12 Books About the History of Space Exploration

The first Moon landing is rightfully touted as a grand scientific achievement. However, that wasn’t the only motivation behind the historic space flight, which also aimed to assert American dominance during the Space Race. How did academics manage to advocate for scientific discovery and make it a priority of the politically-driven mission? That’s the subject of this “valuable addition to the literature on America's race for the moon” (Publishers Weekly).

To the uninformed observer, the emergence of private sector space exploration might seem to have come out of left field. But in reality, the industry had existed long before we landed man on the Moon. In this surprising and fascinating account, an economic historian traces the true story of privately funded space exploration, from early 19th century astronomical observatories to SpaceX.

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Galileo Galilei is best known for challenging the Catholic Church by insisting the Earth revolves around the sun, a position that resulted in his investigation and subsequent house arrest by the Inquisition. Having been one of the earliest users of the telescope to peer at the mysteries of our galaxy, he’s also known as the father of observational astronomy. His contributions undoubtedly led to the advancements that made space travel possible. This biography of Galileo explores his life, motives, and scientific breakthroughs.

Albert Einstein first published his general theory of relativity, which explains the relationship between gravity, space, and time, in 1915. The theory beautifully unites and explains many behaviors of the universe, yet it’s been mired in controversy since its introduction. Proponents of the theory have been looked down upon or even persecuted in places as disparate as Hitler’s Germany, Stalin’s Russia, and 1950s America. This book traces the history of the theory of general relativity from its earliest days, examining “how Einstein and his followers have been trying to explain the universe for decades” (Kirkus Reviews).

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When talking about space, the dangers of exploration cannot be ignored. Though there have been many stories of success over the years, there have also been disastrous failures. Hermann Woydt’s book covers disasters from both the American and Soviet space programs—starting in 1967 and spanning to present day. From NASA’s Apollo 13 to the Soviet’s Soyuz 11, this book takes a deep dive into the perils of space exploration. 

When you think of the Soviet space program, you might think of the “Space Race” that begin in 1955 between the Soviet Union and the United States—each trying to first launch a satellite, and then later put a human in space before the other. But there’s so much more to it than that. Author Eberhard Rödel examines the early days of the space program (before the “Space Race” began)—covering everything from the development of the Soviet’s own atomic bomb to rockets. 

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You may know astronaut Buzz Aldrin as one of the first men to set foot on the Moon, but there's so much more to this space pioneer. In his candid memoir, Aldrin recounts his life and career—from the famous Apollo 11 Moon landing to his battle with alcoholism. At the time of the historic mission to the Moon, Aldrin never imagined the immense impact his newfound fame would have on his life. In addition to delving into his own personal struggles, the author examines the toll the mission took on his fellow astronauts who were on that fateful mission into the unknown. 

Hugh Harris was the voice of launch control—the person counting down to lift-off—on the day of the Challenger disaster in 1986. 73 seconds after it was launched, Challenger broke apart—killing all seven people on board. Aboard the flight was Payload Specialist Christa McAuliffe, who would have been the first teacher in space. Because of this, 17% of Americans are said to have witnessed the tragedy live. Author Hugh Harris takes us back to that fateful day, giving readers a behind-the-scenes look at how this disaster impacted NASA and the future of space exploration. 

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Alan Shepard was an American astronaut during the golden years of space exploration. Becoming the first American in space in 1961, he was quite experienced with the “Space Race.” After the Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, the U.S. was desperate to get a person in space before the Soviet Union got there first…again. Though they narrowly lost to Soviet astronaut Yuri Gagarin, Shepard became the first American in space with the Mercury-Redstone 3 mission.   

Along with fellow astronaut Deke Slayton, Shepard details the Apollo missions they were involved in—including Apollo 14, after they were deemed too inexperienced to command Apollo 13. 

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Just hours before Apollo 13 was set to be the third mission to land on the Moon, tragedy struck when an oxygen tank exploded—putting the crew in terrible danger, 200,000 miles from Earth. Though you may know the story of Apollo 13, it’s unlikely you’ve heard it like this before. Based on transcripts from mission control in Houston, author Henry S. F. Cooper weaves together the terrifying story—offering a minute-by-minute account of this seemingly grave situation. 

The book that inspired the film of the same name focuses on a group of female mathematicians at NASA—known as “human computers”—who calculated the numbers required to send rockets and astronauts into space. During World War II, a group of African American women were called to be these “human computers” at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in Hampton, Virginia. Segregated by Virginia’s Jim Crow laws, these women were integral in space exploration—specifically in helping John Glenn orbit the earth. 

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Rocket Men takes a look the Apollo 8 mission—the risky attempt to land on the Moon before the ‘60s ended. Author Robert Kurson focuses on three astronauts in his book: commander Frank Borman, who was on his final mission; Jim Lovell, who’d dreamed of going to the Moon since childhood; and, Bill Anders, a nuclear engineer making his first space flight. Based on interviews with astronauts, their families, NASA personnel, and more, this detailed account takes a thrilling look at Apollo 8.