L'escalade du cosmos

An illustrated album tracing the history of astronautics, published in 1972 in the wake of the first Moon landings. Across nine chapters, Patrick Maurel (who both wrote and illustrated it) covers the rocket pioneers and the principles of propulsion (liquid and solid propellants, engines, nuclear propulsion), orbital mechanics and guidance, the satellite race and the early American (Mercury, Gemini) and Soviet (Vostok, Voskhod) crewed flights. The second half is devoted to the Moon: exploration probes (Ranger, Luna, Surveyor, Lunar Orbiter, Lunokhod), the genesis and missions of the Apollo programme (Saturn rockets, command and lunar modules) through Apollo 16, the Soviet orbital path (Soyuz, Salyut) and future prospects (lunar bases, Skylab, the Space Shuttle). Richly illustrated with photographs and technical diagrams.