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Distributed for Reaktion Books

Out of This World

Life as an Astronaut

A grounded, inside look at how astronauts live, train, and survive in space.     
 
Spaceflight may now seem routine, but it remains one of the most dangerous and demanding human endeavors. This book offers a clear-eyed account of what it truly takes to live and work in orbit, from grueling training and long waits for assignment to everyday routines aboard space stations and moments of sudden crisis. Drawing on over sixty-five years of human spaceflight and rich with firsthand accounts, it captures the discipline, patience, and resilience behind each mission. Illustrated with more than a hundred photographs, Out of This World reveals the reality of life beyond Earth—not just the extraordinary feats, but the challenges, teamwork, and quiet perseverance behind them. It is a compelling look at how a select group of talented, dedicated people can accomplish the extraordinary in space.

224 pages | 115 halftones | 6.14 x 9.21 | © 2026

Physical Sciences: Physics and Astronomy


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Reviews

Out of This World is a journey across a century of human spaceflight dreams, development, and reality, recording both the triumphs and tragedies along the way. An engaging account of the selection, training, and experiences of those chosen few who have dared to leave the planet and encountered the challenges of living, working, and surviving in the ultimate hostile environment.”

David J. Shayler, astronautical historian and author of "Gemini 5: Eight Days in Space or Bust"

“The book is an impressive accomplishment—an incredibly comprehensive and detailed, yet compact, account of human spaceflight. I was moved by the attention to detail, especially in the accounts of the tragic accidents and near accidents. Human spaceflight is equally a triumphant example of human creativity and tenacity and of humbling experiences in which lives have been lost and lessons learned to enable the next generation of explorers.”

Jennifer Fogarty, former Chief Scientist for NASA’s Human Research Program

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