One of the best books ever written about NewSpace. . . . An incredibly entertaining account of today’s space industry. . . . Well-written and thrilling . . . . When the Heavens Went on Sale is a timely read that introduces readers to the exciting business of launching small satellites. The space-based economy is just getting started.” — National Space Society

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. 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.Picture this: hundreds of small, inexpensive satellites fly in formation, snapping pictures of every nook and cranny of our planet on a daily basis. Sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel, right? But that’s exactly what Planet Labs is achieving right now.

This is one of the best books ever written about NewSpace. Ashlee Vance’s new book, When the Heavens Went on Sale, is an incredibly entertaining account of today’s space industry. Vance previously wrote an autobiography about Elon Musk. This time, Vance writes about launching satellites into orbit. Lots and lots of satellites. In the end, the Doves didn't just fly around aimlessly. Planet used differential drag to control the satellites’ movements. Imagine solar panels acting like sails, pushing against the faint trace of atmosphere in space. This was mostly a theoretical concept until the company proved it could work. And work it did. 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. 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, New York Times bestselling author of The Martian and Project Hail MaryThe deployment of Planet’s revolutionary Doves satellites was groundbreaking. No other company in history had ever launched close to 88 satellites simultaneously before. Normally, you'd see one or two – four or five on a good day. Planet had to invent new ways to locate, control, and command their constellation of Doves as they whirled around Earth. It was like conducting an orchestra in zero gravity. Vance spent years researching this book including months spent interviewing key players at these four companies (and others), and traveling around the globe to witness launches, successes, and failures. His writing is engaging and accessible, though I thought he relied on direct quotations from some of his more colorful subjects a bit too much.