Century lands astronaut Peake’s ‘ground-breaking’ human history of space

Century has signed Space: The Human Story by astronaut Tim Peake, described as “full of exclusive new stories and astonishing detail only an astronaut would know".

Publishing director Ben Brusey bought world rights from Julian Alexander at The Soho Agency for publication on 26th October 2023 in print, digital and audiobook, accompanied by a major promotional campaign. Autumn 2023 will also see Peake present a new Channel 5 TV series on space entitled “Secrets of Our Universe”.

The synopsis reads: “Only 628 people in human history have left Earth. In Space: The Human Story, Peake traces the lives of these remarkable men and women who have forged the way, from Yuri Gagarin to Neil Armstrong, from Valentina Tereshkova to Peggy Whitson.

“The book conveys what space exploration is really like: the wondrous view of Earth, the surreal weightlessness, the extraordinary danger, the surprising humdrum, the unexpected humour, the newfound perspective, the years of training, the psychological pressures, the gruelling physical toll, the thrill of launch and the trepidation of re-entry. The book also examines the surprising, shocking and often poignant stories of astronauts back on Earth, whose lives are forever changed as they readjust to terra firma.”

Publication of the book comes on the eve of NASA’s plans to return to the moon, more than 50 years after an astronaut last walked on the lunar surface. In 2024 the Artemis II mission will send four astronauts to orbit the moon. In 2025 Artemis III will send the first woman and the first person of colour to step on the lunar surface. 

“What will separate these upcoming moonwalkers from the legendary Apollo crews? Does it still take a daring-do attitude, superhuman fitness, intelligence, plus the ’right-stuff’ — a fabled grace under pressure? And how will astronauts travel even further — to Mars and beyond? Space: The Human Story reveals all,” the publisher says.

Peake said: “Writing and researching this book has been an enormous pleasure. The story of humans in space is rich and surprising and the many pioneers I write about will undoubtedly go down as some of the greatest explorers in history. My main desire here has not been to tell my own story, which I have done elsewhere. It’s to tell the story of the astronaut species, and its evolution.”

Brusey said: “I cannot think of a better candidate and author to write this landmark book, which is the first of its kind to span the full story of human space exploration. Full of exhilarating tales of courage and ingenuity, and told with Tim’s trademark warmth and inspiration, I am convinced it will be a book that is read for years to come, serving as The Right Stuff for a new generation. Following on from the bestselling success of Limitless and Hello, is this Planet Earth?, Tim’s book will surely slip the surly bonds of Earth once again as another major hit this autumn.”