Books in Epic Space Adventure series

The first people to fly did so in hot-air balloons. Some 120 years later, theWright brothers’ heavier-than-air flying machine made powered, controlled flight possible. Ever since, aviators have aspired to fly faster, farther, and higher. Charles Lindbergh set the world alight with his nonstop flight acrossthe Atlantic. Amy Johnson won hearts and acclaim flying solo from England to Australia in a small biplane. With advances in rocketry, a new era dawned. The world watched in awe as the Apollo 11 astronauts landed on the Moon. The Voyager claimed the last major record for fixed-wing aircraft, flying nonstop around the world. And aviation's last major record was set when the Breitling Orbiter 3 pilots flew their balloon nonstop around the world.

From the earliest times, men and women explored their world. Some searched for trade routes, lost treasures, or new lands to colonize; others traveled as missionaries, to spread religious beliefs. More than anything else, however, what motivated the greatest explorers was simple curiosity:What was on the other side of that mountain? How wide was North America? Where was the source of the Nile River? In the days before railroads, motor cars, and airplanes, finding out often involved traveling incredible distances overland: on foot, horse, or camel, by wagon or canoe,and for months, even years, at a time. And it usually meant facing severe dangers, extraordinary hardships, and the uncertainty of not knowing when, if ever, you might make it back home.