When the Soviet Union's satellite Sputnik 1 entered Earth's orbit in 1957, people in the United States demanded that Americans "catch up" with space technology. The Space Race between the two world superpowers had begun. This authoritative volume explains how the technology developed, who developed it, and the tragedies and triumphs that led to the success of Apollo 11 and subsequent missions. It also addresses the advances of space travel today and the possibility of colonization in outer space. Readers will appreciate the many crucial STEM concepts and eye-catching images included in this gripping account.