The book is dedicated to the history of the development of domestic and foreign military astronautics. The author talks in a popular way about little-known aspects of space exploration. The reader learns about the first projects of space engines and ships, about the numerous difficulties that humanity had to overcome on the way to the unknown; get acquainted with the first, sometimes fantastic doctrines of the exploration and use of near-Earth and outer space, with the design of the first spacecraft, manned and unmanned, and much more. The book is addressed to everyone who is interested in space exploration, rocket science and military technology.