A revealing look at the space program based on recently declassified Russian and U.S. documents and 175 interviews with Russian and American scientists and engineers.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [679]-701) and index.

Bird envy -- Rocket science -- Gravity's archers -- Missiles for America -- The other world series -- To race across the sky -- War and peace in the third dimension -- The greatest show on earth -- A bridge for Galileo -- To hit a moving target -- From the Earth to the moon -- Destination Mars -- A grand tour: the majestic adventure -- The roaring eighties -- Downsizing infinity -- The rings of earth -- The second space age.