Space Exploration (DK Eyewitness Books) (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "HUMANS HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED into the sky and wondered about what lies beyond the Earth..." (more)
Key Phrases: payload bay, International Space Station, Solar System, European Space Agency (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

What's cooler than outer space? Kids and adults alike will enthusiastically assert that astronauts, space ships, and rocket science are some of the most fascinating subjects on (or rather, off) earth. Space Exploration, a stellar addition to Dorling Kindersley's Eyewitness Books series, does this immensely popular topic justice. Learn why astronauts take passports into space! Discover the perplexing mechanics of using a toilet while weightless! View a model of the first planned space station! Kids can also read up on subjects like the space race, moon landings, astronaut fashion, dangers and disasters, and science in space. Abundant full-color photos of everything from dogs in spacesuits to views from satellites complete this zero-gravity exploration, and ensure that if your children weren't already space-obsessed, there will be no turning back now. (Ages 9 to 12) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6?The once-revolutionary nonfiction series ventures beyond our atmosphere for the first time in a survey that touches on an array of space-exploration topics, from the early history of rocketry to animals in orbit, space stations, astronaut underwear, and probes to the outer planets. The familiar blizzard of cutout color illustrations includes sharp photos of actual spacecraft, scale models, toys, commemorative bric-a-brac, new and worn-out parts, plus portraits of people and selected heavenly bodies, all with detailed captions. The focus is, eye-openingly, international, with European Space Agency technology and astronauts from small countries sharing equal time with the personnel and programs of the U.S. and the former Soviet Union. What with recent events on Mars and Mir, the information is already dated, but the book's broad scope and surefire popularity make it a useful lead-in to more systematic treatments of the subjects.?John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 72 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN (August 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756607310
• ISBN-13: 978-0756607319
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #260,518 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #92 in	Books > Children's Books > Series > Nonfiction > Eyewitness Books

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A mini-museum about space exploration in an illustrated book, January 21, 2004

By	Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This review is from: Eyewitness: Space Exploration (Eyewitness Books) (Library Binding)

Since President Bush declared his intention to have the United States go back to the Moon, establish a permanent base, and go to Mars, space exploration is in the news again. When I first started going to school my father was stationed in Florida and we would get out of class to go outside and watch the Mercury flights take off, so I remember when space exploration was an exciting idea and when the entire planet watched the first landing on the moon. But then I also remember when we stopped going to the moon and the only time we really paid attention to space missions was when a shuttle was destroyed.

This volume on "Space Exploration" for the Eyewitness Books series covers the entire history of these efforts, going back to the dreams of space from ancient sky watching to the speculative writings of science fiction. After explaining what is "space," Carole Stott establishes the idea of people from around the world being involved in the exploration of space, symbolized by Apollo 18 docked to Soyuz 19. The historical survey begins with the first rocket scientists, the idea of the reusable rocket, and the space race, with its early space travelers, and the landing of humans on the moon. The next major section talks about how to become an astronaut, what they wear, how they live and work in space. Sections are devoted to the danger and disasters of space exploration, space stations, and the various satellites and probes that have been sent off into space. The final units look at the future in space, how space technology has been used on Earth, and what lies ahead. Of course, that last bit needs to be updated now, but you have to expect new plans would pop up for the 21st century.

As always this is a book where the photographs are so impressive that you often forget there is some text for each of these two-page spreads. However, a lot of the information is to be found in the captions for all those photographs. The end result is a lot of breadth, which sacrifices depth, but that is the same effect you would get if you were at a museum getting to see all of these things in person. Of course, no museum on Earth (or in space) has all of these items, which range from the patch worn by the first Mongolian in space to toys from McDonalds that encourage youth interest in space. Do not be surprised when young readers get excited by seeing how astronauts sleep and drink Coke in space.

5.0 out of 5 stars Space Exploration from Eyewitness Books, May 3, 2008

By	B. Rowell (Cape Cod, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I ordered two copies for my husband, who tutors a 3rd grader weekly.
He found this book much better than anything available in the classroom, and the subject interests most boys (and perhaps girls) in this age group.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is full of information., April 29, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Eyewitness: Space Exploration (Hardcover)

"Eyewitness Space Exploration" Tells about space and its many factors. I recommened this book for those who a really in to space (rockets, going to the moon, that kind of thing.)