Dreams of Other Worlds: The Amazing Story of Unmanned Space Exploration

Description

Describes the unmanned space missions that have opened windows on distant worlds. Spanning four decades of dramatic advances in astronomy and planetary science, this book tells the story of eleven iconic exploratory missions and how they have fundamentally transformed our scientific and cultural perspectives on the universe and our place in it.

Chris Impey is University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Arizona. His books include "The Living Cosmos", "How It Ends", and "How It Began". Holly Henry is professor of English at California State University, San Bernardino. She is the author of "Virginia Woolf and the Discourse of Science: The Aesthetics of Astronomy".

"Dreams of Other Worlds synthesizes that knowledge as it has been derived from unmanned spacecraft in the half-century since NASA was founded in 1958... One of the strengths of Dreams of Other Worlds is its discussion of how the data generated by any given mission continues to produce results long after the mission ends... An account of a magnificent panorama of knowledge."--Konstantin Kakaes, Wall Street Journal "Refreshing... [W]ell-analysed and presented in a scholarly yet engaging way... [F]rom the interior of the Sun to the outer reaches of our Solar System--Impey and Henry are able guides. They explain the scientific imperative of these missions in a way that is accessible and interesting to specialists and generalists."--John Zarnecki, Nature "Although less sexy than manned space travel, satellites, probes and landers have produced a scientific bonanza with more to come. Impey and Henry team up for an enthusiastic account of a dozen programs... The authors' largely uncritical, gee-whiz approach is entirely appropriate since these programs were not only technological marvels, but produced dazzling, quantum-leap discoveries."--Kirkus Reviews "[W]ell-balanced... This richly illustrated work of remarkable scholarship spans the depths of the solar system, the Milky Way, and beyond, revealing how the great leaps forward in astronomy have brought into focus a landscape few could have imagined. The authors present a combination of hard science and edifying narrative that is both informative and entertaining. Recommended for NASA 'nerds' and anyone with even a passing interest in astronomy."--Library Journal "Packed with absorbing insights and written in an accessible voice, this volume translates scientific discoveries into simple, visual terms... Diverse references--ranging from the caves at Lascaux and Pythagoras to Einstein, Carl Sagan, quantum mechanics, and, yes, even Virginia Woolf--enliven and enrich this engaging and beautifully crafted book."--Kristen Rabe, ForeWord Reviews "The book helps provide a bigger picture of the significance of studying the universe with these robotic explorers, be they spacecraft that remain in Earth orbit or, like Voyager 1, head out into the cosmos."--Jeff Foust, Space Review "[A] riveting read... The book is well told, and interweaves its story with wonderful little nuggets."--Katia Moskvitch, BBC Sky at Night