Within the past twenty years, the space shuttle has launched 3 million pounds of cargo, transported more than 600 passengers and pilots, and logged more than 366 million miles. What began as a space race, space exploration is now a global effort, to search space and understand all its resources. This book comprehensively explains all the sides to space exploration. It includes primary and secondary sources from a variety of perspectives; eyewitnesses, scientific journals, government officials, and many others.