Countdown: A History of Space Flight

"A lively account of the development of space activities in the U.S. and the Soviet Union . . . as good a one-volume overview of space as exists."
—Scientific American

"If you've already got loads of books on the history of space flight, great news: you can give them all to Oxfam . . . All you need now is this, the most comprehensive, up-to-date and best written history of space flight there is."
—The Times (London)

"By far the most significant and technically insightful account of the ventures into the space environment I have seen."
—Lee Atwood, former president and chairman, North American Aviation

"By far the best history of space flight I have ever read. It is detailed, lucidly written for the layman, and full of fascinating stories."
—Adrian Berry, Daily Telegraph