The History of Space Exploration

by Roger D. Launius

For centuries humanity has engaged in a virtual exploration of space through astronomical observation, aided by astounding scientific and technological advances. In more than sixty years since the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, more than 6,000 functioning satellites have been launched into Earth s orbit and beyond some to the farthest reaches of the Solar System and more than 540 people have travelled into space. Unprecedented in its chronological and geographical scope, this book charts the history of space exploration from the first gunpowder rockets through the Moon landings, and into a future of space tourism. Numerous sidebars focus on the key individuals and inventions that brought us closer to the farthest reaches of the universe. Filled with astonishing images from the Smithsonian, NASA archives and other international collections, this is the first in-depth, fully illustrated survey of this universal human journey. Table of Contents 1. Laying the Foundations for Space Exploration 2. WWII Paves the Way for Space Exploration 3. Making Space Exploration Real 4. The Space Age Dawns 5. The Race to the Moon 6. New Nations/New Missions 7. Spaceplanes and Orbital Stations 8. The Lure of the Red Planet 9. Beyond Mars 10. Transterrestrial Expectations

Genres: Space, History, Science, Nonfiction, Astronomy, Technology, History Of Science

400 pages, Hardcover

First published October 11, 2018

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[vonblubba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best read of the year. Maybe of the last 3 years.
If you're interested in space exploration, this is a must read. It has everything, starting from caveman looking up at the stars in wonder up to probes reaching Pluto.
If I really have to split hair, it is maybe a little too NASA-centered, but that was to be expected.

[Kelly K · Rating 5 out of 5]

-The only things I can remember from 8th grade science class is about the Mars rovers, solar flares, and that time Nick thought I ate that dead fly on the windowsill.
-We're putting asterisks in equations now?
-We may have to reach an international agreement on building stuff on the moon. I can see it now: the US wants to put a McDonald's, Canada interjects with TIM HORTONS. Either way the moon will probably get a Tim Hortons before my town does. *sigh*
-The moon may become a base camp. It's like your layover on the way to Mars. I bet they won't have to take off their shoes to get through security...

I LOVE SPAAAAAAAAAAACE. It's both fascinating and terrifying which is exactly how I hope people describe me when I'm dead.

[Rhuddem Gwelin · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a subject like this the book should have been 5* but there was too much detail on size and weight of rockets etc without going into depth on the human aspect of space exploration or the way our daily lives have changed because of discoveries made through space exploration. I liked the connections to sci fi films and books though. Some nice photos.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing coffee-table book that goes in depth telling the full history of space exploration, not leaving out the achievement of the Soviets and other pioneers. The print, photo quality and writing is top-notch with an unbeatable price. Just fantastic.

[Jordan LaMagna-Meneghetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a blast to read. I have recently been really into learning about space, and this book gave a perfect, condensed history of humanities explorations into space without being overwhelming. The book didn't get bogged down by hard to understand concepts. It was easily digestible and informative. I would recommend this to people just starting to learn about space to get a real understanding of the specific parts of space your interested in. I will say, this is definitely more of a history book than a science book. You do get some basic science explanations throughout, but I felt like I learned more about rocket science and less about astrophysics and astronomy. Otherwise, it was a fun, easy read.

[Micah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It isn't perfect by any means, but I think it sort of flawlessly executes on what it wants to be.

[Luca Mirenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

La luuuuuna, i saasssi, le luucii

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Examining man’s continued desire to explore the next frontier in the Smithsonian’s own unique way, this book takes readers from its earliest history to the edge of tomorrow.

This comprehensive look at space exploration, accompanied by charts, illustrations, and photographs, examines the history of spaceflight, the dawning of the space age, and the race to the moon. It looks at international space exploration, shines a spotlight on both manned and unmanned missions, and offers a list for suggested further reading.

Here readers will find an in-depth history of global space discovery and exploration from the time of man’s earliest speculations to transterrestrial expectations. In these pages, readers will discover the story of the dream becoming reality even as they ponder the future waiting for mankind to bring it into existence.

Highly recommended.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well laid-out book. Too many recent books with lots of pictures splash the pictures as an art collection. This book has an extremely smart layout of the pictures integrating their use with the text. About 400 pages. NASA doesn't arrive til ~ page 100. By ~300, they are on to Mars. Very appropriate amount of text per subject area. I did not fully read this book - lots of text. I have only skimmed some of the topics. But I was very impressed. I like books I can learn from, and this book is loaded. The information on the early V-2 was enlightening. I liked the recent examination of the edge of our solar system via Voyagers and New Horizon. Concludes with serious thoughts for the future. A couple pages of 'further reading' highlighted at the end points to more excellent book/resources on space exploration. (I already see a few of my favorites here).

[Stephan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite an easy read with lots of interesting facts regarding the development and use of rockets, probes, satellites etc. But far too shallow with lots of repetition and too little depth. For an example: I would have loved to read more about the different Apollo missions and their difficulties. As it is we get almost 400 pages where there's a new subject on every other page. Too many topics that could possibly have been merged to allow more in depth information.

