klaes@mtwain.dec.com (CUP/ML, MLO5-2/G1 8A, 223-3283) (01/20/89)
For the person who requested some information on the history
of planetary exploration by space probes, I recommend the following
works, categorized in three groups: General overviews, specific books
on particular space missions, and periodical sources on space probes.
This list is by no means complete; it is primarily designed to give
you places to start your research through generally available works
on the subject. If anyone can add pertinent works to the list, it
would be greatly appreciated.
Though naturally I recommend all the books listed below, I think
it would be best if you started out with the general overview books,
in order to give you a clear idea of the history of space exploration
in this area. I also recommend that you pick up some good, up-to-date
general works on astronomy and the Sol system, to give you some extra
background. Most of these books and periodicals can be found in any
good public and university library. Some of the more recently published
works can also be purchased in and/or ordered through any good mass-
market bookstore.
General Overviews (in alphabetical order by author):
Merton E. Davies and Bruce C. Murray, THE VIEW FROM SPACE:
PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPLORATION OF THE PLANETS, 1971
Kenneth Gatland et al, THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY,
1981
Kenneth Gatland, ROBOT EXPLORERS, 1972
Clayton R. Koppes, JPL AND THE AMERICAN SPACE PROGRAM: A
HISTORY OF THE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY, 1982
Arthur Smith, PLANETARY EXPLORATION: THIRTY YEARS OF UNMANNED
SPACE PROBES, 1988
Carl Sagan, PLANETS, 1969 (LIFE Science Library)
Andrew Wilson, (JANE'S) SOLAR SYSTEM LOG, 1987
Specific Mission References:
Charles A. Cross and Patrick Moore, THE ATLAS OF MERCURY, 1977
(The MARINER 10 mission to Venus and Mercury, 1973-1975)
Joel Davis, FLYBY: THE INTERPLANETARY ODYSSEY OF VOYAGER 2, 1987
Irl Newlan, FIRST TO VENUS: THE STORY OF MARINER 2, 1963
Margaret Poynter and Arthur L. Lane, VOYAGER: THE STORY OF A
SPACE MISSION, 1984
Carl Sagan, MURMURS OF EARTH, 1978 (Deals with the Earth
information records placed on VOYAGER 1 and 2 in case the
probes are found by intelligences in interstellar space,
as well as the probes and planetary mission objectives
themselves.)
Other works and periodicals:
NASA has published very detailed and technical books on every
space probe mission it has launched. Good university libraries will
carry these books, and they are easily found simply by knowing which
mission you wish to read about. I recommend these works after you
first study some of the books listed above.
Some periodicals I recommend for reading on space probes are
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, which has written articles on the PIONEER probes
to Earth's Moon Luna and the Jovian planets Jupiter and Saturn, the
RANGER, SURVEYOR, LUNAR ORBITER, and APOLLO missions to Luna, the
MARINER missions to Mercury, Venus, and Mars, the VIKING probes to
Mars, and the VOYAGER missions to Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus (and
soon Neptune).
More details on American, Soviet, European, and Japanese probe
missions can be found in SKY AND TELESCOPE, ASTRONOMY, and SCIENTIFIC
AMERICAN magazines. TIME, NEWSWEEK, and various major newspapers can
supply not only general information on certain missions, but also show
you what else was going on with Earth at the time events were unfolding,
if that is of interest to you. Space missions are affected by numerous
political and economic factors, as you no doubt know.
Depending on just how far your interest in space probes will
go, you might also wish to join The Planetary Society, one of the
largest space groups in the world dedicated to planetary exploration.
Their periodical, THE PLANETARY REPORT, details the latest space
probe missions. Membership in the Society is $20 yearly for U.S.
citizens. Write to The Planetary Society, 65 North Catalina Avenue,
Pasadena, California 91106 USA.
Good luck with your studies in this area of space exploration.
I personally find planetary missions to be one of the more exciting
areas in this field, and the benefits human society has and will
receive from it are incredible, with many yet to be realized.
Larry Klaesdalex@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Dave Alexander) (01/21/89)
In article <8901200053.AA23790@decwrl.dec.com> klaes@mtwain.dec.com (CUP/ML, MLO5-2/G1 8A, 223-3283) writes: > Space missions are affected by numerous political and economic > factors, as you no doubt know. If this is a particular interest, let me recommend "...the Heavens and the Earth: A Political History of the Space Age" I believe that the author's name is Patrick Houghton. It discusses the political factors that helped to shape the development of the space age, looking at both the military and civilian aspects of the American space program. Most of the information is about the American space program, with some speculation about what was happening in the U.S.S.R. The time period begins with WWII. It told me a lot about the origins of the arms race as well as the space program. I recommend it highly to anyone curious about either. -- Dave Alexander -- "Experience has proved that some people indeed know everything." -- Russell Baker
henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) (01/23/89)
I'm amazed at the omission of Oran W. Nicks's "Far Travelers", NASA SP-480, which is a history of NASA's unmanned planetary exploration by the man who was in charge of most of it. -- Allegedly heard aboard Mir: "A | Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology toast to comrade Van Allen!!" | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu