Space Odyssey: Voyaging Through the Cosmos by William Harwood

Since the days of Sputnik and Laika, the National Geographic Society has chronicled each formidable step forward in space exploration. With Space Odyssey, National Geographic presents the most comprehensive and far-reaching book on the subject to date, encompassing the origins of the universe, the space program in the new century, and everything in between. Written with his trademark humor and expertise, astronomer and space program insider Stephen P. Maran presents the mind-boggling complexities of the cosmos and space science in a straightforward way.In rich, fascinating detail, Maran describes what's out there, where the universe came from and where it's going, and examines how we might actually get to places that so far have only been navigated in science fiction. In addition, Maran lays out the truths and myths about solar sails, beanstalks, inertial drives, antigravity catapults, and other alternative technologies. Throughout, Space Odyssey is elegantly designed and lavishly illustrated with the most up-to-date, full-color photographs of the cosmos, from sources including the Hubble and Chandra telescopes.