Ad Astra

An Illustrated Guide to Leaving the Planet

Dallas Campbell Simon and Schuster £16.99 HB

There have been many books about space travel, but none like this. It is not a manual for astronauts. Instead you’ll find a quirky mix of information, much of it wonderfully random. For instance, as well as learning about the fathers of rocketry, we read of those who dreamed of spaceflight in historic times; they include Oxford scholar Dr John Wilkins who designed a chariot to fly to the Moon in the 17th century. And along with explanations of rocket propulsion comes the physics behind those space pens so often seen on sale at exhibitions.

Animals in space have their own section, from poor Laika, the stray Muscovite dog that lost her life in orbit, to a pair of Russian tortoises that beat humans to the first circumlunar trip, returning home none the worse for their adventure.

Descriptions of astronauts training in deserts and underwater are accompanied by interviews with explorers who have endured extreme conditions. The chapter on spacesuits includes a design worn only by cartoon journalist Tintin in Destination Moon. And we are told the detailed and gruesome truth of just what would happen to you if you stepped into space not wearing one!

Space food facts are accompanied by a recipe to make your own ‘space rock’ chocolates. Equally fascinating are the pages on how laws apply to activities away from Earth.

There is so much more fascinating content, all of it wittily presented by Campbell, a broadcaster who has presented many popular science and technology shows. It’s great fun.