Planetary Landers and Entry Probes [Hardcover]

Andrew Ball (Author), James Garry (Author), Ralph Lorenz (Author), Viktor Kerzhanovich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 11, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0521820022 | ISBN-13: 978-0521820028 | Edition: 1

This book provides a concise but broad overview of the engineering, science and flight history of planetary landers and atmospheric entry probes designed to explore the atmospheres and surfaces of other planets. It covers engineering aspects specific to such vehicles which are not usually treated in traditional spacecraft engineering texts. Examples are drawn from over thirty different lander and entry probe designs that have been used for lunar and planetary missions since the early 1960s. The authors provide detailed illustrations of many vehicle designs from different international space programs, and give basic information on their missions and payloads, irrespective of the mission's success or failure. Several missions are discussed in more detail to demonstrate the broad range of the challenges involved and the solutions implemented. This will form an important reference for professionals, academic researchers and graduate students involved in planetary science, aerospace engineering and space mission development.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is the most complete general introduction to spacecraft designed to probe, land or penetrate into solar system objects other than the Earth.... One surprising result of reading the book is to realize the large number of missions that have been launched -- about a hundred. The book is an excellent history of what (hopefully) will be considered to be the early years of space travel."
Publisher Review

Book Description

This is a concise, broad overview of the engineering, science and history of planetary landers and atmospheric entry probes designed to explore the atmospheres and surfaces of other planets. This will form an important reference for professionals, researchers and graduate students in planetary science, aerospace engineering and space mission development.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 362 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1 edition (June 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521820022
• ISBN-13: 978-0521820028
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,410,249 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Planetary Landers and Entry Probes, July 25, 2011

By 

F Robert - See all my reviews

This review is from: Planetary Landers and Entry Probes (Paperback)

This is one of the most amazing and exciting books of any kind I've encountered. Where else will you experience with the authors designing a parachute to deploy at hypersonic speed in an atmosphere of uncertain composition at a temperature of approximately -300F, or designing a spacecraft/lander to keep its electronics at workable temperatures in the transition from radiative cooling of space to the convective cooling of an atmosphere, at such temperatures? The book ranges widely in subjects, as the skills of mission planners and designers must, and expresses complex subjects in a very accessible and often enthralling way.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book about space with real engineering content, January 14, 2008

By 

C. Pollard "aplguy" (CO) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Planetary Landers and Entry Probes (Hardcover)

One of the few books about aerospace engineering that talks in detail about how real spacecraft were engineered.