Space Explorers: 25 Extraordinary Stories of Space Exploration and Adventure

Discover twenty-five extraordinary true stories of space exploration, courage, and discovery in this beautifully illustrated anthology from a leading expert in human spaceflight, bringing the people, missions, and groundbreaking achievements of our journey beyond Earth vividly to life.

Launch Yourself into the Great Unknown.

For generations, humans have looked to the stars and wondered what lies beyond. But only a remarkable few have dared to leave Earth behind and venture into space.

In Space Explorer, human spaceflight expert Libby Jackson brings together twenty-five extraordinary true stories from our journey beyond Earth. From the first humans in space and the historic Moon landings to life aboard the International Space Station, these remarkable accounts reveal the daring missions, groundbreaking discoveries, ingenious ideas, and unforgettable people who helped transform space exploration from an impossible dream into reality.

Along the way, young readers will discover that exploring space takes far more than astronauts and rockets. It takes scientists, engineers, innovators, problem-solvers, and teams of people willing to push boundaries, overcome extraordinary challenges, and imagine what might be possible next. Filled with stories of courage, curiosity, perseverance, and human ingenuity, Space Explorer brings both the triumphs and challenges of spaceflight vividly to life.

Beautifully illustrated and packed with fascinating stories from the history of human space exploration, this inspiring anthology invites curious young readers to discover the people and missions that changed our understanding of what humanity can achieve—and to imagine where our journey might take us next.

Libby Jackson is the Head of Space at the Science Museum in London and one of Britain’s leading experts in human spaceflight with over a decade working at the forefront of the field. Space was her childhood passion and after completing degrees in physics at Imperial College London and astronautics and space engineering at Cranfield University, she has worked in the space industry ever since. Libby is passionate about sharing stories of human spaceflight and encouraging young people to follow their passions in life. Libby is the author of Space Explorers and a frequent contributor on television and radio, including Stargazing Live, The Big Think: Should We Go To Mars?, and Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes?. Learn more at LibbyJackson.com. 

Léonard Dupond graduated from Ecole de Condé Paris in 2015. He has since illustrated three books for La Martinière Jeunesse, designed eighteen book covers, and worked for various institutional and commercial clients. Léonard is represented by Agent 002 in France and Garance Illustration Agency in the United States. He currently lives and shares a workspace in Lille, France.