Humble beginnings -- Rocket proliferation, the first wave -- Under rocket fire in India -- The Congreve rocket -- Rockets come to America -- First American rockets -- Rocket proliferation, the second wave -- Public imagination on fire -- Great pioneers -- The first modern rocket -- JATO and beyond -- Building the foundation -- Road to Sputnik -- Gateways to heaven -- The breakthrough -- Opening the skies -- Joining the club -- The first thousand years.