Manned space programs attract the most media attention, and it is not hard to understand why-the danger, the heroism, the sheer adventure we as earthbound observers can imagine when humans are involved. But robotic missions deserve a respectful and detailed history and analysis of their own, and this book provides it.

"When we think of the first earth orbit, Yuri Gagarin springs to mind. And the first landing on the moon calls up images of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in their spacesuits. What we tend to overlook is that Gagarin was preceded by Sputnik-1, and the Apollo 11 moonwalkers came after Luna-2. Manned missions, for obvious reasons, have always come after robotic probes, and will continue to do so. Machines were the first to orbit another planet, the first to land on Mars and Venus, the first to touch an asteroid, the first to send us close-up images of Saturn's rings. The list of robotic space achievements is long and impressive. In reality, the history of space exploration is overwhelmingly a history not of human missions, but unmanned ones.Manned space programs attract the most media attention, and it is not hard to understand why-the danger, the heroism, the sheer adventure we as earthbound observers can imagine when humans are involved. But robotic missions deserve a respectful and detailed history and analysis of their own, and this book provides it.Focusing on future modern spacecraft, Michel van Pelt explains the exciting life of unmanned space explorers, making the technology, design, development, operation and results of modern space probe missions understandable by lay readers. TOC:1. From the ground up.- 2. Rockets and satellites.- 3. To the Moon.- 4. Human versus robot.- 5. A Space Robot is Born.- 6. Anatomy of a Space Probe.- 7. The Payload: Instruments of Science.- 8. Launch.- 9. Distant Destinations.- 10. Calling Earth.- 11. Death of a Spacecraft.- 12. The Future.- 13. References."

1. From the ground up; 2. Rockets and satellites; 3. To the Moon; 4. Human versus robot; 5. A Space Robot is Born; 6. Anatomy of a Space Probe; 7. The Payload: Instruments of Science; 8. Launch; 9. Distant Destinations; 10. Calling Earth; 11. Death of a Spacecraft; 12. The Future; 13. References.