Author and astronaut Chris Hadfield presents this thriller and "thrilling journey" into the dark heart of the Cold War space race. 1973. The last, top-secret mission to the moon. Three astronauts on a tiny spaceship, a quarter of a million miles from home. A quarter of a million miles from help. NASA is about to launch Apollo 18. The mission was billed as scientific, but flight controller Kaz Zemeckis knows there is a hidden purpose. Intelligence has discovered a secret spy satellite, and Apollo 18 has the only chance to destroy it. Kaz fights tooth and nail to keep the NASA crew one step ahead of their rivals, but an accident reveals that not everyone in the program is the right one. who they were mistaken for. When the political stakes reach critical levels, the White House and the Kremlin can only watch as their astronauts collide on the lunar surface, far beyond the reach of the law or rescuers. Full of the fascinating technical details that fans of The Martian loved, and reminiscent of the thrilling claustrophobia , the plot twists and suspense of The Hunt for Red October, Orbit of Death is a high-stakes thriller unlike any other. Chris Hadfield captures the furious g-forces of launch, the icy loneliness of space and the fear of leaving a spacecraft orbiting the Earth at 17,000 miles per hour as only someone who has experienced it in real life can. Buckle up and start the countdown! Commander Hadfield takes us on an exciting journey into an alternate past. No one can write better about astronauts than the astronaut himself!” – Andy Weir “This book is not to be missed. Chris Hadfield's novel has an authenticity because everything he describes is something he actually saw." – Frederick Forsyth “Orbit of Death is a gripping techno-thriller mystery written by a man who has been in space himself and has a keen understanding of the details of that activity. If you're bored of reading memoirs, but want to learn more about astronautics from half a century ago, then Hadfield's book is for you. The main thing is to remember that this is still fiction!” – Anton Pervushin “The novel has something for everyone. Daring space flight, political intrigue, spy thriller and good old humor - all this in one exciting story! – Space Explored “Hadfield uses his experience as an astronaut to add authenticity and realism to his novel. Fans of Clive Cussler and Andy Weir will love this book, which combines military science fiction, mystery and techno-thriller." – Library Journal