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Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Science
- Indian Express
To infinity and beyond: 10 books on space that will change how you see the universe
As India prepares to send Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station, a landmark moment in the country's celestial journey, the spotlight returns to our age-old fascination with the stars. Sixty years after Yuri Gagarin first orbited Earth, and four decades since Rakesh Sharma famously looked down and said 'Saare Jahan Se Achha', the cosmos continues to captivate. From the precision of Chandrayaan-3's lunar touchdown to the pioneering Mars Orbiter Mission, ISRO has joined the ranks of the world's premier space agencies. If you're inspired by this new chapter in Indian spaceflight—or simply curious about what lies beyond the sky—these seven books blend memoir, science, history, and imagination to launch readers into the extraordinary realms of space exploration. Why read it: In Beyond, Stephen Walker resurrects a forgotten Soviet morning in April 1961 when a young pilot named Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the Earth. The masterful narrative reconstructs the 108 minutes that changed history aboard Vostok 1. But this is no dry historical chronicle, it's a cinematic retelling, drawn from declassified Soviet documents and firsthand testimonies, that captures the frantic, secretive race to beat America to space. From the tension-ridden corridors of Sergei Korolev's covert design bureau to Gagarin's near-fatal re-entry, the book makes for a compelling read. As India eyes its own crewed spaceflights, Gagarin's journey reminds us that sending a human into orbit is as much an act of geopolitical theatre as of scientific courage. Why read it: In this genre-bending work of narrative science, astrophysicist and folklorist Moiya McTier gives literal voice to the galaxy we call home. Speaking in the first person, the Milky Way narrates its own history with equal parts wit, wisdom, and cosmological clarity. McTier blends frontier astrophysics (black holes, stellar death, dark matter) with global creation myths, inviting the reader into a dialogue between science and storytelling. For Indian readers raised on celestial mythology, from Chandra to Rahu, this book provides a uniquely resonant cosmic perspective. Why read it: Mars has long fired the human imagination, and planetary scientist Sarah Stewart Johnson brings both rigour and reverence to its study. Interweaving personal memoir with planetary science, Johnson traces humankind's evolving obsession with the Red Planet—from Victorian fantasies of Martian canals to the robotic rovers of today. A standout feature is her fieldwork in Earth's own Martian analogues, from Antarctica's Dry Valleys to Australia's salt flats, where she hones tools to detect extraterrestrial life. The book is a poetic ode to exploration, perseverance, and scientific hope. 4. The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield Why read it: Astronaut-turned-author Chris Hadfield's gripping debut is part techno-thriller, part Cold War drama, and all grounded in authentic spaceflight detail. Set in an alternate 1973 where the Apollo 18 mission is secretly revived, The Apollo Murders throws the reader into a taut espionage plot orbiting the Moon. With Soviet saboteurs, rogue satellites, and astronauts navigating both political and physical peril, this is fiction steeped in real astronaut experience. Hadfield captures the claustrophobia of capsule life and the terrifying vastness of lunar space with unflinching precision. 5. A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman by Lindy Elkins-Tanton Why read it: What compels a woman to pursue planetary science while navigating trauma, sexism, and self-doubt? Lindy Elkins-Tanton's memoir answers the question with grace. As the principal investigator of NASA's Psyche mission, set to explore a metal-rich asteroid that may unlock secrets of planetary formation, Elkins-Tanton is a scientist of extraordinary achievement. Yet her personal journey, from a childhood of abuse to the male-dominated halls of academia, is just as compelling. Indian readers, especially women in STEM, will find inspiration in her resilience. 6. The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein Why read it: Theoretical physicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein confronts the inequities embedded in modern science, while celebrating the profound beauty of the cosmos. One of the few Black women to earn a PhD in physics, she brings a radical clarity to the politics of knowledge. She moves fluidly from quantum chromodynamics to Star Trek, from the physics of melanin to the injustice of underrepresentation. For Indian readers reckoning with caste, gender, and access in science, Prescod-Weinstein offers both a critique and a vision: a more inclusive future in which everyone owns the night sky. 7. Back to Earth by Nicole Stott Why read it: Nicole Stott has seen Earth from above—and returned changed. In Back to Earth, the retired NASA astronaut reflects on what orbiting the planet taught her about connection, sustainability, and collective responsibility. This is not a technical memoir but a guide for planetary stewardship, drawn from spaceflight's unique vantage point. Stott explores biodiversity, climate resilience, and the ethics of interdependence. She points out that we are all crewmates on a fragile spaceship called Earth. 8. Space: The India Story by Dinesh C Sharma As a developing nation once seen as an 'underdog,' India has led the space research race with remarkable frugality and innovation, carving a stellar place in the global space community. This book traces six decades of India's journey in space exploration, from grappling with poverty and hunger to becoming a global leader in space research. Highlighting milestones such as the Chandrayaan-3 mission—which cost half as much as the film Oppenheimer—and the ambitious Gaganyaan mission, the narrative blends science and history. It celebrates the unsung heroes of Indian space research, their trials, and triumphs, making Space a compelling and inspiring account of India's cosmic journey. 