Les Satellites artificiels

Pierre Rousseau
Year1957
PublisherHachette
PlaceParis
LanguageFR
Pages190
Rating★★★☆☆ (3/5)
AudienceGeneral
LevelBeginner
Keywords
astronauticshistory of scienceartificial satelliteProject Vanguardspace race
ThemesSpace Race

A popular science book published by Hachette in 1957, written before the launch of Sputnik (4 October 1957) and based entirely on documentation from the American Vanguard programme. Pierre Rousseau covers the scientific foundations of artificial satellites (atmospheric physics, orbital mechanics), a historical survey of astronautics from Tsiolkovsky to Goddard, the prospects of space stations and lunar travel, and the challenges of interplanetary and interstellar flight. A publisher's prefatory note states that no changes were needed for the text to apply equally to the Soviet satellite.

📖 Editorial Review

Published by Hachette in autumn 1957, this book had been fully written and typeset before Sputnik's launch on 4 October 1957. The publisher's prefatory note captures the moment with disarming candour: "There is nothing to change in this book for it to apply to the Soviet satellite, except for a few figures and the …