Author
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Topic: Robotic Exploration of the Solar System (Parts 1-4, Paolo Ulivi with David Harland)
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cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 03-12-2007 10:30 AM
Robotic Exploration of the Solar System: Part I: The Golden Age 1957-1982 by Paolo Ulivi with David M Harland Paolo Ulivi and David Harland have written nothing less than a detailed history of unmanned missions exploring our Solar System.In a fascinating and exhaustive study, they plot the history of unmanned space travel from the 1950s right up to the present day, in many cases using previously unavailable sources. As in their previous book Lunar Exploration, the subject is treated wherever possible from an engineering and scientific standpoint. Technical descriptions of the spacecraft, of their mission designs and of instrumentations are provided. Scientific results are discussed in considerable depth, together with details of mission management. The book is extremely comprehensive, covering missions over the last half century, and some of the latest missions and their results appear in a popular science book for the first time. This book also uses sources only recently made available on the Soviet space program, in addition to some obscure and rarely used references on the European space program. The authors even cover many unflown missions, an amazing window on ideas that went unfulfilled at the time but which may still be proven. - Paperback: 600 pages
- Publisher: Praxis; 1 edition (October 23, 2007)
- ISBN-10: 0387493263
- ISBN-13: 978-0387493268
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Philip Member Posts: 5952 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 03-12-2007 12:32 PM
Finally a book on a decent subject. |
art540 Member Posts: 432 From: Orange, California USA Registered: Sep 2006
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posted 03-12-2007 05:11 PM
Hopefully it will be a good companion to Solar System Log by Andrew Wilson (1987). |
cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 03-13-2007 01:58 AM
I hope so too, that's one of the reasons why I posted this! |
Paolo Member Posts: 13 From: 43° 35' 53" N 1° 26' 35" E Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 03-25-2007 03:31 AM
Thanks for the interest in the book, everyone! Me and David we are working hard not to delude you.And of course my original intention had been to provide an updated and much expanded Solar System Log! |
art540 Member Posts: 432 From: Orange, California USA Registered: Sep 2006
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posted 03-26-2007 10:48 AM
I will look to buy the book then... I grew up at about 9 degrees north latitude myself: Panama Canal Zone. |
Paolo Member Posts: 13 From: 43° 35' 53" N 1° 26' 35" E Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 08-06-2007 01:37 AM
We have almost finished the final correction and we can confirm that the book will be ready for printing by the second half of August. |
Philip Member Posts: 5952 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 10-09-2007 04:08 PM
Received my copy last week from Amazon.Over at the Unmanned Spaceflight forum I have described the book a bit and was amazed about Paolo's acknowledgments page and there are rare Mariner photos on pages 36, 77 and 79 and there are some interesting appendices. |
Paolo Member Posts: 13 From: 43° 35' 53" N 1° 26' 35" E Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 10-10-2007 02:16 PM
Thanks Philip! I have received my copies today. Actually, the picture on page 79 simply comes from here. |
cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 02-22-2008 10:38 AM
Robotic Exploration of the Solar System: Part 2: Hiatus and Renewal, 1983-1996 by Paolo Ulivi with David Harland Paolo Ulivi and David Harland provide in Robotic Exploration of the Solar System a detailed history of unmanned missions of exploration of our Solar System As in their previous book Lunar Exploration, the subject will be treated wherever possible from an engineering and scientific standpoint. Technical descriptions of the spacecraft, of their mission designs and of instrumentations will be provided. Scientific results will be discussed in considerable depth, together with details of mission management.The books will cover missions from the 1950s until the present day, and some of the latest missions and their results will appear in a popular science book for the first time. The authors will also cover many unflown projects, providing an indication of the ideas that proved to be unfulfilled at the time but which may still be proven and useful in the future. Just like Lunar Exploration, these books will use sources only recently made available on the Soviet space program, in addition to some obscure and rarely used references on the European space program. The project will deliver three volumes totaling over 1000 pages that will provide comprehensive coverage of the topic with thousands of references to the professional literature that should make it the 'first port of call' for people seeking information on the topic. - Paperback: 550 pages
- Publisher: Praxis; 1 edition (November 25, 2008)
- ISBN-10: 0387789049
- ISBN-13: 978-0387789040
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cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 05-25-2009 07:59 AM
Robotic Exploration of the Solar System, Part 3: The Modern Era 1997-2009 by Paolo Ulivi with David Harland Paolo Ulivi and David Harland provide in Robotic Exploration of the Solar System a detailed history of unmanned missions of exploration of our Solar System. As in their previous book Lunar Exploration, the subject will be treated wherever possible from an engineering and scientific standpoint. Technical descriptions of the spacecraft, of their mission designs and of instrumentation will be provided. Scientific results will be discussed in considerable depth, together with details of mission management. The project will deliver three volumes totaling over 1000 pages that will provide comprehensive coverage of the topic with thousands of references to the professional literature that should make it the 'first port of call' for people seeking information on the topic. The books will cover missions from the 1950s until the present day, and some of the latest missions and their results will appear in a popular science book for the first time. - Paperback: 450 pages
- Publisher: Praxis; 2012 edition (March 1, 2012)
- ISBN-10: 0387096272
- ISBN-13: 978-0387096278
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Paolo Member Posts: 13 From: 43° 35' 53" N 1° 26' 35" E Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 11-02-2010 03:16 PM
Very slowly but we are making progress on the third volume. |
hermit Member Posts: 186 From: Scotland Registered: Jun 2009
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posted 09-17-2011 01:27 PM
As of now, I am editing the fourth chapter (of five) and Paolo is writing the final chapter. At the pace of robotic space exploration, we might issue a fourth volume sometime around 2020.
