This work introduces the important emerging space powers of the world. Many of their space programs are little known, but they all play vital roles. Some have quite ambitious goals and are even challenging the leaders in the space community.

Brian Harvey describes the origins of the Japanese space program, from rocket designs based on WW II German U-boats to tiny solid fuel 'pencil' rockets, which led to the launch of the first Japanese satellite in 1970. The next two chapters relate how Japan expanded its space program, developing small satellites into astronomical observatories...