When the Heavens Went on Sale cover art

When the Heavens Went on Sale

The Misfits and Geniuses Racing to Put Space Within Reach

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When the Heavens Went on Sale

By: Ashlee Vance
Narrated by: Ashlee Vance, Robert Petkoff
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

*An instant
New York Times Bestseller*

A momentous look at the private companies driving the revolutionary new space race, from the 3-million copy, New York Times bestselling author of Elon Musk

In 2008, Elon Musk's SpaceX became the first private company to build a low-cost rocket that could reach orbit. Suddenly Silicon Valley, not NASA, was the epicentre of the new Space Age. Start-ups and investors began to realise that the heavens - ungoverned and unregulated - were open for business.

When the Heavens Went on Sale tells the remarkable, unfolding story of this frenzied race to control access to outer space. Ashlee Vance follows four pioneering companies - Astra, Firefly, Planet Labs and Rocket Lab - as they attempt to launch thousands of low-cost rockets and satellites into orbit. While the space tourism ambitions of billionaires such as Bezos and Branson make headlines, these under-the-radar companies are striving to monetise Earth's lower orbit; to connect, analyse and monitor everything on Earth.

With unprecedented access to private company headquarters, labs and top-secret launch locations - from the US to New Zealand, Ukraine to India - Vance presents a gripping account of private jets, communes, gun-toting bodyguards, drugs, espionage investigations and multimillionaires guzzling booze as their fortunes disappear.

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.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Ashlee Vance (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Business Science & Technology Technology & Society Silicon Valley

Critic Reviews

"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)

"A new testament for New Space, and an eloquent, expertly reported ode to the swaggering geniuses who are opening the final frontier." (Brad Stone, author of The Everything Store and Amazon Unbound)

"Through incisive reporting and colorful prose, Ashlee Vance takes us on a thrilling ride to the outer limits of human achievement." (Sheelah Kolhatkar, bestselling author of Black Edge)

What listeners say about When the Heavens Went on Sale

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History in the making

Somehow Ashlee was able to be a fly on the wall during one of the most fascinating periods in technology history. An incredible tale and storytelling.

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A fun traversal through the new breed of rocket companies

Well written and narrated, the style is to tell the stories of these companies from the point of view of the author as he saw it with a high level of access to these companies day to day.

There are a lot of cool facts and interesting stories and people I enjoyed learning about, especially Rocket Lab's Peter Beck given I currently live in New Zealand.

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A heavenly tale about apace.

I'm a fan of the new space race, it's so great to think we are moving the dial once again in space.
if you've been following the small launch companies trying to launch rockets then you will really love this book.

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Absolutely superb

A thoroughly enjoyable read - insightful, colourful and honest. Great for anyone interested in the stories behind the story of the today's space economy. And great for anyone at all happy to read or listen to a collection of fascinating stories well told.

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