SOVIET ROBOTS IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM
Mission Technologies and Discoveries
Wesley T. Huntress, Jr.and Mikhail Ya. Marov
The Soviet robotic space exploration program began in a spirit of bold adventure and technical genius. It ended after the fall of the Soviet Union and the failure of its last mission to Mars in 1996. Soviet Robots in the Solar System chronicles the scientific and engineering accomplishments of this enterprise from its infancy to its demise. Each flight campaign is set into context of national politics and international competition with the United States.
Together with its many detailed illustrations and images, Soviet Robots in the Solar System
- presents the most detailed technical description of Soviet robotic space flights
- provides unique insights into programmatic, engineering, and scientific issues
- covers mission objectives, spacecraft engineering, flight details, scientific payload and results
- describes in technical depth Soviet lunar and planetary probes
Table of Contents
Illustrations
Authors' preface
Acknowlegments
PART I. The pieces: people, institutions, rockets and spacecraft
1. Space race
2. Key players
3. Key institutions
4. Rockets
5. Spacecraft
PART II. Putting the pieces together: flying to the Moon, Venus and Mars
6. Breaking free of Earth
7. Launching to Mars and Venus
8. New spacecraft, new failures
9. Three more years of frustration
10. Finally success at the Moon and Venus, but Mars eludes
11. Robotic achievements in the shadow of Apollo
12. Landing on the Moon, Venus and Mars
13. Closeouts on a Venus spacecraft, a Moon rocket, and desperation at Mars
14. Turning from the Moon and Mars to Venus
15. Repeating success at Venus
16. Back to Venus again
17. And back to Venus yet again
18. The International Comet Halley campaign
19. Another try at Mars and its moon Phobos
20. The last gasp: Mars-96
21. The Soviet lunar and planetary exploration legacy
Appendices1. Space race
2. Key players
3. Key institutions
4. Rockets
5. Spacecraft
PART II. Putting the pieces together: flying to the Moon, Venus and Mars
6. Breaking free of Earth
7. Launching to Mars and Venus
8. New spacecraft, new failures
9. Three more years of frustration
10. Finally success at the Moon and Venus, but Mars eludes
11. Robotic achievements in the shadow of Apollo
12. Landing on the Moon, Venus and Mars
13. Closeouts on a Venus spacecraft, a Moon rocket, and desperation at Mars
14. Turning from the Moon and Mars to Venus
15. Repeating success at Venus
16. Back to Venus again
17. And back to Venus yet again
18. The International Comet Halley campaign
19. Another try at Mars and its moon Phobos
20. The last gasp: Mars-96
21. The Soviet lunar and planetary exploration legacy
Bibliography
Index
Extent: 496 pages, black and white/colour images integrated with text
Binding: Paperback
Published: 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4419-7897-4
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