Les Découvertes spatiales
Translated from the English by Paul Verguyse
A French translation of The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Space Exploration (Salamander Books, 1983), this large-format volume offers an illustrated survey of solar-system exploration as reshaped by robotic probes and crewed missions. Part one moves planet by planet (from Mercury to the outer worlds, by way of Earth seen from orbit, the Moon and Mars) drawing on the results of Mariner, Pioneer, Venera, Viking and Voyager. Part two looks ahead to extraterrestrial resources, the industrialisation of orbit, future launch vehicles and space-based energy. A space chronology (1957-1984), a glossary and an index round out the book. A collective work directed by science journalist Richard S. Lewis, with a preface by astronaut Patrick Baudry.