Astronautics: Book 2

Astronautics is the definitive history of mankind’s exploration of space. It examines the epic events that shaped the era and provides appropriate insight into the wide-ranging impact that this endeavor has had on technology, politics, and society. Astronautics provides enough detail to satisfy the serious enthusiast, but without the minutia that so often blocks the casual reader. To accomplish this, Astronautics is presented as two books, each covering a particular phase of man’s progress. Book 2 — To the Moon and Towards the Future examines the events leading to a commitment by the American President John Kennedy to land a man on the Moon within the decade of the 1960s and the affect of that venture on future space exploration. It details the Gemini, Voskhod, Soyuz and Apollo programs and the exploration of the Moon. It reviews the development of the most complex machine devised by man—the Space Shuttle and details the evolution of the space station. It highlights the effort to find extraterrestrial life and the exploration of the outer planets. It examines advanced propulsion technologies and speculates on what might lie ahead in space exploration.