Award-winning writer and journalist Kenny Kemp goes in search of the paying passengers who will make history on the first commercial flight into space. They will be able to experience weightlessness, witness the curvature of the Earth and have a unique view of the Universe seen only by astronauts. Detailing their arduous training and how their bodies will be affected in space, to the science, business and politics behind this incredible breakthrough, Destination Space describes just the beginning of an amazing adventure . . .
Shortlisted for the Blue Peter Prize! Journey through our local solar system and learn about everything you encounter with this physics-made-fun space book! Hop on board the space shuttle and get ready for the ride of your life as you explore deep space with your five fellow space cadets. This journey of discovery takes you through our local solar system and beyond, to galaxies far and wide. With every encounter learn more about the science behind the stars, planets, meteors and comets in our sky, and the history of our universe. This Blue Peter Prize 2017 shortlisted book is the perfect introduction to space.
The Sun is just one of trillions of stars, and it's not even a big one. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is so incredibly huge that it contains billions of stars bigger and brighter and older than the Sun. And outer space contains billions of galaxies. Now, with the aid of the venerable Smithsonian Institution, acclaimed science writer Seymour Simon explores the vastness of the solar system, our galaxy, and beyond in a brand-new edition of his popular book.
Find out what criteria are necessary for potential outer-space communities and why Mars is a better choice than Neptune or Venus. Look inside the International Space Station and meet the men and women already living and working there while traveling far beyond Earth.
The planet Uranus has a bright blue-green color because of methane gas in its atmosphere. Young children will learn about the discovery of Uranus, how it has been explored, and why it is tilted on its side!
Filmmakers employ various images to suggest the strangeness of outer space, but protective spacesuits most powerfully communicate its dangers and the frailty of humans beyond the cradle of Earth. (Many films set in space, however, forgo spacesuits altogether, reluctant to hide famous faces behind bulky helmets and ill-fitting jumpsuits.) This critical history comprehensively examines science fiction films that portray space travel realistically (and sometimes not quite so) by having characters wear spacesuits. Beginning [A] with the pioneering Himmelskibet (1918) and Woman on the Moon (1929), it discusses [B] other classics in this tradition, including Destination Moon (1950), Riders to the Stars (1954), and 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968); [C] films that gesture toward realism but betray that goal with melodramatic villains, low comedy, or improbable monsters; [D] the distinctive spacesuit films of Western Europe, Russia and Japan; and [E] America's spectacular real-life spacesuit film, the televised Apollo 11 moon landing (1969).
"There are billions of stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way, and billions more throughout the universe. Find out what stars are made up of, what makes a constellation, and how travelers have used stars for centuries to find their way"--Back cover.
In the next decade, NASA, by itself and in collaboration with the European Space Agency, is planning a minimum of four separate missions to Mars. Clearly, exciting times are ahead for Mars exploration. This is an insider’s look into the amazing projects now being developed here and abroad to visit the legendary red planet. Drawing on his contacts at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the author provides stunning insights into the history of Mars exploration and the difficulties and dangers of traveling there. After an entertaining survey of the human fascination with Mars over the centuries, the author offers an introduction to the geography, geology, and water processes of the planet. He then briefly describes the many successful missions by NASA and others to that distant world. But failure and frustration also get their due. As the author makes clear, going to Mars is not, and never will be, easy. Later in the book, he describes in detail what each upcoming mission will involve. In the second half of the book, he offers the reader a glimpse inside the world of Earth-based "Mars analogs," places on Earth where scientists are conducting research in hostile environments that are eerily "Martian." Finally, he constructs a probable scenario of a crewed expedition to Mars, so that readers can see how earlier robotic missions and human Earth simulations will fit together. All this is punctuated by numerous firsthand interviews with some of the finest Mars explorers of our day, including Stephen Squyres (Mars Exploration Rover), Bruce Murray (former director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory), and Peter Smith (chief of the Mars Phoenix Lander and the upcoming OSIRIS-REx missions). These stellar individuals give us an insider’s view of the difficulties and rewards of roaming the red planet. The author’s infectious enthusiasm and firsthand knowledge of the international space industry combine to make a uniquely appealing and accessible book about Mars.
