Voyages Into Space.

A popular account in eight chapters, starting with the ancient astronomers and Copernicus, then dismissing earlier schemes for reaching space (the cannon, the electric gun, the space sling) before turning to Tsiolkovsky, rocket engines, artificial satellites and expeditions to the Moon and planets.

The publisher’s note says it was issued in response to reports that several countries would soon launch Earth satellites, as an aid for lecturers popularizing astronautics. Scientific editor V. V. Dobronravov; the plates and drawings are by several artists, among them N. M. Kolchitsky. The endpapers show rockets and a space station in cream on blue. Printed in 45,000 copies.