Books like The Smithsonian history of space exploration by Roger D. Launius

Chris Hadfield shares his training and spaceflight experiences, teaching readers how to make the impossible possible by preparing for the worst and enjoying every moment.

In this stellar activity book, kids delve into the rich history of space exploration, where telescopes, satellites, probes, landers, and human missions lead to amazing discoveries. Updated to include the recent discovery of Eris which, along with Pluto, has been newly classified as a “dwarf planet” by the International Astronomical Union, this cosmic adventure challenges kids to explore the planets and other celestial bodies for themselves through activities such as building a model of a comet using soil, molasses, dry ice, and window cleaner; or creating their own reentry vehicle to safely return an egg to Earth’s surface. With biographies of more than 20 space pioneers, specific mission details, a 20-page field guide to the solar system, and plenty of suggestions for further research, this is the ultimate guidebook to exploring the solar system.

A forward‑looking survey of humanity’s prospects for space living, charting China’s 2020 space station, Mars colonization, space‑elevator concepts and exoplanet mapping.