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Journalism of Courage
Four decades after cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station, Group Captain Sudhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force has reached the ISS. Asked how India looks from space, Sharma had famously responded, “Saare Jahan Se Achha”, now Shukla has greeted the world from space with a ‘Namaskar’.
This milestone for our country’s space story has rekindled our age-old fascination with the stars. Whether this new chapter in Indian spaceflight has you enthralled or you are simply curious about the realms beyond the sky, these seven books — an eclectic mix of memoir, science, history, and fiction — will serve as your space sherpa.
Why read it: In Beyond, Stephen Walker resurrects a Soviet morning in April 1961 when a pilot called Yuri Gagarin became the first human being to orbit the Earth. The narrative reconstructs the 108 minutes that changed history. This is no dry historical chronicle, rather it is comparable to a cinematic retelling. Drawing from declassified Soviet documents and firsthand testimonies, it captures the frantic race to beat America to space. From Sergei Korolev’s design bureau to Gagarin’s near-fatal re-entry, the book makes for a compelling read. As India eyes its own crewed spaceflights, Gagarin’s journey reminds us that sending a human into orbit is as much a (geo)political statement as its is a scientific achievement.
Why read it: In this genre-bending novel is a dialogue between science and storytelling. Astrophysicist and folklorist Moiya McTier lends her voice to the galaxy we call home. Speaking in the first person, the Milky Way narrates its own history with equal parts wit and cosmological clarity. McTier blends astrophysics (black holes, stellar death, dark matter) with creation myths from around the world. The book is likely to resonate with Indian readers raised on celestial mythology (Chandra, Rahu etc).
Why read it: Mars has long fired the human imagination. Planetary scientist Sarah Stewart Johnson interweaves memoir with planetary science to trace humankind’s evolving obsession with the Red Planet. She traces mankind’s fascination from Victorian fantasies of Martian canals to the robotic rovers of today. A standout feature is her fieldwork in Earth’s own Martian analogues, from Antarctica’s Dry Valleys to Australia’s salt flats. At its heart, the book is an ode to exploration, perseverance, and scientific hope.
Why read it: Grounded in meticulous spaceflight detail, Astronaut-turned-author Chris Hadfield’s gripping debut is part techno-thriller, part Cold War drama. Set in an alternate 1973 where the Apollo 18 mission is secretly revived, The Apollo Murders throws the reader into a taut espionage plot orbiting the Moon. With Soviet saboteurs, rogue satellites, and astronauts navigating political and physical landmines, the novel makes for a gripping read. Despite being a fictitious account, Hadfield manages to capture the claustrophobia of capsule life and the incredible vastness of lunar space.
5. A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman by Lindy Elkins-Tanton
Why read it: What compels a woman to pursue planetary science when trauma, sexism, and imposter syndrome are part of the package? Lindy Elkins-Tanton’s memoir answers the question with grace. As the principal investigator of NASA’s Psyche mission, set to explore a metal-rich asteroid that may unlock secrets of planetary formation, Elkins-Tanton has proved her mettle and then some. Her resilience in the face of an abusive childhood and male-dominated halls of academia is likely to strike a chord with Indian readers, especially women in STEM.
6. The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Why read it: Theoretical physicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein confronts the inequities inherent within modern science even as she celebrates the magnificence of the cosmos. One of the few Black women to earn a PhD in physics, she sheds light on the politics of knowledge. She moves fluidly from quantum chromodynamics to Star Trek, from the physics of melanin to the injustice of underrepresentation. For Indian readers reckoning with caste, gender, and access in science, Prescod-Weinstein offers both a critique and a vision for an inclusive future in which everyone owns the night sky.
7. Back to Earth by Nicole Stott
Why read it: Upon seeing the Earth from space, Nicole Stott returned a changed man. In Back to Earth, the retired NASA astronaut reflects on what orbiting the planet taught her about sustainability, and collective responsibility. This is not a technical memoir but a guide for planetary stewardship, drawn from the spaceflight’s vantage point. Her musings on biodiversity, climate resilience, and the ethics of interdependence drive home the message that we are all crewmates on a fragile spaceship (Earth).
8. Space: The India Story by Dinesh C Sharma
As a developing nation once seen as an ‘underdog,’ India has immersed itself in space research with frugality and ingenuity. This book traces six decades of India’s journey in space exploration, from grappling with poverty and hunger to pursuing space research. Navigating the intersection of science and history, Sharma documents milestones such as the Chandrayaan-3 mission (which cost half as much as the film Oppenheimer), and the Gaganyaan mission. It celebrates the unsung heroes of Indian space research, their trials, and triumphs, making Space an inspiring account of India’s journey through space.
9. To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery by Neil deGrasse Tyson and Lindsey Nyx Walker
From the world’s most celebrated astrophysicist comes an illustrated and witty narrative that explores the universe from the solar system to the farthest reaches of space. Tyson and Walker use humour to bring astrophysics down to Earth blending mythology, history, and pop culture references. Readers journey through space and time, learning about phenomena from the Big Bang to black holes along the way as they unravel the mysteries of the cosmos, including light’s dual nature, black holes, parallel worlds, and time travel. This book is perfect for science enthusiasts and anyone fascinated by the universe’s greatest puzzles.
10.Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach
Known as “America’s funniest science writer” (Washington Post), Mary Roach explores the strange and fascinating realities of living and working in space. This bestseller takes readers on a quirky, entertaining journey into the science behind space travel and life without gravity. From the Space Shuttle training toilet to crash tests of NASA’s new space capsule, Roach combines humour and hard science to reveal the weird and wonderful aspects of surviving the void.
