Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky: The Pioneering Rocket Scientist and His Cosmic Philosophy

How did such an intellectual giant spring up out of nowhere? Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky was the founder of Russian astrophysics and cosmonautics. He was a self-taught scientist, inventor, schoolteacher, philosopher and science fiction writer. He lost his hearing at age 10; he struggled in obscurity, earning a living as a school teacher; while he was in his prime the Soviet Revolution changed his world - but nothing stopped him from achieving his life's purpose.

Historian and biographer Dan Shubin presents Tsiolkovsky's life story and a selection of his compositions including autobiographical notes, his cosmic and political philosophy, and his science fiction writings.