Either way. It was an interesting read with a beautiful collection of images that just left me with a slight dissatisfaction and appetite for more.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very thorough history of WORLD space flight. Unmanned, manned, Soviet, USA, space shuttle, ISS, and beyond. Very comprehensive look at space travel and rocketry.

[Marilyn]

"Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns, it calls me on and on across the universe." ~ John Lennon

PLANS: Visit Houston & Johnson Space Flight Center (but not mission control - it was demolished);

NACA established on 03.03.1915 - independent government agency reporting directly to president;
X-plane program continued long after its initial instigator, NACA was folded into NASA;
X-plane Program: first powered and piloted vehicle to reach YuriGagarin's goal was the X-15 flow by Robert White (1924-2010) on 06.23.1961.
(Add other details from P 122-3)

President John F. Kennedy (05.19.1917 - 11.22.1963) announced his goal of sending a human to the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth on 05.25.1961.

NASA established 10.1.1958
Project Mercury (3-phase project for 6 spaceflights) and US succeeded in aim of putting American in orbit and gave NASA opportunity to explore aspects of spacecraft tracking and control;
Phase 1: Selecting and training a group of men for space travel
Phase 2: Adapt the Redstone ballistic missile to send humans on suborbital ballistic flights
Phase 3: Adapt the more powerful Atlas rocket to launch an occupied capsule into orbit
12.4.1959 First "Crewed" Mercury test took place with suborbital test flight of Mercury space capsule & rhesus monkey named Sam.
01.31.1961 Chimpanzee Ham flew 157 miles into space
09.13.1961 Unoccupied Mercury capsule propelled by an Atlas rocket
11.29.1961 Final test flight took place before NASA was finally ready to send a man into space.

Spaceflight trainees (aka Astronauts) had to be young (under 40), physically fit and short (under 5'11") enough to cope with the cramped conditions of the Mercury capsule. He also needed to be in excellent physical condition, have a bachelor's degree or equivalent, be a graduate of a test pilot school, have amassed 1,500 hours of flying time, and be a qualified jet pilot...By 03.01.1959, the process had reduced the original pool of test pilot volunteers down to just 36. " P 107
04.09.1959 Mercury Seven - They spoke with such fierce conviction...they spoke of duty and faith and country: P 107
* Glenn (1921-2016) Friendship 7 first time US sent an astronaut into orbit & circled earth 3 times 02.20.1962;

* Schirra (1923-2007) flew 6 orbits 10.03.1962;

* Shepard ( 1923-1998) Freedom 7 first American to reach space during a 15-minute suborbital flight 05.05.1961" P 119

* Carpenter (1925-2013) made 3 orbits on 05.20.1962;

* Cooper (1927-2004) last Mercury flight launched on 05.15.1963 and circled earth 22 times;

* Grissom (1926-1967) Liberty Bell 7 second suborbital Mercury mission on 07.21.1961

* Slayton (1924-1993)

Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) aka "Mercury 13":
Geraldine "Jerrie" Cobb in 1959 met with William Lovelace II re: women in NASA
All skilled airplane pilots with commercial ratings & tested well;
Cobb testified before Congress in July, 1962 but to no avail;
It was another 21 years before an American woman was eventually sent into space = Sally Ride (1951-2012) was Mission Specialist on Space Shuttle flight STS-7 from June 18-29, 1983. P 127
It was not until 1995 that a woman of any nationality first commanded a space mission, when Eileen Collins (1956- Present) piloted Space Shuttle mission STS-63.

Soviet Union:
First woman in space Valentina Tereshkova (1937 - Present) 06.16.1963 on Vostok;


Five Challenges for the Future of Space Exploration
The first of these involves the political will to continue an aggressive space exploration program.

The second challenge is the task of developing multifaceted, inexpensive, safe, reliable, and flexible access to space.

The third challenge revolves around the development of smart spacecraft and rovers to explore the solar system.

The fourth challenge concerns protecting the Earth and humanity itself.

The fifth and final challenge will be the sustained human exploration and development of space.

[Eri~Chan Erienix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat of the best books I have ever read.

[Robert Trull · Rating 4 out of 5]

He disfrutado mucho tanto de la lectura como de las imágenes de este libro.

Ojalá siendo pequeño, hubiera existido un libro parecido a este. Las ilustraciones son maravillosas y y es un libro muy bien editado.

No le otorgó la puntuación máxima porque está demasiado centrado en el programa aeroespacial americano.

[Forsythia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished this history book, felt like it was a duty of mine to read a detailed description of the most memorable achievements of space exploration in human history. Each issue was explained in a two(or three)-page text which included photos of relevant missions, concept-art or of rockets and celestial objects. I read and enjoyed learning from the little quotes on the border of the pages and I loved every bit of it. I'm rating it with 4 stars because history books as such sometimes feel like reading a Wikipedia article and can make me feel bored from time to time even if the subject they analyse is one of my favourites. Totally recommend to space-lovers and history-lovers.