A fascinating account of space exploration with lavish cross-section illustrations by Stephen Biesty, covering early astronomy, rockets, the Space Race and the future of space-travel. Revisit the story of the Apollo 11 moon landing in time for the 50th anniversary! The extraordinary story of space exploration, from Galileo's telescope to the launch of the International Space Station - and beyond! Martin Jenkins' accessible and wide-ranging narrative covers early astronomy, the history of flight, the Space Race, the day-to-day of astronauts in the International Space Station and the possibility of extraterrestrial life, and considers where future missions might take us. Stephen Biesty's magnificent cross-section illustrations lay bare the intricate workings of space probes and shuttles, the Mars Curiosity Rover, spacesuits and Soyuz rockets. Back matter includes a comprehensive timeline and glossary of terms. With hours' worth of detail to pore over, this is the perfect gift for all space enthusiasts, young or old.

From telescopes to rockets to robots, see all the ways people have explored space. Where will space exploration take us next?

Young readers blast off with the astronauts and see how they eat, sleep, exercise and work in zero gravity. Big colorful pictures and interactive, lively text evoke all the wonders of the final frontier. 45 full-color photos.

The solar system is made up of planets, moons, asteroids, comets, meteoroids, and more. Young readers will learn about the bodies that make up the solar system and how they interact with each other.

Exploring Space examines topics on the space exploration, from the first satellites to modern Martian rovers. Detailed illustrations and clear charts help explain these complicated topics.

“A compelling appeal, at just the right time, for continuing to look up.”—Air & Space America’s space program is at a turning point. After decades of global primacy, NASA has ended the space-shuttle program, cutting off its access to space. No astronauts will be launched in an American craft, from American soil, until the 2020s, and NASA may soon find itself eclipsed by other countries’ space programs. With his signature wit and thought-provoking insights, Neil deGrasse Tyson—one of our foremost thinkers on all things space—illuminates the past, present, and future of space exploration and brilliantly reminds us why NASA matters now as much as ever. As Tyson reveals, exploring the space frontier can profoundly enrich many aspects of our daily lives, from education systems and the economy to national security and morale. For America to maintain its status as a global leader and a technological innovator, he explains, we must regain our enthusiasm and curiosity about what lies beyond our world. Provocative, humorous, and wonderfully readable, Space Chronicles represents the best of Tyson’s recent commentary, including a must-read prologue on NASA and partisan politics. Reflecting on topics that range from scientific literacy to space-travel missteps, Tyson gives us an urgent, clear-eyed, and ultimately inspiring vision for the future.