The countdown begins: “Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five . . . ” Astronaut Sunita L. Williams is about to blast off for space. She will live on the International Space Station, or ISS, for six months. As the shuttle Discovery prepares to launch, her best friend and companion, a Jack Russell terrier named Gorby, watches with excitement and sadness. He will miss Suni while she’s away, but he’s happy and excited for her important adventure. He’s determined to make Suni proud of him while she’s in space. However, being good isn’t always easy for Gorby, especially when he’s having one of his many adventures with his friends Coal, Elsie, and Thomas the cat. It’s a good thing Suni is looking down from the ISS, guiding them in the right direction as they learn many lessons. Join Gorby, Coal, Elsie, and Thomas the cat, and more, in these stories that will warm your heart and lift your spirits and bring the wonders of space right into your hands.