how simple clumps of hydrogen gas transformed into complex human societies. This approach - Big History - allows us to see beyond the chaos of human affairs to the overall trajectory. Finally, Baker looks at the dramatic and sudden changes we're making to our planet and its biosphere and how history hints at what might come next.

The US has the largest and most powerful air force in the world - and a large portion of that strength is its strategic bomber fleet. The USAF has operated a range of jet bombers from the B-45 Tornado in 1948 right up to the B-1s, B-2s and B-52s of the present day. Author David Baker explores the history of America''s jet bomber fleet and looks in detail at every type that has seen operational service in defence of the free world.

An expanded special new edition of the Apollo 13 Manual, published to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the mission launched in April 1970, which nearly turned into a catastrophe. This Manual chronicles the complex technical challenges involved in returning the crippled spacecraft safely to Earth, the worldwide reaction and the lessons learned.

Unofficially named the 'Peacemaker', the Convair B-36 is a legend of the Cold War. With six powerful radial engines and four turbojets paired in pods, the B-36 was America's 'Big Stick' that could subdue would-be aggressors with unrestrained nuclear retribution at a level unmatched by any other aircraft or air force of the time.

This book centres on the effects of the political and later economic crisis which seriously affected the European Union and its impact on the seemingly endless UK debate over Britain's position within the EU.

Incorporating a balance of cutaway diagrams, hardware and test equipment images, facilities and delivery systems, and tracing their evolution over the past 70 years, prepare for an apolitical description of nuclear weapons, how they are designed, how they work and how they are assigned to different targets in the event of conflict.