Synopsis

Most of humanity's ventures into space have taken place in Low Earth Orbit, a region roughly 120 miles above the planet's surface. For a sum of approximately $20 million, passage aboard the International Space Station – which circles Earth within a band 1,100 miles wide – is attainable. The commercial potential of Low Earth Orbit is substantial, though considerable perils await those who seek to traverse it. Radiation, cosmic rays, and the thousands of pieces of space debris orbiting Earth pose