In the 1960s and 1970s deep space missions were dispatched in pairs in case one was lost in launch or failed during its journey. Following the triumphs of the Viking landings on Mars in 1976 and both Voyagers spacecraft successfully surveying the outer giant planets of the Solar System, it was decided by NASA to cut costs and send out just a single probe.
Although Magellan successfully mapped Venus by radar, it suffered from problems during the flight. Then came the loss of Mars Observer, whose engine exploded as it was preparing to enter Mars orbit because it was using technology...
In the 1960s and 1970s deep space missions were dispatched in pairs in case one was lost in launch or failed during its journey. Following the triu...
This book tells the story of the Soviet and Russian lunar programme, from its origins to the present-day federal Russian space programme. Brian Harvey describes the techniques devised by the USSR for lunar landing, from the LK lunar module to the LOK lunar orbiter and versions tested in Earth s orbit. He asks whether these systems would have worked and examines how well they were tested. He concludes that political mismanagement rather than technology prevented the Soviet Union from landing cosmonauts on the moon. The book is well timed for the return to the moon by the United States and...
This book tells the story of the Soviet and Russian lunar programme, from its origins to the present-day federal Russian space programme. Brian Har...
Many readers will doubtless be astonished to learn that animals were being fired aloft in U.S. and Soviet research rockets in the late 1940s. In fact most people not only believe that the Russian space dog Laika was the first canine to be launched into space, but also that the high-profile, precursory Mercury flights of chimps Ham and Enos were the only primate flights conducted by the United States. In fact, both countries had sent literally dozens of animals aloft for many years prior to these events and continued to do so for many years after. Other latter-day space nations, such as...
Many readers will doubtless be astonished to learn that animals were being fired aloft in U.S. and Soviet research rockets in the late 1940s. In fa...
Russia s accomplishments in planetary space exploration were not achieved easily. Formerly, the USSR experienced frustration in trying to tame unreliable Molniya and Proton upper stages and in tracking spacecraft over long distances. This book will assess the scientific haul of data from the Venus and Mars missions and look at the engineering approaches. The USSR developed several generations of planetary probes: from MV and Zond to the Phobos type. The engineering techniques used and the science packages are examined, as well as the nature of the difficulties encountered which ruined...
Russia s accomplishments in planetary space exploration were not achieved easily. Formerly, the USSR experienced frustration in trying to tame unre...
"Bulging with concise explanations and 142 clarifying diagrams and photos, the book probably represents some of the best pedagogy in the solar system on these topics. just the right level for most undergraduates. Open-minded scientists looking for an authoritative tour of astrobiology will enjoy the book . The author s summary of exoplanet detection techniques is excellent . Jones keeps us interested with simple explanations . His approach is quite an achievement . " (Charley Lineweaver, Physics Today, February, 2005).
"This is a textbook suitable for...
From the reviews:
"Bulging with concise explanations and 142 clarifying diagrams and photos, the book probably represents some of the best ...
A unified treatment of the various techniques used for distance determination. The text begins by describing methods to measure distances on Earth, then gradually climbs the "distance ladder" to enable us to estimate the distance to the farthest objects, ending with a discussion of particle horizons within an expanding and inflationary universe. Aimed at first-year astronomy and astrophysics undergraduates, the book emphasises general physical principles rather than mathematical detail, and is enhanced and complemented by many worked examples, questions and problem-solving exercises at the...
A unified treatment of the various techniques used for distance determination. The text begins by describing methods to measure distances on Earth, th...
The development of the space industry in the Asian and Pacific Rim region provides the context for this book. The two major countries hoping for leadership in the area (apart from China) are Japan and India, both of whom have significant launcher capabilities. There is a general introductory chapter which places the space programmes of the region in the comparative context of the other space-faring nations of the world. The author reviews the main space programmes of Japan and India in turn, concentrating on their origins, the development of launcher and space facilities, scientific and...
The development of the space industry in the Asian and Pacific Rim region provides the context for this book. The two major countries hoping for leade...
This non-technical and well illustrated book tells the story of what was accomplished during the Shuttle-Mir programme by three of the astronauts. Based on interviews granted to the author by the astronauts, the book describes the experiments they took and the lessons they learned. In doing so it provides a unique insight into how adversity and challenges can be overcome in the process of exploration, making it ideally suited to those planning space missions of a long-duration. Amongst the topics covered are: growing food in space, curing disease with space crystals, and lessons learned form...
This non-technical and well illustrated book tells the story of what was accomplished during the Shuttle-Mir programme by three of the astronauts. Bas...
