Join award-winning science writer John Hamilton as he traces humanity’s race to the moon and the exploration of the final frontier. The Space Race tells the story of human space exploration, from the dawn of rocketry to the Apollo Moon landings. Every crewed American space mission is included, from Project Mercury to Gemini to Apollo. Also covered are vital details about important Soviet spaceflights, as well as America’s space shuttle, the International Space Station, and planned future missions. Why was NASA worried that astronaut John Glenn would burn up on reentry during his historic Friendship 7 spaceflight? Who was the first person to vomit in space? Why did Neil Armstrong almost crash the Eagle lunar lander before becoming the first person to walk on the Moon? These questions and many more are answered in these inspiring—and sometimes humorous—stories of triumph, tragedy, and determination. Perfect for school reports, but also a thrilling book for anyone, young or old, interested in space exploration. In this history of the space race, you’ll discover: • Early rocketry, from Chinese fireworks to the terrifying V-2 missiles of WWII. • The Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. • The origins of NASA. • The original Mercury 7 astronauts. • The cosmonauts who went where no one had gone before. • The spacecraft that brought us to the Moon. • Concise biographies of the men and women who first explored the heavens. • A helpful glossary and timeline. • Over 75 historical images from NASA’s archives. • And much, much more!