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Nancy Atkinson
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Incredible Stories from Space: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Missions Changing Our View of the Cosmos Paperback – December 20, 2016

by Nancy Atkinson (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 40 ratings
See all formats and editions
Experience the Amazing Journeys to Explore the Universe

In Incredible Stories from Space, veteran space journalist Nancy Atkinson shares compelling insights from over 35 NASA scientists and engineers, taking readers behind the scenes of the robotic missions that are transforming our understanding of the solar system and beyond. Weaving together one-on-one interviews along with the extraordinary sagas of the spacecraft themselves, this book chronicles the struggles and triumphs of nine current space missions and captures the true spirit of exploration and discovery. Full color images throughout reveal scientific discoveries and the stunning, breathtaking views of our universe, sent back to Earth by our robotic emissaries to the cosmos.

-Travel along with the first mission to Pluto
-Explore Mars alongside the Curiosity Rover
-Join the unprecedented hunt for extrasolar planets
-Unlock the mysteries of the cosmos with the iconic Hubble Space Telescope
-Discover the latest findings in our solar system
-See the future of space exploration with a preview of upcoming missions
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  1. Print length
    224 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Page Street Publishing
  4. Publication date
    December 20, 2016
  5. Dimensions
    6.08 x 0.62 x 9.03 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1624143172
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1624143175
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Atkinson's approach is genuine, informed and enthusiastic, and her expertise shines on each page." -- Dave Eicher, Astronomy Magazine

"Famedspace writer Nancy Atkinson takes us on an in-depth journey of the most famous missions to explore the Solar System, including the people behind them, the science they uncovered and the stories of the worlds we've visited. This is an insider's look at how it all comes together. -- Ethan Seigal, Forbes

"The latest generation of space explorers aren't being born, they are being built. Nancy Atkinson introduces you to a handful of these rising stars, and tells their stories through detailed interviews and an engrossing personal narrative. Make her passion your own, and travel between the planets inside these pages." --- Dr. Pamela Gay, Astronomy Cast

"Incredible stories are indeed coming from space these days, but as Nancy Atkinson delightfully shows, the most incredible stories are of the people on the ground who send these robot emissaries on their missions. Atkinson weaves together their stories with the scientific discoveries in a virtually complete who's-who (and what's-what) of our presence beyond Earth." -- Mike Brown, Caltech astronomer and author of How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming

From the Author

"While human spaceflight is certainly compelling - and it has alwaysbeen a big part of my reporting career -- there is something about uncrewed, robotic spacecraft that has always tugged at my heart. These machines are our emissaries out into the cosmos, flung to faraway places that humans can't yet visit. I grew up hearing about spacecraft like Mariner, Viking and Voyager boldly going on some of the first-ever deepspace missions and making monumental discoveries that changed our viewof the Solar System. They showed us worlds we previously could onlydream about and artists could only imagine."-- from Incredible Stories From Space

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Page Street Publishing (December 20, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1624143172
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1624143175
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.06 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.08 x 0.62 x 9.03 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 40 ratings

About the author

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Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson

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Nancy Atkinson is a science journalist and author with a passion for telling the stories of people involved in space exploration and astronomy. She writes for Universe Today, The Planetary Society and Ad Astra, and her new book about the Apollo Program, "Eight Years to the Moon: The History of the Apollo Missions,” shares the untold stories of engineers and scientists who helped make the Apollo program so successful, despite the daunting odds against it.

Her first book “Incredible Stories From Space: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Missions Changing Our View of the Cosmos” (2016) tells the stories of 37 scientists and engineers that work on several current NASA robotic missions to explore the solar system and beyond.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
40 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the detailed descriptions and aspects of space exploration. Readers describe it as an informative and interesting read, with gorgeous pictures and high-quality printing. The stories are described as fascinating and inspiring.

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PacingReadabilityVisual qualityStory quality
7 customers mention "Pacing"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging with its well-described robotics in space. They appreciate the writing level that captures their attention without being overly technical. The stories are detailed, informative, and inspiring. The author does a fantastic job relating unknown details and aspects of space exploration. They appreciate her knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject.

"...learn about what is going on with robotics in space and this book really describes it well. Great job Nancy!!" Read more

"The author does a fantastic job relating unknown details and aspects of space exploration that many of us wish we had at our own fingertips...." Read more

"...The stories are interesting, detailed, informative and inspiring. Like all her writing!" Read more

"...It is well written and very readable." Read more

7 customers mention "Readability"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it interesting and informative, even for non-space enthusiasts.

