Space Invaders: How Robotic Spacecraft Explore the Solar System

Manned space programs attract the most media attention, and it is not hard to understand why: the danger, the heroism, the sheer adventure we as earthbound observers can imagine when humans are involved. But robotic missions deserve a respectful and detailed history and analysis of their own, and this book provides it. Instead of describing one specific spacecraft or mission, Michel van Pelt offers a ''behind the scenes'' look at the life of a space probe from its first conceptual design to the analysis of the scientific data returned by the spacecraft.