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hermit Member Posts: 186 From: Scotland Registered: Jun 2009
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posted 03-30-2012 03:30 AM
Okay folks. The third volume in this series grew so large in the writing that it has been decided to split it into two volumes. RESS-3 covers 1997-2003 and is currently being laid out. The 2004-2012 volume will trail behind about six months. We're sorry the project is running so far behind schedule, but at least the end is in sight.
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jjknap Member Posts: 273 From: Bourbonnais, IL USA Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 03-30-2012 05:26 PM
Hurrah! Looking forward to completing my set. Because of the delay, are you adding some recent missions that you didn't plan on covering? |
hermit Member Posts: 186 From: Scotland Registered: Jun 2009
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posted 03-30-2012 06:57 PM
The missions covered in these two books will include their stories up to early 2012. |
Gorgon New Member Posts: 7 From: Helsinki, Finland/Lisbon, Portugal Registered: May 2012
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posted 05-08-2012 08:40 AM
Two questions regarding the upcoming books: - What is the new release date for volume 3? It should have come out on the 29th of April.
- Does the 4th volume (up to 2012) covers probes like Mars Science Laboratory, New Horizons, Rosetta, etc? These have yet to arrive at their destinations or will arrive soon, so will the 4th volume have information on these probes as well as partial info on results so far at the time of publication?
I'm eagerly awaiting the 3rd and 4th volumes of these most excellent books. |
hermit Member Posts: 186 From: Scotland Registered: Jun 2009
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posted 05-09-2012 02:54 AM
Obviously we missed the date for issuing what was to have been the third and final volume in the series, but that was because we split it into two parts.The new Part 3 has been laid out and proof-checked. It will soon go to for printing, but Springer take typically four to six months to ship copies. Part 4 does include those missions, but clearly only to the point at which the text is frozen, which will be this autumn... so with luck it'll conclude the MSL story with a successful landing. Given the time-scale of the production cycle Part 4 will come out early next year. |
Gorgon New Member Posts: 7 From: Helsinki, Finland/Lisbon, Portugal Registered: May 2012
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posted 05-09-2012 08:29 AM
Thank you very much for the info. |
cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 06-12-2012 02:01 PM
Robotic Exploration of the Solar System: Part 4: 2004-2012 by Paolo Ulivi with David Harland - Paperback: 500 pages
- Publisher: Springer; 2013 edition (29 Jun 2013)
- ISBN-10: 1461448115
- ISBN-13: 978-1461448112
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cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 06-24-2012 01:38 PM
quote: Originally posted by hermit: The new Part 3 has been laid out and proof-checked. It will soon go to for printing, but Springer take typically four to six months to ship copies.
Part 3 in April 2013 and Part 4 in June 2013, according to Amazon.co.uk (couldn't find both volumes on Springer's web site). |
hermit Member Posts: 186 From: Scotland Registered: Jun 2009
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posted 06-24-2012 09:55 PM
I see no reason for Part 3 to be listed as being released in 2013, because Springer has already sent it for printing! |
jjknap Member Posts: 273 From: Bourbonnais, IL USA Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 06-25-2012 06:28 AM
Fantastic! I am glad to have some hope to see part 3 this year |
cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 06-25-2012 09:34 AM
quote: Originally posted by hermit: I see no reason for Part 3 to be listed as being released in 2013, because Springer has already sent it for printing!
