Space Exploration—A History in 100 Objects

Space Exploration: A History in 100 Objects is an astounding compilation of the many historical advancements needed to get mankind beyond our atmosphere. From the very first cave drawings of the stars thousands of years ago to the invention of telescopes, power sources, and lightbulbs, this comprehensive guide has everything you could want to know about scientific advancement. I learned so much from the detailed, easy-to-read descriptions that connect all of these separate inventions together into one remarkable human achievement. You’ll find a number of objects you’ve never heard of, each integral to our first foray into space. The objects are paired with museum quality photography, making this a must-have reference guide to all things space.

Most importantly, Space Exploration: A History in 100 Objects tells a comprehensive story of what it takes to complete something impossible. Each advancement detailed in the book was a game changer in the history of humanity, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem today. By learning more about these early advancements, we can come to a better understanding of our obsession with the stars and our desire to travel among them in the near future.

Review to be published on 11/1: http://reviewsandrobots.com/2019/11/01/space-exploration-a-history-in-100-objects-book-review

The author uses a wide range of unique items to trace discoveries and technology developments that marked crucial advances in understanding the world and the universe. The objects range in age from from 70,000 BCE to the present. Although people may see Sputnik on the cover and assume that all the items discussed are rockets and robots, the variety of artifacts include artwork, clocks, and Native American medicine wheels, too. The wide range of time periods and cultures represented by the examples given show how universal mankind's curiosity about the stars is and how long it has been a part of our makeup. Photographs show the details of astrolabes, star charts, and mathematical texts, while the back matter includes a guide to the objects’ current locations. The author’s explanations of the significance of each piece to astronomy and aerospace are also compelling celebrations of the contributions from around the world and throughout history. Besides tracing the history of how we got to where we are now in space exploration, this book is also a time capsule of breakthroughs and inspirations.

I really enjoyed Space Exploration: A History in 100 Objects. As an individual who finds astronomy and history fascinating, Sten Odenwald does an amazing job combining these two subjects to paint a picture of how humans have interacted with space throughout time. By documenting a chronology of the types of tools that were used throughout time, Odenwald shows the reader an eclectic compilation of the various objects the helped humans achieve their eventual journey beyond the earth’s atmosphere, as well as the tools that helped incite interest along the way. Many of the objects detailed in this book were ones I had never heard about! Thus, I learned a lot of new information that was fascinating and further honed my interests in space and human history. This book won’t just discuss rockets and robots, there are several artifacts from early human history that, when studied, detail early humanities interest in space. In addition, the pictures in this book are beautiful and significantly aid to the read. While the descriptions of the objects are well-written and easy-to-understand, having a visual aid is extremely helpful.

This was really interesting in that the first half of the items are not normally considered with space exploration, but should be. This would be great in any science classroom or space travel enthusiast's library.

If there is a better example of history-of-science book for the layman, I'd welcome a look. This uses the simple format of looking at 100 things, whether they still exist or not, whether they really worked or not, and showing how they helped us understand the cosmos and our place in it. So I knew we'd have an early visit to Antikythera, but we went a lot of other places first, to where mankind made the first tallies, and the first calendars. I knew Stonehenge would get a mention, and it does, but it's not one of the hundred – no, instead we see an aboriginal American stone dial that did pretty much the same thing, and that a great percentage of the readership will not have heard of. We go through the mathematicians that helped rocket science exist centuries after they passed on, we see the superyacht of telescopes, that did get some good research under its belt but was thought by the owner to be not as fine as his regular instruments, and we slowly, but slowly, build up to neutrino tanks, the Hubble (although only its ocular corrective is here on its own) and the LHC. We're seldom if ever lost in science, partly as there is little time with each entry only getting a full page or so of text in this highly pictorial book. All this then is both eye-opening to someone who knows a bit of the subject, like me, easy for many who know less, and I am sure welcomed by those who know a host more.

Space Exploration - A History in 100 Objects is exactly what the title states it is. I loved how the book was well organized and to the point. It gives you a great understanding of the different objects that were important throughout the history of space and humankind's exploration of it. I think it is great how it is set out in chronological order as well. Another strong component of the book is that I believe that Odenwald makes you understand that we're talking about something special. I would recommend this book to anyone who looks up once in a while.

Surprising, fascinating and fun

I loved this book. It has science and history and does well at both. To me, Sten Odenwald did not pick the most obvious items. Instead many that were picked were background items and some of these were surprising. Odenwald has a good sense of humor that crops up from time to time. His descriptions are crisp but there is enough there to understand why the object is important, if not enough to understand how it works. The photos are excellent. I recommend this book for anyone interested in astronomy. I also think it would be a great gift book.

Space Exploration - A History in 100 Objects is such a great read. It compiles a list of really interesting items that have significance in space exploration, even some unconventional ones that you may not necessarily associate with space. I really enjoyed reading the stories behind the items and browsing through the pages. Definitely recommend for any space enthusiast!