Throughout history, our shared and fanciful dreams of fAying to the Moon and the known planets have both intrigued and tormented
humankind. Over more recent centuries our knowledge of the sheer magnitude of the universe and Earth’s position in it has rapidly
expanded, along with the ongoing development of science and technology. It was hoped that these factors would one day combine to lead
us towards taking those first baby steps out into the wonders – and the known and unknown terrors – of space.
Flights beyond our atmosphere and the seemingly insurmountable grip of gravity would remain the subject of conjecture, myth and sci-
ence fiction until it was finally recognized that the only viable means of defeating the forces of gravity rested with propulsion devices capable
of carrying vehicles into space. The word most appropriate to this was ‘rockets’. Once some practical means of conveying passengers on rocket
flights beyond our atmosphere had been established, life- supporting arrangements such as providing breathable air and protective garments
would follow.