Daring the Unknown by Howard E. Smith

First published: 1987; illustrated

Subjects: Science

Type of work: History

Time of work: 1892-1986

Recommended Ages: 10-18

Locale: Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Soviet Union, and the moon

Principal Personages:

• Dr. Robert Goddard, an American scientist who made the first liquid fueled rockets and who is commonly called “the father of modern rocketry”
• Dr. Wernher von Braun, the brilliant German scientist who came to the United States following World War II and headed the U.S. rocketry program
• Alan B. Shepard, the first American in space, aboard the Mercury capsule Freedom 7
• John H. Glenn, Jr., the first American astronaut to orbit the earth, aboard the Mercury capsule Friendship 7
• Neil A. Armstrong, the first American astronaut to walk on the moon
• Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, as a member of a space shuttle crew
• Valentina Tereshkova, the Soviet cosmonaut who was the first woman to orbit the earth
• Christa McAuliffe, a civilian high school history teacher who was aboard the space shuttle Challenger when it exploded upon launch
• Yuri Gagarin, the Soviet cosmonaut who was the first human to orbit the earth
• Gulon Bluford, the first African American astronaut in space, aboard the space shuttle

Form and Content

Daring the Unknown provides a historical account of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), looking first to the early scientists, such as Robert Goddard and Wernher von Braun, who provided much of the early research and technology that culminated in the creation of the United States’ space program. In thirteen chapters, Howard E. Smith presents the successes that nations and individuals have achieved in space exploration. The author also furnishes insights into the ramifications of the political decisions underlying many of NASA’s accomplishments. These decisions are set against the background of the Cold War rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States and the accomplishments made by the Soviet cosmonauts, which provided much of the incentive for the U.S. program. Complementing the narrative are sixteen color photographs and forty-two black-and-white photographs depicting the people, places, and events that constitute NASA’s history.

Smith traces the history of rocketry leading up to the creation of NASA, starting with the earliest rockets invented by Chinese scientists, probably in the thirteenth century. Another early contributor to space travel discussed in the book is the Russian scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, whose writings in 1895 described many of the major problems that would be faced by those traveling by rocket. The next major figure in the development of space travel was Robert Goddard. His first rocket flew from his Aunt Effie’s farm near Auburn, Massachusetts, in 1926. Goddard’s practical rocket research yielded the first guidance systems and fuel pumps, which are critical components of all rockets. Much of his work is still incorporated into the rockets used today. Wernher von Braun, more than any other individual, is credited with leading the world into the space age. From von Braun’s earliest works in guiding the development of the V-2 rocket in Nazi Germany through his tenure as the director of NASA, his genius and vision eventually led the efforts that placed humans on the moon.

The men and women who became astronauts and cosmonauts are profiled, with brief glimpses into both their personal backgrounds and their professional lives. Thus, these larger-than-life historical figures are made into human beings with whom young readers can identify and in whose footsteps the next generation can aspire to walk. From NASA’s victories with the missions of Alan Shepherd, John Glenn, and Neil Armstrong through its dark hours with the Apollo 1 fire, the Apollo 13 near-disaster, and the Challenger explosion, the reader is brought along with the astronaut team, learning why things occurred, who made the important decisions, and how these decisions have made a lasting impact on space exploration.

In addition to a historical account of space exploration, Daring the Unknown also offers considerable information about the scientific data that the various space missions have provided, including discoveries about the planets and moons in our solar system and about other, more distant, celestial bodies. Finally, NASA’s plans for the space program are discussed, including such topics as “Will humans explore the neighboring planets?” “Will humans return to the moon?” and “What are the plans for the development of a space station?” Although these questions are not answered definitively, readers gain a better idea of the decision-making process that will chart NASA’s course and can glimpse some of the possibilities for future space exploration.

Critical Context

Space exploration is a popular subject among authors of literature for young readers. Howard Smith has taken this topic and effectively expanded the context of exploration to include interesting traits of the people who were the main players in the events of space exploration. The author has also done a good job in leading the reader behind the scenes into the political considerations that drive scientific efforts.

Thus, while the events that Smith describes are those one would expect to find in a work of this type, his descriptions of the characters and occurrences that surround and shape these events offer a fresh look at that which can easily become the commonplace. Famous people are portrayed in terms that emphasize their human nature. Instead of appearing as unapproachable folk heroes, the astronauts become as real as the people next door.

Daring the Unknown is a valuable resource in several subject areas. It offers a fresh historical account of the history of NASA, and it presents scientific information in a clear, approachable fashion, successfully integrating history and science to create an interesting work for young people.