Space Exploration History

By August 1968, the American space program was in danger of failing in its two most important objectives: to land a man on the moon by President Kennedy's end-of-decade deadline and to triumph over the Soviets in space. With its back against the wall, NASA made an almost unimaginable leap: It would scrap its usual methodical approach and risk everything on a sudden launch, sending the first men in history to the moon - in just four months.

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.

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...

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 ...

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/, ...

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.

The footprints remain, but it is the echoes—of courage, curiosity, and conscience—that still reach us across the silence. Between 1969 and 1972, twelve men left Earth and walked on the Moon. Echoes from the Moon tells their story—not just the headlines and the hardware, but the humanity behind the helmets. Drawing on first-hand accounts, mission transcripts, and decades of reflection, this book follows the arc of Apollo from dream to descent, from the roar of Saturn V engines to the silence of lunar dust. It explores how engineers, test pilots, and scientists became the first ...

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.

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.

This exciting second book in the Lost series tells the incredible true story of the doomed Apollo 13 moon mission that nearly ended in disaster. On April 11, 1970, the Apollo 13 space shuttle set off for the third intended American moon landing. Two days later and 200,000 miles from Earth, disaster struck when an oxygen tank exploded onboard the spacecraft, leaving three astronauts with only one goal: to make it home alive.

Ambassadors from Earth relates the story of the first unmanned space probes and planetary explorers - from the Sputnik and Explorer satellites launched in the late 1950's to the thrilling interstellar Voyager missions of the '70's - that yielded some of the most celebrated successes and spectacular failures of the space age. Jay Gallentine delivers a quirky and unforgettable look at the lives and legacy of the Americans and Soviets who conceived, built, and guided those unmanned missions to the planets and beyond.

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 ...

Did We Walk On The Moon? Debunking doubts, one small step at a time. In July 1969, millions watched as Neil Armstrong took humanity’s first step onto the Moon. Yet in the decades since, a persistent shadow has followed that giant leap: conspiracy theories claiming it never happened. Did We Walk On The Moon? takes readers on a journey through both sides of the story — the myths that fuel doubt and the science, engineering, and eyewitness accounts that prove the reality of Apollo 11. From “waving flags” and missing stars to the brilliance of the Saturn V rocket and the quiet courage ...

Historian William Sheehan and astronomer and planetary scientist Jim Bell combine their talents to tell a unique story of what we've learned by studying Mars through evolving technologies. What the eye sees as a mysterious red dot wandering through the sky becomes a blurry mirage of apparent seas, continents, and canals as viewed through Earth-based telescopes.

For most of the galaxy, humans are nothing more than myths, a vanished species with their ruins fading into dust. But when D’rinn, a roguish alien relic hunter, stumbles upon an ancient Terran artifact, it pulls him into a mystery far greater than he ever bargained for. What begins as a search for lost treasure soon unravels into a journey across forgotten worlds, revealing secrets buried for millennia. As D’rinn pieces together humanity’s fate, he starts to wonder, was their end a tragedy, or a warning? Some histories refuse to stay buried. And some doors should never be opened.

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?