Space Discovery

On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, and the space race was born. Desperate to beat the Russians into space, NASA put together a crew of the nation's most daring test pilots: the seven men who were to lead America to the moon. The first into space was Alan Shepard; the last was Deke Slayton, whose irregular heartbeat kept him grounded until 1975. They spent the 1960s at the forefront of NASA's effort to conquer space, and Moon Shot is their inside account of what many call the 20th century's greatest feat - landing humans on another world.

Exploring New Earth should be a thrilling undertaking. Instead, the more the colonists learn about the planet, the more alarmed they become. Alien ruins hint at a species who fought great wars among themselves and disappeared centuries ago. When Connor Gates discovers a hidden bunker, he finds something he never expected. Everything the colonists have learned about New Earth’s previous inhabitants is wrong. Connor must race to unravel the mystery. The colonists must face the possibility that they are not alone and that New Earth was never theirs for the taking.

From the NASA astronaut who spent a record-breaking year aboard the International Space Station - what it's like out there and what it's like now, back here. Enter Scott Kelly's fascinating world and dare to think of your own a little differently. The veteran of four space flights and the American record holder for most consecutive days spent in space, Scott Kelly has experienced things very few of us ever have and very few of us ever will.

Jules has recently graduated as the youngest Gatekeeper in Academy history and takes residence on her father's newly appointed ship, Light. Together they must escort Brik, a being from the long-deserted world of Sterona, to his people's distant home. The trek won't be easy, but for the Parkers, nothing ever is.

Did you know that companies and governments send more than 100 satellites into space every year? And that most of those satellites continue to orbit Earth - even after they have stopped working? More than 500,000 old satellites, pieces of metal, and other bits of junk currently pollute Earth's orbit. And that number is growing. Astronomers, engineers, and politicians all agree that the future of space exploration is in danger if this debris isn't taken care of. But the problem of garbage in space is difficult and expensive to solve.

The race to Mars is not without its peril. As the world’s superpowers vie for supremacy in space, the true intent of the aliens, and the ultimate destiny for the human species, is revealed. Can the world marshal the will and resources of its people to strike back and take control of its own fate? Can NASA, led by Richard “Rock” Crandon, and America’s adversaries find the ultimate courage to face what lies at Discovery’s End and save the world?

In this unique synthesis of science and culture, former astrophysicist and writer Joanne Baker charts the global history of humanity’s relationship with the cosmos. Starting with the nearby Moon before venturing through the solar system to the stars and beyond, she unveils a rich mosaic of stories and research that illuminate the significance of celestial bodies in our everyday lives.

Travelling at almost 18,000 miles per hour—10 times faster than a rifle bullet—Gagarin circles the globe in just 106 minutes. While his launch begins in total secrecy, within hours of his landing he has become a world celebrity—the first human to leave the planet. Beyond tells the thrilling story behind that epic flight on its 60th anniversary. It happened at the height of the Cold War as the US and USSR confronted each other across an Iron Curtain.

The Dark Planet Saga is an epic, five-part science-fiction saga following Professor Edmunds on his rollercoaster interstellar journey to "The Dark Planet", a tidally locked world located in the distant regions of our galaxy divided into two polar halves—The Light and The Dark.

Human exploration of Mars is the most ambitious and exciting scientific goal of the 21st century, and few people on earth know as much about this fascinating planet as Dr Larry Crumpler. As one of the long-term planning leads for the Mars Exploration Rover Project, he helped control the daily communications between NASA and the rovers roaming the planet to gather scientific data. In this magnificent compendium, Dr. Crumpler recounts the history of the red planet, from the earliest days when ancient astronomers turned their eyes to the heavens to the breakthrough discoveries.

Historian William Sheehan and astronomer and planetary scientist Jim Bell combine their talents to tell a unique story of what we've learned by studying Mars through evolving technologies. What the eye sees as a mysterious red dot wandering through the sky becomes a blurry mirage of apparent seas, continents, and canals as viewed through Earth-based telescopes.

In the run-up to departure, the Etheric Academy goes through some changes as the students get a taste of the future awaiting them after graduation. The classes are split, and new friendships form as Tina, Ron, Yana, Maxim, and Nestor take their first steps toward adulthood. A visit to Earth is in the cards for Tina, Ron, and Maxim, but is it really a good idea to let the kids go down to the mudball again? Jean Dukes is left with no choice when sabotage forces a shutdown at an important TQB facility in the UK.

Did you know that Pluto has mountains, glaciers, and even blue skies? In July 2015, a spacecraft called New Horizons finally reached Pluto - almost 10 years after it had launched! The spacecraft flew by Pluto to take the first close-up photos of the dwarf planet. When it began sending those photos back to Earth, scientists were amazed by what they saw. Pluto was more fascinating than scientists ever imagined!

Have you ever dreamed of walking on Mars? Or maybe even living there? Ever since Mars was discovered, people have wondered if there could be life on this mysterious red planet. For years, astronomers at NASA and other space agencies have been exploring Mars. They've sent rovers to study the planet and search for water and signs of life. One day, NASA plans to send astronauts there, too. But first, they need to learn many things about Mars and how people might travel that deep into space.

Did you know that astronauts work on Earth and in space to study places beyond our planet's atmosphere? But there's a lot more to space travel than just research. With no gravity, a wild schedule that includes 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets every 24 hours, and no fresh food, it can be a challenge to stay healthy in orbit. Public and private space agencies are working to solve these problems as humans travel farther and more frequently into the depths of space. Learn more about the daily lives of astronauts and how they live, work, and prepare for the future in space.

The TDF Marco Polo embarks on its maiden voyage outside Earth's solar system, leading to the discovery of an extinct civilization destroyed by orbital bombardment. Deep underground is a mysterious library of alien secrets.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go into outer space? Soon you might be able to find out! For years, only trained astronauts were allowed to travel through space, but now lots of companies are creating spacecraft that will allow regular people to experience space for themselves. World View Enterprises wants to take people to near space using a helium balloon. And Virgin Galactic has already sold hundreds of tickets for a ride on its Unity spacecraft. But is this kind of space travel safe? Will these new spacecraft be able to get off the ground?

Black holes are one of the greatest mysteries of outer space. No visible light can escape the strong gravity of a black hole. This makes black holes invisible - and very difficult to study. But scientists make new discoveries and develop new theories about these mysterious objects every day. In 2015, astronomers were able to finally confirm a theory that Einstein had developed 100 years earlier! And in 2016, scientists found that black holes may form in a different way than they ever thought possible.

Too often, textbooks obscure the beauty and wonder of outer space with tedious discourse that even Galileo would oppose. Astronomy 101 cuts out the boring details and lengthy explanations, and instead, gives you a lesson in astronomy that keeps you engaged as you discover what's hidden beyond our starry sky. From the Big Bang and nebulae to the Milky Way and Sir Isaac Newton, this celestial primer is packed with hundreds of entertaining astronomy facts you won't be able to get anywhere else.

Mike Colby leads the crew of the new and revamped Blue Eagle in a personal battle against Empire Shipping, only to find that they are part of the much larger and well-funded Kronos Enterprises. With new and unlikely allies, the war with Kronos grows bigger than any of them ever imagined.