Frontiers of Space Exploration - 2nd Edition,Annotated by Roger D Launius (Hardcover)

About the Book

Since the first rocket-technology experiments of the early 20th century, space exploration has captivated the world. Recent advances and setbacks have included the new discoveries from the Galileo mission, the Mars Global Surveyor's revelation that water once existed on the Red Planet, the International Space Station, the advent of space tourism, and the devastating Space Shuttle disasters. This one-stop guide to space exploration provides a wealth of information for student researchers.

A substantial 'Chronology of Events' and a narrative history outline the key events and people in the progression of space research and activity. Five topical essays--including a look at the Space Shuttle--examine several significant issues related to the politics and technology of space exploration from an international perspective. These chapters elucidate several sets of documents that give shape and substance to the larger story. Primary documents in this volume are organized by theme and represent the variety of materials available to anyone seeking a better understanding of the rise of space exploration. Also included are biographical sketches of key people associated with space flight, a listing of the human space flight missions undertaken since 1961, and an annotated bibliography of additional reading.

Book Synopsis

Since the first rocket-technology experiments of the early 20th century, space exploration has captivated the world. Recent advances and setbacks have included the new discoveries from the Galileo mission, the Mars Global Surveyor's revelation that water once existed on the Red Planet, the International Space Station, the advent of space tourism, and the devastating Space Shuttle disasters. This one-stop guide to space exploration provides a wealth of information for student researchers.

A substantial 'Chronology of Events' and a narrative history outline the key events and people in the progression of space research and activity. Five topical essays--including a look at the Space Shuttle--examine several significant issues related to the politics and technology of space exploration from an international perspective. These chapters elucidate several sets of documents that give shape and substance to the larger story. Primary documents in this volume are organized by theme and represent the variety of materials available to anyone seeking a better understanding of the rise of space exploration. Also included are biographical sketches of key people associated with space flight, a listing of the human space flight missions undertaken since 1961, and an annotated bibliography of additional reading.

Review Quotes

?After a short chronology of space events, Launius, a noted space historian, reviews in five sections the history of space exploration, covers the moon race, points out facets of space exploration (with special attention to the Hubble Space Telescope), and then describes our space shuttle and the international efforts that led to the sequence of Soviet space stations and the international space station....Recommended. Professionals.?-Choice

?Starred Review This is an excellent one-volume overview of space exploration suitable for the high school library, authored by the former chief historian for NASA....This is a first-rate resource on space exploration for school libraries needing a reasonably priced volume on the topic. Highly recommended.?-Library Media Connection

?This is a worthwhile update for libraries that need a good overview of the history of manned space flight in one source, particularly useful for public and high-school libraries.?-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

?This one-stop guide to space exploration provides a wealth of information for student researchers....This is a useful source of reference and is a nice overview of historical background to the development of space exploration over 80 years.?-Spaceflight

?This reference guide to space exploration provides a wealth of information for student researchers.?-Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin

?[A]n acceptable reference work.?-SB&F

?[A]n acceptable reference work.?- SB& F

"Starred Review This is an excellent one-volume overview of space exploration suitable for the high school library, authored by the former chief historian for NASA....This is a first-rate resource on space exploration for school libraries needing a reasonably priced volume on the topic. Highly recommended."-Library Media Connection

"This is a worthwhile update for libraries that need a good overview of the history of manned space flight in one source, particularly useful for public and high-school libraries."-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

"This one-stop guide to space exploration provides a wealth of information for student researchers....This is a useful source of reference and is a nice overview of historical background to the development of space exploration over 80 years."-Spaceflight

"This reference guide to space exploration provides a wealth of information for student researchers."-Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin

"After a short chronology of space events, Launius, a noted space historian, reviews in five sections the history of space exploration, covers the moon race, points out facets of space exploration (with special attention to the Hubble Space Telescope), and then describes our space shuttle and the international efforts that led to the sequence of Soviet space stations and the international space station....Recommended. Professionals."-Choice

About the Author

ROGER D. LAUNIUS is chair of the Division of Space History of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. He has written or edited several books on aerospace history, including Space Stations: Base Camps to the Stars (2003), To Reach the High Frontier: A History of U.S. Launch Vehicles, with Dennis R. Jenkins (2002), Imagining Space: Achievements, Predictions, Possibilities, 1950-2050, with Howard E. McCurdy (2001), and Innovation and the Development of Flight (1999).