From the Earth to the Moon tells the story of the Baltimore Gun Club, a post-American Civil War society of weapons enthusiasts, and their attempts to build an enormous sky-facing space gun and launch three people in a projectile with the goal of a moon landing. The story focuses on the funding and construction of the gun and the projectile, and concludes with the moon launch. Around the Moon was written five years after From the Earth to the Moon because of a public outcry. The first novel left the reader in suspense after three astronauts were launched into space. The story follows their adventures as they race towards the Moon, and embark on new discoveries. However, a chance encounter with an asteroid puts their lives in jeopardy, forcing the three friends to fight for their very survival.