Exploring Space: From Galileo to the Mars Rover and Beyond

This thoughtful, informative guide to the history of space exploration is organized into sections on ancient astronomy; the development of telescopes; spacecraft and means of propulsion; life-support technologies; and the probes and rovers that have investigated within (and now beyond) our solar system. Jenkins's commentary is clear and conversational yet sophisticated, and it demands that readers think and engage with the detailed explanations of the scientific principles of such topics as planetary motion and rocket science. The intricate illustrations accompanying the text are a marvel. They foreground the technology of space exploration, from modern planetary rovers to comparisons of rockets across the decades, and are copiously labeled to point out instrumentation and other features whose functions are explained in the text. They evoke the precision and detail of engineering schematics, but with clever design decisions in layout, detail, and color that make each image friendly and inviting. A final section imagines possible near-future efforts such as the colonization of Mars and space elevators. Appended with an index, a timeline, a glossary, and selected sources. danielle j. ford