This fascinating book is a detailed history of unmanned missions that have explored our solar system. The subject is treated wherever possible from an engineering and scientific standpoint and includes technical descriptions of the spacecraft, their mission designs and their instrumentations.

Provides a comprehensive review of the exploration of the Solar System

Focusing on the technology of the robotic space probes that made it possible

Including missions which for a variety of reasons were never completed

The 3-volume series will provide comprehensive coverage with thousands of references to the professional literature that should make it the 'first port of call' for people seeking information on the topic Emphasises the technology of space probes Comprehensive coverage ranges from the earliest planetary probes to the most recent planetary flights and missions Provides multilingual references (including Chinese, Russian, Czech, French, Italian) Details many unflown and unfulfilled missions, which may still be proven and useful in the future Describes the technical rivalry between the US and Soviet Union in the development of launchers

Autorentext

Paolo Ulivi was born in Florence, Italy and graduated from the Politecnico di Milano University with a thesis on robotics for Mars sample return missions. He works as a consultant in aerospace structures in Toulouse, France. In his free time, he researches the history of astronautics, astronomy, aeronautics and the Cold War. He is also an amateur astronomer and specializes in Solar System observations. David Harland studied astronomy to degree level, and pursued a career lecturing in computer science, and academic and industrial research. In 1995, David "retired" to resume his interest in space and started to write. He has over two dozen books published to date, a majority of them with Springer/Praxis and several others under contract. These days he considers himself to be an amateur hermit and a professional space historian.

Klappentext

Provides a comprehensive review of the exploration of the Solar System Focusing on the technology of the robotic space probes that made it possible Including missions which - for a variety of reasons - were never completed

Inhalt
Introduction.- The beginning.- Of landers and orbiters.- The grandest tour.- Acronyms.- Glossary.- Appendices.- Chapter references.- Further reading.- Index.