[1] This is followed by a recounting of the Space Race of the middle of the 20th century, driven by fierce superpower rivalry between the United States and the former Soviet Union.

[3] The second section of the book considered the recent doldrums of NASA, where the United States has been unable to launch an astronaut into orbit for over five years.

[5] In addition, there is an enormous amount of habitable real estate revealed by discoveries of extrasolar planets, but the difficulty of traveling beyond the Solar System will keep this beyond reach for a long time.

Beyond was a starred selection by Publishers Weekly,[9] with a review that concludes "With vivid writing that skillfully walks the line between visionary and pragmatic, Impey finds equal opportunity for both humans and robotic explorers on a journey that could not only teach us about new worlds, but how to be better caretakers of this one."

[11] Noted astronomer and science popularizer Neil deGrasse Tyson said "Chris Impey manages to rejuvenate the 'Space is Our Future' feeling that pervaded human culture half a century ago."

Poet and write Diane Ackerman also endorsed the book, saying "Impey’s space-faring vision really shines in this captivating tour of the deepest past and the distant future.