I also had the pleasure of speaking to              OUT OF THIS WORLD: LIFE AS AN ASTRONAUT (Reaktion Books, 2026)
                                                                 UK Publication Date 15 June 2026
Spaceflight may now seem routine, but it remains one of the most dangerous and demanding human endeavours. This book describes what it truly takes to live and work in orbit – from gruelling training and long waits for assignment, to everyday routines aboard space stations and moments of sudden crisis. Drawing on over 65 years of human spaceflight and rich with first-hand accounts, it captures the discipline, patience, and resilience behind each mission. Illustrated with more than 100 photographs, it reveals the reality of life beyond Earth – not just the extraordinary feats, but the challenges, teamwork and quiet perseverance behind them. A compelling look at how a select group of talented, dedicated people can accomplish the extraordinary in space.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to Giles Brown of Talk Radio Europe about my book. The full interview is available at https://audioboom.com/posts/8951014-peter-bond-out-of-this-world-life-as-an-astronaut-with-tre-s-giles-brown 

I also had great fun speaking to Mark Lynch of WICN radio in Massachusetts. The podcast is available at https://wicn.org/podcast/peter-bond-out-of-this-world/   

‘The book is an impressive accomplishment – an incredibly comprehensive and detailed, yet compact, account of human spaceflight. I was moved by the attention to detail, especially in the accounts of the tragic accidents and near accidents. Human spaceflight is equally a triumphant example of human creativity and tenacity and of humbling experiences in which lives have been lost and lessons learned to enable the next generation of explorers.’ – Jennifer Fogarty, former Chief Scientist for NASA’s Human Research Program.

‘Out Of This World is a journey across a century of human spaceflight dreams, development and reality, recording both the triumphs and tragedies along the way. An engaging account of the selection, training and experiences of those chosen few who have dared to leave the planet and encountered the challenges of living, working and surviving in the ultimate hostile environment.’ – David J. Shayler, astronautical historian and author.

'Peter Bond has provided an impressive overview of human spaceflight. Rather than pursue the topic on a program-by-program and mission-by-mission basis he first explains how rockets capable of reaching space were developed and then discusses the various aspects of being an astronaut, starting with the selection criteria and then the requisite preparations for flying into space, managing the challenges of living in weightlessness for prolonged periods and, for those fortunate enough to be given the opportunity, performing spacewalks. He then looks back to the Apollo missions and considers the future of human lunar exploration. Finally, he reviews the many risks inherent in spaceflight and how far too many astronauts have paid the ultimate price. Citations to sources are provided throughout and there is a substantial bibliography. The illustrations are in black-and-white. This is an excellent overview for a general readership.' - Astronomy Now.

'Spaceflight may now seem routine, but it remains one of the most dangerous and demanding human endeavours. This book offers a clear-eyed account of what it truly takes to live and work in orbit – from gruelling training and long waits for assignment to everyday routines aboard space stations and moments of sudden crisis. Drawing on over 65 years of human spaceflight and rich with first-hand accounts, it captures the discipline, patience and resilience behind each mission. Illustrated with more than a hundred photographs, it reveals the reality of life beyond Earth – not just the extraordinary feats, but the challenges, teamwork and quiet perseverance behind them. A compelling look at how a select group of talented, dedicated people can accomplish the extraordinary in space.' - World Of Books.