Beyond: the astonishing story of the first human to leave our planet and journey into space

"Originally published in the United Kingdom in 2021 by William Collins, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers."

Verso.

Prologue: Fifteen minutes before launch

Four months earlier. Pallo's dogs ; Who let a Russian in here? ; The house in the forest ; Inauguration ; Shame and danger ; The American team ; The Soviet Team ; The King ; Subject 65 ; A hell of a ride

Decision. The risk equation ; At our heals ; Ivan Ivanovich ; The biggest missile site in the world ; The price of progress ; Boosters and dummies ; The Military-Industrial Commission

Final countdown. Brinkmanship ; Just in case ; The egg timer ; Chimp barbecue ; Chosen ; Opening pitch ; Roll out ; Night

Launch. A mother's love ; Key to start ; The first seventeen minutes ; The next thirty-two minutes ; Moscow calling ; A beautiful halo ; Ba-boom! ; Gagarin's field ; Triumph and defeat ; The ball on the hill ; Party time

Epilogue: Endgame.