Space Exploration History

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The riveting inside story of three heroic astronauts who took on the challenge of mankind’s historic first mission to the Moon, from the bestselling author of Shadow Divers. “Robert Kurson tells the tale of Apollo 8 with novelistic detail and immediacy...

Kathryn Janeway reveals her career in Starfleet, from her first command to her epic journey through the Delta Quadrant leading to her rise to the top as vice-admiral in Starfleet Command. Discover the story of the woman who travelled further than any human ever had before, stranded decades from home, encountering new worlds and species.

Renowned space historian John Logsdon traces the greatest moments in human spaceflight by weaving together essential, fascinating documents from NASA's history with his expert narrative guidance. Beginning with rocket genius Wernher von Braun's vision for voyaging to Mars and closing with Elon Musk's contemporary plan to get there, this volume traces major events like the founding of NASA, the first American astronauts in space, the Apollo moon landings, the Challenger disaster, the daring Hubble Telescope repairs, and more.

Half a century after Neil Armstrong took humanity’s first steps on the Moon, a new race has begun—one unlike any before it. This time, it’s not just nations competing for glory, but a mix of powerful space agencies, private companies, and visionary billionaires all determined to plant their flags on the next frontier. Back To The Moon takes readers inside the modern space race, from NASA’s bold Artemis missions to China’s lunar ambitions, India’s historic breakthroughs, and SpaceX’s revolutionary rockets. It explores the technology, politics, and people driving humanity’s ...

The Space Race tells the captivating story of one of the most defining periods in human history—a battle for supremacy between the United States and the Soviet Union that extended far beyond Earth’s atmosphere. From the dawn of the Cold War, when both superpowers vied for technological dominance, to the incredible achievements that followed, this book takes readers on a journey through the milestones that shaped space exploration. Discover the awe-inspiring tales of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, the courageous flights of Vostok and Mercury, the Moon landings, and the space ...

Since the dawn of civilization, humanity has looked up and gazed into the unknown, seeking answers to fundamental questions: Why is the sky blue? Why do stars twinkle? Where do asteroids come from? What is a black hole? When did galaxies form? What is dark matter and dark energy? How did it all begin? And how will it all end? If you have questions, this book has answers. And if it does not have an answer, it will take you to the frontier of our ignorance, to the edge of what we know. Our journey begins close to home, in the solar system and our neighboring planets. Then we will venture into...

Already a renowned chronicler of the epic events of world history, James A. Michener tackles the most ambitious subject of his career: space, the last great frontier. This astounding novel brings to life the dreams and daring of countless men and women—people like Stanley Mott, the engineer...

Embark on a thrilling journey through one of NASA's most pivotal space programs in "Project Gemini: The Bridge to the Moon." Spanning twelve missions over five transformative years, Project Gemini was the crucial link between the early manned spaceflights of Project Mercury and the monumental achievements of Apollo. This comprehensive chronology delves into the intricacies of each mission, highlighting the technological advancements and human ingenuity that propelled America toward the moon. The constellation for which the project was named, Gemini, is commonly pronounced /ˈdʒɛmɪnaɪ/, ...

Astronaut Frank Borman is alone and stranded on the surface of the moon. His radio is dead. He can't remember how he got there. It's early 1969 — Armstrong and Aldrin's lunar landing is still months away. The last thing Borman can remember is standing in the desert and hurriedly pulling on a spacesuit. After that… everything is a blank. At best, his portable life support system has a half an hour of air left. He'd scream in frustration, but nobody will hear and he'll only burn through his air supply more quickly. Whoever conspired to leave him here, it can't have been NASA — he knows ...

Beyond the Red Horizon The Secret Rise of the Chinese Space Program By Gary Covella, Ph.D. A Stunning, Illustrated Journey Into the Most Mysterious Space Program on Earth Step behind the curtain of global space history with Beyond the Red Horizon, a richly illustrated and masterfully researched work of historical nonfiction that reveals the hidden saga of China’s rise as a space superpower. In a world where NASA and Roscosmos have long dominated headlines, China’s ambitions have largely unfolded in silence—until now. A “Forbidden History” Finally Told From Cold War secrecy to ...

