Description

Book Synopsis


Trade Review
"Many space buffs, especially young ones, should find this a satisfying narrative."—Publishers Weekly
"Ambassadors is written in an accessible and engaging style, introducing readers to behind-the-scenes players most of us have never heard of."—Russell Lewis, NPR
"[Ambassadors from Earth] offers an accessible account of the U.S. and Soviet planetary missions of the Space Race era, as well as the more widespread efforts of more recent times."—Roger Launius, Air & Space Magazine
"Utilising original interviews with key players, bolstered by never-before-seen photographs, journal excerpts, and primary source documents, Gallentine delivers a quirky and unforgettable look at the lives and legacy of the Americans and Soviets who conceived, built, and guided those unmanned missions to the planets and beyond."—Philip Corneille, Spaceflight
"This book provides a wonderful way of renewing interest in the pioneering contributions of the robotic space programs pursued by the United States and the Soviet Union."—De Witt Douglas Kilgore, Quest
"An intriguing and essential read on the history of unmanned space programs and especially the tug-of-war between the United States and the Soviety Union for space supremacy in the late 1950s and the decade of the 1960s."—Dale A. Stirling, Journal for the History of Discoveries

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. Aboard the Glacier

2. Problem Child

3. The Convict

4. Light Fuse, GET AWAY

5. New Moon

6. Let's Make a Deal

7. The Creators and the Makers

8. Storming the Sea of Dreams

9. Moving at the Speed of Design

10. Job Number MA-11

11. The Science and the Cyclist

12. Get Off the Bus

13. Swing in Time

14. The Meeting and the Mechta

15. Think Like Gravity

16. Didn't They Get It?

17. The Death and the Funeral

18. One Hundred Percent Failure

19. Three-Problem Shipley

20. Pete and Al's Little Field Trip

21. Irradiated Plans

22. Embarking

23. Get It

24. Instant Science

25. Circles of Gold

26. Last Light

27. Continuum

Sources

Index

Ambassadors from Earth

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    £18.99

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    RRP £19.99 – you save £1.00 (5%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Fri 3 Jul 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Jay Gallentine

    1 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of Ambassadors from Earth by Jay Gallentine

      Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
      Publication Date: 01/06/2014
      ISBN13: 9780803249233, 978-0803249233
      ISBN10: 0803249233

      Description

      Book Synopsis


      Trade Review
      "Many space buffs, especially young ones, should find this a satisfying narrative."—Publishers Weekly
      "Ambassadors is written in an accessible and engaging style, introducing readers to behind-the-scenes players most of us have never heard of."—Russell Lewis, NPR
      "[Ambassadors from Earth] offers an accessible account of the U.S. and Soviet planetary missions of the Space Race era, as well as the more widespread efforts of more recent times."—Roger Launius, Air & Space Magazine
      "Utilising original interviews with key players, bolstered by never-before-seen photographs, journal excerpts, and primary source documents, Gallentine delivers a quirky and unforgettable look at the lives and legacy of the Americans and Soviets who conceived, built, and guided those unmanned missions to the planets and beyond."—Philip Corneille, Spaceflight
      "This book provides a wonderful way of renewing interest in the pioneering contributions of the robotic space programs pursued by the United States and the Soviet Union."—De Witt Douglas Kilgore, Quest
      "An intriguing and essential read on the history of unmanned space programs and especially the tug-of-war between the United States and the Soviety Union for space supremacy in the late 1950s and the decade of the 1960s."—Dale A. Stirling, Journal for the History of Discoveries

      Table of Contents

      List of Illustrations

      Acknowledgments

      Introduction

      1. Aboard the Glacier

      2. Problem Child

      3. The Convict

      4. Light Fuse, GET AWAY

      5. New Moon

      6. Let's Make a Deal

      7. The Creators and the Makers

      8. Storming the Sea of Dreams

      9. Moving at the Speed of Design

      10. Job Number MA-11

      11. The Science and the Cyclist

      12. Get Off the Bus

      13. Swing in Time

      14. The Meeting and the Mechta

      15. Think Like Gravity

      16. Didn't They Get It?

      17. The Death and the Funeral

      18. One Hundred Percent Failure

      19. Three-Problem Shipley

      20. Pete and Al's Little Field Trip

      21. Irradiated Plans

      22. Embarking

      23. Get It

      24. Instant Science

      25. Circles of Gold

      26. Last Light

      27. Continuum

      Sources

      Index

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