The Continuing Story of The International Space Station [Hardcover]

In this fascinating and well-written text Peter Bond describes the development and evolution of space stations. Particular emphasis is placed on the International Space Station, beginning with the revolution that began in 1970, when Salyut 1, the world's first space station was sent into orbit by the Soviet Union. Defeated in the race to the Moon, the Soviets redirected their efforts towards the conquest of near-Earth space. In the next three decades, their increasingly large and sophisticated structures rewrote the history books as cosmonauts continued to push back all space endurance records. In clear and concise language the book explains how the human exploitation of low-Earth orbit is about to change.Introduction.- Building a giant.- Space stations - from dream to reality.- Handshake in space.- Metamorphosis.- Coming and going.- Construction site in space.- Life on the space station.- Value for money?- Future uncertain.- Appendices: ISS Assembly November 1998 - December 2001.- Future Assembly Schedule.- Biographies of ISS resident crew members.

From the reviews:

This book describes the development and evolution of the idea and concept of space stations with the chief emphasis on the International Space Station. & This is the story of a truly monumental project, from the dream to the reality and can be recommended as useful contribution to general space history. (Spaceflight, Vol. 45 (12), 2003)

In his new book, Peter Bond takes the reader on an astonishing journey. & it portrays origin and development of the International Space Station. It is a story of both technological and intercultural achievement, turning the ISS into a challenging human outpost in space. (Science in Africa, October, 2002)

This book begins with a description of the ISS at the end of 2001 and a view of how it will look on completion sometime after 2006 & . The book is illustrated throughout & . There are tlS*