"Since ancient times, people have envisioned the possibility of space travel. Spaceflight finally became a reality after many centuries of scientific study on two fronts: astronomy and flight. Theories about the solar system were proposed, tested, and revised. Instruments for examining the night skies were invented and improved. Flight was accomplished as a result of countless experiments, some of them deadly. This resource traces space exploration, one of the most exciting pursuits in history, from the legend of Icarus to the reality of Sputnik."