Human fascination with flight is nothing new. Ancient myths tell of the doomed fight of Icarus, and Leonardo da Vinci drafted plans for flying machines during the Renaissance. In 1783, the first hot air balloon flight was recorded in France, but the 20th century saw the real explosion of flight-enabling technology. Air and Space Travel leads readers through the history of human flight and the inventions that made it possible, from the first plans for flying contraptions to the spacecraft of today and what may come in the future. Illustrations accompany the engaging narrative, and a timeline, glossary, further reading list, and index provide easy access to the broad range of information contained within the book's pages.