To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery

The authors begin by contrasting ancient myths with modern science. Before the scientific revolution (1543-1687), humans invented stories about what exists beyond the terrestrial world. As science developed, humans began to understand more about the nature of the universe. The authors invite the reader on what they call a journey through the solar system, then through the galaxy, then beyond into the (mostly) unknown.

To begin exploring space, scientists and engineers had to figure out how to escape gravity—one of the most significant forces in the universe. The launch of the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 space probes in the late 1970s—Voyager 1 has, as of 2012, gone interstellar (beyond Earth’s solar system)—has been supported by such technologies as the James Webb Space Telescope. All these efforts, including the Apollo missions, have revealed that Earth is one planet among trillions and that these journeys are only the beginning.