New Cosmic Horizons: Space Astronomy from the V2 to the Hubble Space Telescope [Hardcover]

An extensively illustrated account of the development and achievements of astronomical observations from space since WWII.New Cosmic Horizons describes the fascinating development of astronomical observations from space starting with the launching of the first V2 rockets in 1946 and ending with the Hubble Space Telescope. It covers both the scientific and political aspects of these astronomical space programmes in a style accessible to amateur and professional astronomers, and to technically-minded readers alike. Extensively illustrated, it includes the Apollo programme and planetary probes, as well as astronomical observatories designed to observe the deeper universe. The American, Soviet and European programmes are all covered.New Cosmic Horizons describes the fascinating development of astronomical observations from space starting with the launching of the first V2 rockets in 1946 and ending with the Hubble Space Telescope. It covers both the scientific and political aspects of these astronomical space programmes in a style accessible to amateur and professional astronomers, and to technically-minded readers alike. Extensively illustrated, it includes the Apollo programme and planetary probes, as well as astronomical observatories designed to observe the deeper universe. The American, Soviet and European programmes are all covered.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 thelC