I don't trust Amazon and its subsidiaries more than is reasonable but Springer's web site, since their "update" of early May, is a bit of a mess. |
cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 06-26-2012 07:15 AM
Part 3 has made its way back to Springer's web site with a release date of September 28, 2012. |
cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 08-28-2012 08:19 AM
It's out (or at least listed as "in stock" at amazon.com). |
hermit Member Posts: 186 From: Scotland Registered: Jun 2009
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posted 08-28-2012 05:07 PM
I'm looking forward to seeing it!! |
jjknap Member Posts: 273 From: Bourbonnais, IL USA Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 08-28-2012 05:55 PM
Just ordered mine |
hermit Member Posts: 186 From: Scotland Registered: Jun 2009
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posted 08-29-2012 09:11 AM
I received a copy. For some reason Springer has printed it in a smaller size than the previous volumes in this series. It is 5/8th of an inch narrower and 1/4th of an inch shorter. Very frustrating! |
Gorgon New Member Posts: 7 From: Helsinki, Finland/Lisbon, Portugal Registered: May 2012
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posted 08-30-2012 06:28 AM
Oh my god, I'm gonna cancel my pre-order right now! Seriously, I was surprised it was already in stock at Amazon UK. I was quite surprised. Waiting for my copy to ship at this moment. |
hermit Member Posts: 186 From: Scotland Registered: Jun 2009
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posted 08-30-2012 08:22 AM
As a result of losing 5/8th of an inch off the page width the text now runs very close to the gutter, making the book less easily read than its predecessors. And amazingly, this reduction in page width was not taken into account when printing the cover, with the result that the content is no longer centered — the right hand side actually cuts through the 'X' of Praxis! It is tragic that throughout the authoring, editing, layout and proofing stages everyone took great care to make the thing 'right', and then when it is printed someone makes an arbitrary decision that so impairs the result. Paolo and I are very disappointed. |
cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 08-30-2012 08:55 AM
That's just brilliant... Has Springer-Praxis come up with a good reason for this? (it's a long shot but hell, who knows....) |
Philip Member Posts: 5952 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 08-31-2012 10:12 AM
We'll have to buy a copy anyway. |
jjknap Member Posts: 273 From: Bourbonnais, IL USA Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 09-04-2012 05:15 PM
Just received my copy from Amazon. While it is a little smaller in form, there sure is a lot of content in this book. Just glancing through, I have found many photographs of spacecraft that I have never viewed anywhere else. I can't wait to start reading it |
hermit Member Posts: 186 From: Scotland Registered: Jun 2009
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posted 09-04-2012 05:22 PM
I am advised by Springer that the copies that were printed in the US are the proper size; it is those that were printed in Europe that are trimmed. So order from amazon.com!
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jjknap Member Posts: 273 From: Bourbonnais, IL USA Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 09-04-2012 09:18 PM
What they told you is incorrect...I have Volume 1 lined-up against Volume 3 and Volume 1 is definitely half an inch wider and about a quarter inch longer than Volume 3. It seemed smaller in my hands when I opened the box. |
hermit Member Posts: 186 From: Scotland Registered: Jun 2009
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posted 09-04-2012 09:21 PM
quote: Originally posted by jjknap: What they told you is incorrect...
Sigh! It seems I have been misinformed. Yet Springer in New York tell me they have copies that are okay. Does anyone have a properly sized copy? |
jjknap Member Posts: 273 From: Bourbonnais, IL USA Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 09-04-2012 10:36 PM
Maybe Amazon shipped me the European version...Anyway, just to be clear, this book looks amazing. I have looked forward to it for so long, I don't care about the size difference. The book covers the Cassini mission including the plans through 2017, the Mars rovers through Spirit's last move and beyond as well as missions like Hayabussa and several of the mission that either failed or were cancelled. I have just had a small amount of time to look through it, but the photos are amazing (Dave Harland always seems to choose amazing photos never seen before to place in his books). I hope to read it cover-to-cover by the end of the weekend, and will place a review up on Amazon. However, don't wait for that! It is a must buy for anyone interested in the subject. |
hermit Member Posts: 186 From: Scotland Registered: Jun 2009
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posted 09-04-2012 11:11 PM
quote: Originally posted by jjknap: Dave Harland always seems to choose amazing photos never seen before to place in his books.
Actually, Paolo chose the pictures. In fact we had to delete 70 pages of illustrations to fit within the maximum page count permitted by Springer, so a lot of good stuff ended up on "the cutting room floor" (as the saying goes). |
Gorgon New Member Posts: 7 From: Helsinki, Finland/Lisbon, Portugal Registered: May 2012
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posted 09-05-2012 02:54 AM
quote: Originally posted by hermit: ...so a lot of good stuff ended up on "the cutting room floor" (as the saying goes).
NOOOOOOO! |