The Greatest Adventure: A History of Human Space Exploration (Kosmos). This item is unavailable.The Greatest Adventure: A History of Human Space Exploration (Kosmos)

'A splendidly nerdy history of the golden age of space flight, from the Soviets shocking the world with the launch of Sputnik I to the moon landings.' - Books for Christmas, Daily Telegraph

'a wonderful overview of space exploration' - BBC Sky at Night Magazine

'tells the [...] tales of crewed spaceflight on both sides of the iron curtain with great verve, and a suspenseful narration of unheralded near-disasters. ' - The Guardian 'Book of the Week'

The space race was perhaps the greatest technological contest of the 20th century. It was a thrilling era of innovation, discovery and exploration, as astronauts and cosmonauts were launched on space missions of increasing length, complexity and danger. The Greatest Adventure traces the events of this extraordinary period, describing the initial string of Soviet achievements: the first satellite in orbit; the first animal, man and woman in space; the first spacewalk; as well as the ultimate US victory in the race to land on the moon.
The book then takes the reader on a journey through the following decades of space exploration to the present time, detailing the many successes, tragedies, risks and rewards of space exploration.

.

Colin Burgess is author or editor of almost 40 books on the military and spaceflight, including Selecting the Mercury Seven: The Search for Americas First Astronauts (2011). He lives in Sydney, Australia.