"For almost all of human history we've been firmly rooted to the Earth. And, sure, it's got some good things going for it: nice views, friendly inhabitants, good coffee. Air. But what if you want to get off? ... As well as being a deeply impractical guide to getting off the planet, this is an eclectic ... mix-tape of space travel stories - both real and imagined. From the migrating lunar geese that flew us to the Moon in the 1600s, to Eion Musk's wild plans to get humans to Mars en masse in the future; from the history of early rocket science to the Soviet tortoises that secretly won the space race."--Book jacket.