In Spies in the Sky Patrick Norris responds to the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the dawn of the Space Age the launch of Sputnik 1 with a review of the most important historical applications of space science for the benefit of the human race during that half century, focusing particularly on the prevention of nuclear war. The author addresses the oft quoted conclusion that the Moon landings and the 'race to the Moon' between the two superpowers were a side effect of the Cold War, by describing what he believes was the more important event the use of satellites by military to prevent the Cold War becoming a 'hot war'. In developing the story the author casts a spotlight on a little-known aspect of the Space Age, namely the military dimension. Today military satellites represent 25 percent of all satellites in orbit, and they are just as important now in preventing regional nuclear war as they were in preventing global Armageddon more than 30 years ago.

Tells the story of the single most important contribution which satellites have made to humankind in the 50 years since the launch of Sputnik 1 Provides a different approach to the anniversary of the dawn of the Space Age to existing books Focuses on a little-known aspect of the Space Age, namely the military dimension Combines history, politics, defence studies, science, technology and human interest in a novel way

Autorentext

Pat Norris's 50 years of space experience includes the Apollo Moon landings as a NASA contractor and the Hubble Space Telescope as a European Space Agency programme manager. Since 1980, he has worked for CGI, and he is currently a part-time consultant to its Space Business Unit. He was Chairman of the trade association of Britain's space industry, Ukspace, from 1995 to 1997 and Chairman of the Space Group of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) from 2004 to 2012. He is the author of two books on space surveillance as well as many articles, book chapters and conference presentations on all aspects of space. He is a Fellow of the RAeS and of the Royal Institute of Navigation, as well as a Senior Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics. He was awarded the Apollo Individual Achievement Award in 1969 and the Sir Arthur Clarke Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

Inhalt
Sputnik.- After 50 yearssatellites in our daily lives.- Cold War nuclear stand-off.- Spy satellites.- Problems of verifying an Arms Limitation Treaty.- The road to SALT-I.- SALT-II.- The other Cold War nuclear powersChina, the UK, France.- After the Cold Warregional tensions.- What the future holds.