A History of Space Exploration [Hardcover]

Tim Furniss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2006

The launch of the first rocket in 1926 led to the development of the first long-range missile - the A4, renamed V2 - fired in anger during the Second World War. The technology had advanced by 1957, to enable the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) to be developed. This missile formed the basis of the first launch vehicle to carry a satellite, Sputnik 1, into orbit, marking the beginning of the Space Age. Since then the Moon, all the planets in the solar system except Pluto, and an asteroid and a comet have been explored by spacecraft. Since the Space Age began, twelve men have walked on the Moon, and over 400 people have experienced space travel. Satellites now provide the world with a range of services from environmental monitoring to mobile phone calls. Space station operations have become routine. The Hubble Space Telescope has enabled astronomers to peer 12 billion years into the past and to take their first look at a black hole. What else will be achieved in the coming decades, as space exploration takes on a new momentum?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

TIM FURNISS wrote his first book in 1970, and has since written more than 30 titles. He covered the launches of Apollo 15 and several Shuttle missions from the Kennedy Space Center, and in 1988 was one of the first journalists to report on the launch of cosmonauts from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. In 1994, he joined the Space Shuttle crew of mission STS 62 during their training, including launch and landing simulations.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Mercury Books (November 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1904668151
• ISBN-13: 978-1904668152
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,307,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good, January 9, 2007

By 

David Cornell (Michigan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A History of Space Exploration (Hardcover)

This book is very informative. It has detailed information on not only the U.S. space program but also on the Soviet program as well. One of the best books I ever read on the subject.

5.0 out of 5 stars From rockets to Mars - and beyond!, March 11, 2006

By 

D. Donovan, Editor/Sr. Reviewer "California B... (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of Space Exploration (Hardcover)

The story of space exploration and its future comes to life in a visual treat which follows space technology and discoveries from the first rocket in 1926 to modern times. Each technological advancement is linked to both space exploration advancement and, in turn, to other effects on human achievement. The vintage and contemporary photos, charts, and visuals provide a powerful timeline of events which lend to leisure browsing and interest, backed by facts suitable for reports.

5.0 out of 5 stars A sweeping historical summary of man's efforts to better understand the universe beyond the confines of the earth, March 6, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of Space Exploration (Hardcover)

Featuring color photography on almost every page (and a handful of vintage black-and-white photos), A History Of Space Exploration And Its Future is a sweeping historical summary of man's efforts to better understand the universe beyond the confines of the earth. From early spacefaring crafts to the birth of the space shuttle to the all-too-worrisome modern problem of space debris orbiting the earth, to the latest discoveries of other planets, comets, and stars, A History Of Space Exploration is thoroughly accessible to the lay reader yet sweeping in its wealth of detail. Highly recommended.