TO THE STARS

An overview of NASA’s growth and accomplishments, from World War I–era antecedents to a planned return to the Moon in 2026.

This work is of some value for tallying many of the spectacular successes and failures in both aeronautics and space exploration sponsored by the U.S. government through the 20th century and into the 21st. Unfortunately, Miller’s narrative quickly becomes an eye-glazing barrage of mission profiles and technical descriptions that are only rarely relieved by a photo or graphic image. Readers who would like to know what the cutting-edge Bell X-1 rocket-powered plane from the 1940s looked like—not to mention the Gemini capsule, the International Space Station, or any NASA satellite, space probe, or Mars rover—will have to be content with verbal descriptions alone. Still, the facts seem to be carefully researched, the author tells a coherent story, and the glimpses of upcoming and longer-range space missions send a reassuring message that the agency is resolutely keeping its eye on the future. Text boxes add interest by covering subjects such as experiments with sending animals into space (including the ill-fated dog Laika, who died of hyperthermia on board the Soviet Union’s Sputnik I) and the experiences and contributions of women and racial minorities.

A methodical reference, if dry and lacking in visual appeal.