The Space Place

Most astronauts train for two to ten years before their first space mission.

This book follows their training, and describes the excitement of launch day and the weird and wonderful life without gravity.

It describes how in the future, humans might be able to explore parts of the universe outside the earth's solar system, and may work in international space cities, making things to send back to earth.

The book is written by Helen Sharman who responded to a radio advertisement: "astronaut wanted - no experience necessary".

Project Juna was an historic Russian Space mission which provided Britain with its first astronaut.

Over 13,000 people applied and Helen found herself among the final four, then two, and then, in May 1991, she was hurtling around the earth sixteen times a day.

This book is part of a series of illustrated science texts for children, teenagers and families.

The authors are scientists who are prominent in their fields and have an interest in furthering the public understanding of science.