As NASA’s Artemis program works to return humans to the moon within the next few years, a timely account offers insight into the challenges of international cooperation as it relates to space exploration. The Outer Space Treaty (OST), created in 1967, provides a basic framework for countries’ behavior in space. Space is the province of all, for instance, and it shall be used for humankind’s benefit. No state shall take weapons of mass destruction into space. No state shall own other planets. Yet as technology rapidly advances, the OST has not evolved at the same rate; it doesn’t address certain issues that can and do arise now. For example, while the moon itself cannot be owned, what about the regolith on its surface? What if a conflict arises between astronauts from different countries while they are on the moon? And while the OST offers guidance for countries, what about the private companies now sending civilians to space? Interspersed throughout is historical, political, and scientific context on space exploration, including the space race, debates about the lower limit of outer space, the increasing amount of space debris and the challenge of removing it, the International Space Station, space tourism, and the myriad space-related careers that exist. Imagined scenarios between fictional countries offer readers a chance to think through hypothetical sticky situations. Accessible and thought-provoking, this account encourages young people to consider how they might contribute to space exploration in their lifetimes. (Age 12 and older)

Today’s teens may travel to the Moon in their lifetimes. This primer on what to know for a future in space combines technology and science with law and policy for a fascinating look at a very timely subject.

For teens who are space fans, this book is loaded with fascinating facts, great stories, and new ways of thinking about the challenges of space. It covers topics on the science of space and developments in technology (e.g., satellites behaving like spacecraft), and it also considers the laws that have been drafted for space travel and space etiquette—the agreed upon norms of behavior that allow humans to explore without conflict.

The book discusses the problem of space debris, and the growth of space tourism. It provides details about the Artemis missions and plans for the Gateway space station, and so much more. It challenges young readers to think about the decisions that need to be made in the years ahead to ensure that space exploration remains an exhilarating and peaceful activity.

And the final chapter provides guidance on careers in the space industry—being an astronaut is only one of many exciting paths to pursue.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection