Beyond Earth, The Soviet Drive into Space: Decoding Their Satellite and Launch Efforts, 1957-1975: A Very Personal View

When the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, it was shrouded in mystery. With every launch, military and space analysts in the West tried to figure out their plans and what their technological capabilities actually were. One such person was Saunders Kramer, a Lockheed space pioneer, who in 1960 received one of the first US patents for a space station design.

Sandy gathered launch and orbital mechanics data and analyzed news and media reports to identify what the Soviet space program was up to—in order to work out the technical specifications for the rockets and spacecraft.

This book is his personal memoir of tracking the Soviet space program from 1957 to 1975. Written in the mid-1970s, it has never been published until now.


“Saunders Kramer’s manuscript is a delightful look back at the height of the Cold War Space Race. His analyses, impressions, and recollections provide a window into the world of Western sleuths who sought to uncover the secrets of the Soviet space program. Kramer’s ability to use open source information, erudite analysis, and informed speculation shows the depths to which Westerners were able to lift the curtain on Soviet space activities.”

-Dr. Asif Siddiqi, Fordham University, Department of History