To a Distant Day: The Rocket Pioneers

摘要

The history of rockets did not begin with Sputnik. Rather, it had a much longer story, and the science involved had an international flavor including much more than just the efforts of the USSR and United States. In modern times, the work began with individuals but eventually required the establishment of large organizations for research and development in order to reach the threshold of space. To a Distant Day focuses on the story up to Sputnik I in 1957 and then adds the tale of carrying the competition to the moon landing in a summary way. Author Chris Gainor emphasizes biographical matters, notwithstanding the fact that from World War II onward, most of the space research, development, and testing emerged from large organizations in the USSR and United States.