9. To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery by Neil deGrasse Tyson and Lindsey Nyx Walker From the world's most celebrated astrophysicist comes an illustrated, witty, and engaging narrative that explores the universe from the solar system to the farthest reaches of space. Tyson and Walker bring astrophysics down to Earth with humor, blending mythology, history, and pop culture references. Readers journey through space and time, learning about phenomena from the Big Bang to black holes, and exploring the mysteries of the cosmos—such as light's dual nature, black holes, parallel worlds, and time travel. This book is perfect for science enthusiasts and anyone fascinated by the universe's greatest puzzles, combining scientific rigor with an entertaining style. for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach Known as 'America's funniest science writer' (Washington Post), Mary Roach explores the strange and fascinating realities of living and working in space. This bestseller takes readers on a quirky, entertaining journey into the science behind space travel and life without gravity. From the Space Shuttle training toilet to crash tests of NASA's new space capsule, Roach combines humour and hard science to reveal the weird and wonderful aspects of surviving the void. It's an accessible and highly engaging look at what it really takes to live beyond Earth.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Why people claim Yuri Gagarin wasn't the first man in space – and why they're wrong
There's nothing dumber than a technicality, especially when people are putting their lives on the line to do something incredible. If there's ever a clearer illustration of the critics against Theodore Roosevelt's 'man in the arena,' it's Soviet space pioneer Yuri Gagarin and the naysayers who believe he wasn't the first human to break the surly bonds of Earth. On April 12, 1961, after saying the epic line, 'Poyekhali!' ('let's go!') Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin blasted off from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Vostok 1 capsule, notching a win for the Soviet Union during the Space Race and a huge victory for humanity. Even if it didn't seem that way at the time, the world would never be the same. His flight would last just 108 minutes, and he would experience weightlessness and get a look at the planet. It would make Gagarin an international celebrity and truly be one for the record books. With all this information in mind, we know definitively that Gagarin was the first man in space. But it's the record books that have doubters keeping the bizarre technicality that dogged the achievement for more than six decades. It was the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI – or International Air Sports Federation in English), the governing body for all aeronautical records. Founded in 1905, the nonprofit FAI doesn't belong to any government and exists to certify and register world records, as well as arbitrate any disputes over those records. Manned spaceflight didn't exist when the FAI was founded in 1905. Some scientists still believed that space was filled with an invisible medium that carried light from the sun to Earth. There was no term for a galaxy, and some believed what we see as galaxies were just nebulae, part of the Milky Way – and that the Milky Way was the known universe. So the idea of going to space in 1905 was a little absurd. Fast-forward a few decades, and it's suddenly an issue the FAI has to contend with. The Soviet Union and the United States were making incredible strides toward manned spaceflight, so it became clear that records were about to be set and broken. The FAI was respected by both countries and thus became the one who would certify any achievements made by either side in the Space Race. The FAI apparently decided to make it easy on themselves and rolled a number of rules and stipulations from air travel to space travel, and this is where some people get stuck on Yuri Gagarin. The FAI's rules for manned spaceflights stated that, just like the aircraft pilots had to land inside their craft in order for the record to be valid, space pilots would also have to land inside their craft for valid records. It's an understandable rule for aircraft pilots, especially when the FAI was founded. Parachutes were an emerging technology and not landing an aircraft pretty much meant certain death. Of course by the 1960s, parachutes were better and so were airplanes, but still: not being able to land an aircraft doesn't really advance aviation technology or performance. There was no trophy for 'most spectacular crash landing,' and if there was, it was set by the Hindenburg when it went up in flames in the FAI's rules on landing the spacecraft remained fully in place – but Yuri Gagarin didn't land in his spacecraft. The Soviet Union had the technology to send a man safely to space, but not to land him back on Earth in the same vehicle in which he left. The USSR's scientists never planned for him to come back in the Vostok capsule, because there was no way for them to slow its velocity enough for a human to survive inside. Yuri Gagarin ejected from the spacecraft at 20,000 feet and thus did not land with the craft, technically, some say, not setting the record as per FAI rules. The Soviet Union kept Gagarin's ejection a secret for months, letting the world assume he landed with the capsule. But the FAI isn't Major League Baseball and was willing to change the rules for their Pete Rose. It recognized that launching a human into space and successfully returning him to Earth without killing him was a monumental achievement, one worthy enough to change the rules for. The only method of landing worth considering, the FAI agreed, was that the pilot or crew was still among the living. So, despite the fact that the arbitrary rules for setting a record were changed to fit the achievement, it was still quite an achievement and Yuri Gagarin was undoubtedly the first human in space.
