Books like Accessory to War by Neil deGrasse Tyson

In *Accessory to War*, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson teams with writer‑researcher Avis Lang to examine the enduring connection between astronomy and military strategy. The book traces the use of astronomical techniques—multi‑spectral detection, ranging, tracking, imaging, and remote sensing—through the ages, from early celestial navigation to modern satellite‑enabled warfare. Tyson and Lang argue that the same technologies that help scientists map the universe also empower militaries to locate, approach, and dominate strategic assets in space and on the ground. Their research illuminates how space science and military planning have co‑developed, each drawing on shared knowledge of physics and instrumentation. The result is a richly researched narrative that shows how the universe’s vast expanse has become both a laboratory for scientific discovery and a battlefield for national defense.

First publish date: 2018