Geschichte der Raumfahrt bis 1975

This non-fiction book is the first volume of a trilogy on the history of space travel and focuses on the pioneering era of space exploration up to 1975. Key topics covered from the first half of the 20th century include the theoretical foundations of astronautics, the first practical attempts during the interwar period, and the German rocket program during World War II. The narrative centers on the post-war space race between the two superpowers, the USA and the Soviet Union. The competing space programs in the East and West are presented in detail and with excitement, turning space into the largest battleground of the Cold War. Initially, the race for the first satellite and the first human in space is described, culminating in the race to the Moon. Additionally, the competition for the first space laboratory is discussed, along with the reconciliatory conclusion of the space race in 1975 with the Apollo-Soyuz docking. The final chapter addresses the beginnings of Western European space travel up to the establishment of the European Space Agency (ESA) in 1975. The trilogy is aimed at both professionals and interested laypeople who seek an insightful, detailed, profound, and thrilling glimpse into the history of space travel. The continuation is the second volume, which covers the period from 1975 to 2000, thus establishing the trilogy as a new standard work.