Space

James Michener's novel Space (1982) attempts to chronologically document the U.S. space program. The novel covers the early history of space exploration, from the use of V-2 rockets by the U.S. Army in the late 1940s for high-altitude research, to the planning stages of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) and the subsequent development of Earth satellites by both the United States and the Soviet Union. Michener's work also touches upon the Cold War context that fueled the space race and the popular imagination surrounding space travel, influenced by science fiction authors and public interest in UFOs. While Michener aimed to create a fictional documentary, the novel received mixed reviews regarding its success in this endeavor.12