The Smithsonian History of Space Exploration

Humanity has been flying into orbit for almost 50 years, beginning with the launch of Sputnik 1 on 4 October 1957. In the centuries before, people all over the world had engaged in a virtual exploration of space through astronomical observation aided by astounding scientific and technological advances. In the period since, more

than 6,000 satellites have been launched into Earth’s orbit and beyond, and more than 540 astronauts have traveled 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 illustrations from the Smithsonian, NASA archives and elsewhere, this is the first in-depth, fully illustrated survey of this universal human journey.