"This book was so informative that even I as non-space person loved it! This book should be in every Jr.high and high school library...." Read more

"...A worthwhile read!" Read more

"Excellent book! I recommend it to anyone who has interest or curiosity in space. It is well written and very readable." Read more

"Great read. I enjoyed the behind the scenes look at some of my favorite probes." Read more

5 customers mention "Visual quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's visual quality. They find the pictures gorgeous and the printing high-quality, especially nice for a softbound book.

"...It captures the imagination with it's amazing pictures...." Read more

"...missions from Ms. Atkinson's great experience, is a wonderful look at all of the pieces that go into space missions...." Read more

"Great book full of anecdotes, stories, and gorgeous pictures. High quality printing, especially nice and sturdy for a soft bound book." Read more

"Amazing Book, well written and lots of great images." Read more

3 customers mention "Story quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the stories interesting, detailed, and inspiring. They say each chapter is more fascinating than the last.

"...The stories are interesting, detailed, informative and inspiring. Like all her writing!" Read more

"Great book full of anecdotes, stories, and gorgeous pictures. High quality printing, especially nice and sturdy for a soft bound book." Read more

"Absolutely fascinating. Every chapter more interesting than the last." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • BB
    5.0 out of 5 stars This needs to be in all schools!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This book was so informative that even I as non-space person loved it! This book should be in every Jr.high and high school library. It captures the imagination with it's amazing pictures. So much to learn about what is going on with robotics in space and this book really describes it well. Great job Nancy!!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • John A. Jaksich
    5.0 out of 5 stars Close-up Look at Space Exploration
    Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    The author does a fantastic job relating unknown details and aspects of space exploration that many of us wish we had at our own fingertips. Ms. Atkinson is well known for her collaborations Universetoday.com. She draws upon her wealth of experience to give the reader a unique perspective of the multifaceted robotic missions. A worthwhile read!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Barnard Rollit
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Golden Age of Space Robots?
    Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2017
    Amazon Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
    While the title is a bit hyperbolic, the book is a solid work of journalism covering the major unmanned US space mission currently or at least recently underway. It kicks off with New Horizon, a good choice, providing some easy to digest information and insight into what it took to get to Pluto and what was found there; I admit I do find it kind of incredible that, well within my lifetime, space exploration went from gaining Earth orbit to reaching a world that, whether a proper planet or not, once upon a time defined the outer limit of our solar system. The reporting then moves on to the superstar Martian rover, Curiosity, followed by the remarkable Hubble space telescope and…well, you get the drift. The overall package delivers a pretty good picture of where we are right now in these endeavors, and in that respect it is very useful as a topical reference. This use will be transitory, of course, as the material will soon, inevitably, become dated. Still, we are in quite a moment in the history of such programs, and that deserves an accessible record like this.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Mel Powell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Space Missions Are More Than Just The Spacecraft
    Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    The book, covering a wide range of space missions from Ms. Atkinson's great experience, is a wonderful look at all of the pieces that go into space missions. Very fast read; I wish there'd been even more. If you have a chance to hear Ms. Atkinson discuss the book and the missions, as she did on The Planetary Society's Planetary Radio show, don't miss it.
    One person found this helpful
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  • SFfreak
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome inside scoop!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Nancy Atkinson gives a readers a backstage pass to their favorite missions, providing them with an insider look at space exploration in a way that only she can! The stories are interesting, detailed, informative and inspiring. Like all her writing!
    One person found this helpful
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  • D14
    5.0 out of 5 stars Update your understanding of the solar system and beyond!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent book! I recommend it to anyone who has interest or curiosity in space. It is well written and very readable.
    One person found this helpful
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  • AZ Astronomer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great "table" book on space activities!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Disclaimer: Nancy is a friend of mine. If you want a great, easy read that covers "highlights" of modern space exploration, order this book! The writing level captures attention, without being overly technical. A great "coffee table" book to go along with "Your Ticket to The Universe" by Watzke & Arcand.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Mark W. Gagermeier
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read. I enjoyed the behind the scenes look ...
    Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Great read. I enjoyed the behind the scenes look at some of my favorite probes.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • SFfreak
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nancy gets it!
    Reviewed in Canada on July 21, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    In this book, Nancy Atkinson takes us behind the scenes at NASA to see how engineers and science teams make the famed robotic missions work. There are many unsung heroes who play a vital role in space exploration and the breakthroughs it provides. Through a combination of in-depth interviews, inside stories, and detailed descriptions, Nancy provides us with a peek behind the curtain and lets us know how the "sausage is made" (so to speak)!
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  • Gethyn Jones
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 31, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I learned so much by reading this book! So much of our success in planetary exploration is woefully under-reported in the mainstream media. This engaging and readble book by a veteran space journalist is a godsend. Highly recommended!
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