Synopses & Reviews
New Cosmic Horizons tells the extraordinary story of space-based astronomy since the Second World War. Starting with the launch of the V2 rocket in 1946, this book explores the triumphs of space experiments and spacecraft designs and the amazing astronomical results that they have produced.
David Leverington examines the fascinating way in which the changing political imperatives of the United States, USSR/Russia and Western Europe have modified their space astronomy programs. He covers all major astronomy missions of the first fifty years of space research: the Soviet Sputnik and American Explorer projects, the subsequent race to the moon, solar and planetary missions, and the wonders of modern astrophysics culminating in the exciting results of the Hubble Space Telescope.
Extensively illustrated, New Cosmic Horizons offers amateur and professional astronomers an unusual perspective on the history of astronomy in our time.
Review
"New Cosmic Horizons should have broad appeal. Its an interesting read for the general reader and a good reference book for any astronomer who teaches introductory astronomy courses." Jennifer Birriel, Astronomy, May 2002
Review
"Not only is the writing in New Cosmic Horizons thorough and clear, but the book is also well structured, and the appendices, glossary, bibliography and other summaries allow the reader to navigate it reasonably easily. Besides, as a participant in space research since the 1960s, the author witnessed many of the events first-hand, giving his writing authority...I recommend the book to anyone interested in space astronomy - laypersons, students of astronomy, and professional astronomers." Nature
Review
"Illustrated and with a comprehensive, "reader friendly" text ideal for both astronomy students, non-specialist general reader. New Cosmic Horizons will prove to be an essential, core addition to any personal, academic or community library reference collection." The Bookwatch
Synopsis
This extensively illustrated book describes the fascinating development of astronomical observations from space from the V2 rocket to the Hubble Space Telescope. Scientific and political aspects of the American, Russian and European space programmes are covered in a style accessible to amateur and professional astronomers.
About the Author
David Leverington was Design Manager of the GEOS Spacecraft and Meteosat Program Manager for ESA in the 1970s. During his tenure as Engineering Director at British Aerospace in the 1980s, he was responsible for the Giotto spacecraft that intercepted Halley's comet, and the Photon Detector Assembly and solar arrays for the Hubble Space Telescope. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He lives in Essex, England.
Table of Contents
Preface
1. The sounding rocket era
2. The start of the space race
3. Initial exploration of the Solar System
4. Lunar exploration
5. Mars and Venus, early results
6. Mars and Venus, the middle period
7. Venus, Mars and cometary spacecraft post-1980
8. Early missions to the outer planets
9. The Voyager missions to the outer planets
10. The Sun
11. Early spacecraft observations of non-solar system sources
12. A period of rapid growth
13. The high energy astronomy observatory programme
14. IUE, IRAS and Exosat - spacecraft for the early 1980s
15. Hiatus
16. Business as usual
17. The Hubble Space Telescope