Le Spoutnik ouvre la voie du ciel

Published in January 1958, three months after the launch of Sputnik 1, this volume is the French adaptation of a Soviet book by Mikhail Vassiliev, compiled under the direction of Professor A.A. Blagonravov. Across eight chapters, the text traces the history of Russian propulsion pioneers (Kibalchich, Tsiolkovsky, Mojaisky), explains the principles of rocket propulsion, describes living conditions in space, and outlines the steps ahead: orbital stations, a Moon landing, and planetary voyages. Released simultaneously in English as Sputnik Into Space (Dial Press, 1958), the volume is one of the first authorised Soviet communications on the space programme aimed at Western readers.