Russia Today
13-04-2025
- Science
- Russia Today
Russia's Yuri Gagarin celebrated in Indian capital
A commemorative plaque depicting Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, was unveiled at the Russian House in New Delhi on Saturday. The event was held to mark the International Day of Human Space Flight, observed annually on April 12. The sculptural plaque features the first cosmonaut in his spacesuit, alongside famed Russian aerospace pioneer Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and Soviet rocket engineer Sergei Korolev, who is widely regarded as the founder of the USSR's space program. 'Yuri Gagarin visited India and received a very warm welcome. Until now, there was no memorial to him in Delhi,' said Elena Remizova, head of the Russian House in New Delhi. Rajeev Kumar Jaiswal, Officer on Special Duty at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), recalled that in 1961, his country had no space program. 'India was struggling with hunger and poverty at the time. Thanks to long-term cooperation with Russia, we reached the stage where Rakesh Sharma went to space,' he said, referring to India's first astronaut, who flew aboard the Soviet Union's Soyuz T-11 mission in 1984. VIDEO | On the occasion of International Day of Human Space Flight, a memorial plaque was unveiled at Russian House in the national capital, in honour of cosmonaut Yuri Gagrin and other space pioneers from Russia, on plaque was unveiled in the presence of Russian… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 12, 2025 An exhibition of rare archival photos of Gagarin's 1961 mission was also opened at the venue. Shortly after returning to Earth, Gagarin toured India, where he was welcomed by thousands lining the streets. He was hosted by then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and honored with a parade. 🇷🇺🇮🇳👨🚀 Yuri Gagarin's Historic Trip To India: The Pivotal Moment In Russian-India Space Diplomacy #OTD Cosmonautics Day celebrates the moment Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth on 12th April 1961. but Gagarin's legacy wasn't just stuck in space – it extended to… — RT_India (@RT_India_news) April 12, 2025 Addressing the ceremony, Russia's Ambassador to India Denis Alipov lauded the enduring cooperation between the two nations in space exploration. 'The exploration of space has always united nations. I am sure we will continue cooperation in manned missions, satellite navigation, and many other areas,' he said. Alipov highlighted that Russia is working with India on its upcoming human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, set to launch next year. Read more Gagarin to Gaganyaan: India's Russian-trained astronauts are gearing up to lift off for the giant's first manned space mission The names of four Indian astronauts who will leave Earth as part of the country's first manned space mission were announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February. Like Sharma , they were trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City near Moscow in 2020-2021. Igor Koreshev, head of the Department for coordinating the international activities of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, said the Indian astronauts had learned to operate the Soyuz MS spacecraft and underwent winter and sea survival training. 'They studied the individual systems as well as how they function together in more complex operations. Practical sessions were carried out on the transport ship itself, where the trainees undertook detailed preparations for managing the spacecraft,' he told RT. 'As part of their training, they also practiced winter survival skills. This included learning the procedures to follow in the event of an emergency landing in forested or swampy areas during winter, as well as sea survival techniques in case the crew is forced to ditch in the water.' Russian pilot-cosmonaut Denis Matveev, who took part in the ceremony, shared his experience meeting Indian gaganauts at the Gagarin center. 'For now we feel pretty confident flying at low Earth orbit, but it's time to move further – for example, starting with a lunar base or a lunar station, that's a good point and that's good cooperation between Russia and India,' he told RT on the sidelines of the event. 🇷🇺 Pilot-Cosmonaut Denis Matveev Shares His Experience Of Meeting 🇮🇳 Gaganauts & Talks About The Prospects For Indian-Russian Space Cooperation — RT_India (@RT_India_news) April 12, 2025 The Indian Space Agency has been conducting several key tests, including validating its emergency escape system and recovery procedures, as it prepares for the full-scale manned mission. In January, ISRO successfully completed the in-orbit docking of its SpaDeX satellites, making India the fourth country to achieve this milestone after Russia, the US, and China. This accomplishment is considered crucial for India's future space endeavors, such as building its own space station and sending an astronaut to the Moon. READ MORE: 'I'm alive today thanks to Russian technology' – first Indian in space