The Never-Ending Journey In 1977, NASA launched two small spacecraft on a mission that would redefine humanity’s understanding of its place in the cosmos. Voyager 1 and 2 were designed to explore the giant planets—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—but what they became was something far greater: the first emissaries of humankind to the stars. Each probe carried a 12-inch gold-plated record—a cosmic time capsule containing music, greetings, and images of life on Earth. It was a message to the unknown, an artifact of our species cast adrift into the infinite night. More than four ...

What truths will be revealed? After Erik Erickson, the last resident of Black Earth, arrived in 2024 he was greeted with a hero’s welcome by nearly all people on Earth. Some, however, questioned if he or planet Zenith were real or simply a lie. A fabrication by the United States Government, thought, many conspiracy theorists. As Erik toured planet Earth, telling everyone the truths of Zenith and all the riches that it held, some countries thought they could bypass a U.N. Resolution and go it alone to the black menace. Zenith closely trailed Earth by only seventy-five million miles and the...

On a cold spring night in 1952, a huge meteorite fell to earth and obliterated much of the East Coast of the US, including Washington, DC. The ensuing climate cataclysm will soon render the Earth inhospitable for humanity, as the last such meteorite did for the dinosaurs. This looming threat calls for a radically accelerated effort to colonize space and requires a much-larger share of humanity to take part in the process. Elma York’s drive to become the first lady astronaut is so strong that even the most dearly held conventions of society may not stand a chance against her.

Hannah is a fusion scientist working alone at a remote cottage off the coast of Scotland when she sees a figure making his way from the sea. It is a young man from a human settlement on Mars, traveling backwards through time to try to make a crucial intervention in the fate of our dying planet, and he needs Hannah's help. Hannah and the stranger are on the path towards a breakthrough—and then things go terribly wrong.

Spaceflight historian Amy Shira Teitel tells the riveting story of the female pilots who each dreamed of being the first American woman in space. When the space age dawned in the late 1950s, Jackie Cochran held more propeller and jet flying records than any pilot of the twentieth century—man...

"Discover the gripping tale of Project Mercury, America's inaugural manned spaceflight initiative that launched humanity into the cosmos. Fueled by Cold War competition and national pride, Project Mercury symbolizes a remarkable collaboration among NASA, government agencies, and American industry. This program pushed the boundaries of human achievement, from the bustling launchpads of Cape Canaveral to the vastness of space. Beginning with the urgent race to put a man into orbit and safely return him to Earth, Project Mercury unfolded with unprecedented speed. NASA achieved what typically ...

They tried to kill or capture Yozef Kolsko. The possibility that Caedellium could have peaceful years going forward is refuted. The key is bringing down Narthon. But how? Caedellium is too small, despite innovations by Yozef Kolsko (Joseph Colsco) and Mark Kaldwel (Caldwell), humans cast away on the planet Anyar. Allies are needed. Campaigns to be planned. Risks to be taken. For Yozef Kolsko, it means assuming roles he never imagined or believed himself capable. Anyar will never be the same.

Mary Robinette Kowal continues the grand sweep of alternate history begun in The Calculating Stars. The Fated Sky looks forward to 1961, when mankind is well established on the moon and looking forward to its next step: journeying to, and eventually colonizing, Mars. Of course the noted Lady Astronaut Elma York would like to go, but there’s a lot riding on whoever the International Aerospace Coalition decides to send on this historic - but potentially very dangerous - mission. Could Elma really leave behind her husband and the chance to start a family to spend several years traveling to Mars?

FIRST CONTACT is the fifth and final book in the Manifest Destiny series. It is the final chapter in the alternate history narrative of the United States which began with Lincoln Sneezed. The development of the cold fusion reactor by Nicola Tesla, and his joint pioneering efforts with Dr. Robert Goddard to create the Cold fusion powered rockets propelled first the United States, then the rest of the world powers into space. The thrill of exploration and colonization soon gave way to the reality that we were not alone. Violent species were out there, and likely did not have our best ...

For as long as humans have looked to the night sky, we have asked the same questions: Where do we come from? What are the stars? What is our place in the universe? 100 Astronomers Who Charted the Cosmos tells the story of those who dared to answer. From ancient sky-watchers who carved the first calendars in stone to modern scientists who measure black holes and search for distant worlds, this book traces the evolution of astronomy through one hundred remarkable lives. Each chapter captures the discoveries, struggles, and triumphs of astronomers across cultures and centuries—figures such ...