The Flickr Russianbook Image Generatr

When this book was originally published in the Soviet Union in 1957 - the year Sputnik was launched - the author said:

"The youth throughout the world have been manifesting a great interest in the problem of space travel. This interest has long since ceased to be a question of idle curiosity: 'Is space travel possible?' Every pupil now knows the answer to this question.

"The interest of our young people in the problem of space travel has assumed quite concrete form. They want to know what interplanetary flights are possible today, at the present level of scientific and technical development, they want to know what achievements have been attained in the development of remarkable reaction engines, which will be the vital part of any interplanetary vessel. These young people question the astronomers about the routes of future cosmic flights. They question the doctors about the specific effects of space travel on the human organism. They are interested in the possibility of a collision between a space ship and meteors, in the possibility of using artificial satellites of the Earth and in many other things.

"In a few words, our youth are keenly interested in all the problems covered by the science of space travel. This science has already developed to such an extent, especially during the past decade, that it is impossible even to attempt any detailed account of its achievements in any one book."

When this book was originally published in the Soviet Union in 1957 - the year Sputnik was launched - the author said:

"The youth throughout the world have been manifesting a great interest in the problem of space travel. This interest has long since ceased to be a question of idle curiosity: 'Is space travel possible?' Every pupil now knows the answer to this question.

"The interest of our young people in the problem of space travel has assumed quite concrete form. They want to know what interplanetary flights are possible today, at the present level of scientific and technical development, they want to know what achievements have been attained in the development of remarkable reaction engines, which will be the vital part of any interplanetary vessel. These young people question the astronomers about the routes of future cosmic flights. They question the doctors about the specific effects of space travel on the human organism. They are interested in the possibility of a collision between a space ship and meteors, in the possibility of using artificial satellites of the Earth and in many other things.

"In a few words, our youth are keenly interested in all the problems covered by the science of space travel. This science has already developed to such an extent, especially during the past decade, that it is impossible even to attempt any detailed account of its achievements in any one book."

A scene of cute rabbits getting ready to destroy a gardener's hopes as seen in an old counting book.

One Two Three
Illustrated by Alexei Laptev
Published in USSR (1976)

First proposed by Wernher von Braun in the 1950s, a rotating pinwheel-like space station was commonly featured in space books of that era. It looked cool and had an important role to play in movies such as “Conquest of Space” (1955) and “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968). But that’s where it was condemned to remain. The actual space station that launched into orbit in the 1990s looks kludgy by comparison. The starting point for its design was to build it cheaply and keep the microgravity intact, so the pinwheel was out.

"Conquest of Space" movie trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlyHw3mNfmA

Portion of the "2001" space docking sequence: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZoSYsNADtY

[Note: Someday, the planet's multi-billionaires may be wishing for a very exclusive resort with a view that's out of this world. Then, we may get to see a pinwheel in the sky.]

The first Russian edition of the book was published circa 1952.

The first Russian edition of the book was published circa 1952.

The first Russian edition of the book was published circa 1952.

The first Russian edition of the book was published circa 1952.

The first Russian edition of the book was published circa 1952.

The first Russian edition of the book was published circa 1952.

The first Russian edition of the book was published circa 1952.

Andrei Sokolov (1931-2007), Russia's foremost space artist, had his artwork carried into orbit in March 1971 aboard Soyuz 11. The paintings were gouache on nonfolding cardboard, measured 47 centimeters by 36 centimeters, and weighed 130 grams each. They were transferred to the orbiting space laboratory Salyut, to become the first orbiting art exhibition in history.

Andrei Sokolov (1931-2007), Russia's foremost space artist, had his artwork carried into orbit in March 1971 aboard Soyuz 11. The paintings were gouache on nonfolding cardboard, measured 47 centimeters by 36 centimeters, and weighed 130 grams each. They were transferred to the orbiting space laboratory Salyut, to become the first orbiting art exhibition in history.

Author Alexei Leonov is a former Soviet cosmonaut who is also an accomplished artist. In 1965, he became the first person to step out of a spacecraft and walk in space. In 1975, he commanded the Soyuz spacecraft that took part in the first rendezvous between a Soviet and United States spacecraft.

Andrei Sokolov (1931-2007), Russia's foremost space artist, had his artwork carried into orbit in March 1971 aboard Soyuz 11. The paintings were gouache on nonfolding cardboard, measured 47 centimeters by 36 centimeters, and weighed 130 grams each. They were transferred to the orbiting space laboratory Salyut, to become the first orbiting art exhibition in history.

The half-title page of the book is signed and inscribed by space artist A. Sokolov to Fred Durant, and below, 19 cosmonauts have signed in colorful markers: Kubasov, Rukavishnikov, Leonov, Beregovoy, Zholobov, Lazarev, Klimsik, Yeliseev, Shonin, Sevastianov, Filipchenko, Artyukhin, Diomin, Aksyonov, Volynov, Markarov, Gorbatko, Khrunov, and one unidentified.

Author Alexei Leonov is a former Soviet cosmonaut who is also an accomplished artist. In 1965, he became the first person to step out of a spacecraft and walk in space. In 1975, he commanded the Soyuz spacecraft that took part in the first rendezvous between a Soviet and United States spacecraft.

Andrei Sokolov (1931-2007), Russia's foremost space artist, had his artwork carried into orbit in March 1971 aboard Soyuz 11. The paintings were gouache on nonfolding cardboard, measured 47 centimeters by 36 centimeters, and weighed 130 grams each. They were transferred to the orbiting space laboratory Salyut, to become the first orbiting art exhibition in history.

Fred Durant, for whom the book is inscribed, was assistant director and head of the Astronautics Department at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. He was hired in 1964 to bring the Smithsonian into the space age and was responsible for making the Museum the official repository for all flown NASA hardware. Numerous satellites, spacecraft, space suits, and other space paraphernalia were collected during his tenure as director. He retired from the Smithsonian in 1980.