A NASA insider tells the exciting story of robotic space missions to explore the solar system. Exploring the planets has been a goal of America's space program since the dawn of the space race. This insider's perspective examines incredible missions of robotic spacecraft to every corner of our solar system and beyond. Some were flown into glory, while others were planned and relegated to dusty filing cabinets. All were remarkable in their aspirations. Award-winning science writer Rod Pyle profiles both the remarkable spacecraft and the amazing scientists and engineers who made them possible. From the earliest sprints past Venus and Mars to Voyager1's current explorations of the space between the stars, this exciting book sheds new light on ever-more ambitious journeys designed to increase the human reach into the solar system. Drawing on his perspective as a writer for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, ground zero for NASA's planetary exploration, the author further details plans now in development to look for signs of life on Jupiter's moon Europa, submarines that will dive into the hazy hydrocarbon lakes of Saturn's moon Titan, and intelligent spacecraft that will operate for months without human intervention on Mars and in the outer solar system well into the 2030s. Equally compelling are programs of exploration that were considered but never left the drawing board, such as automobile-sized biology laboratories designed for a Mars landing in the 1960s and plans to detonate atomic bombs on the moon. Complemented by many rarely-seen photos and illustrations, these stories of incredible engineering achievements, daring imaginations, and technological genius will fascinate and inspire.
A NASA insider tells the exciting story of robotic space missions to explore the solar system.About the AuthorRod Pyle is the author of the widely acclaimed
Amazing Stores of the Space Age;
Curiosity- An Inside Look at the Mars Rover Mission and the People Who Made It Happen; and
Destination Mars--called "the best recent overview of Mars missions" by the
Washington Post. Other books include
Destination Moon, Missions to the Moon, Mars- Making Contact, Blueprint for a Battlestar, and
Innovation the NASA Way. He has produced numerous documentaries for the History Channel and Discovery Communications, including the widely praised
Beyond the War of the Worlds and
Modern Marvels- Apollo 11. Pyle has been an assistant professor at the University of La Verne and a lecturer with NASA's Johnson Space Center, and creates award-winning media for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Book InformationISBN 9781633885028
Author Rod PyleFormat Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Prometheus BooksPublisher Prometheus Books