Exploring Outer Space: Rockets, Probes and Satellites

Isaac Asimov's Library of the Universe #23

by Isaac Asimov, Francis Reddy

Gareth Stevens is proud to present a completely updated and revised edition of our highly acclaimed Iassc Asimov's New Library of the Universe. A re-worked text throughout relects the latest discoveries and theories, and the most up-to-the-minute new photographs bring these volumes into the 21st century while mintaining the authority and accessibilty of the original. Asimov's original work forms the basis for a fascinating mixture of science fact and theory combined with his higly readable prose style. The result is a series capable of answering, in an understandable and truly informative way, the multitude of questions children ask when they gae skyward. The 12 revised volumes already in print will soon be joined by 18 more, covering all aspects of the universe and its exploration.

Genres: Science

32 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Works of prolific Russian-American writer Isaac Asimov include popular explanations of scientific principles, The Foundation Trilogy (1951-1953), and other volumes of fiction.

Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.

Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).

People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.

Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.

Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...

Reviews

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written for the reader in late elementary or early middle school, this book explains how rockets have been used to explore the universe. It opens with a brief explanation of how rockets work and the early pioneers in their development. In this area, the focus is on Robert Goddard. There is a mention of the German rockets carrying bombs to London, but no mention of Werner von Braun, either working for Germany or his later work in the United States.
There is a focus on what satellites show us about Earth and then some of the results from the probes sent to other planets and moons in the Solar System. It closes with a brief explanation of what is planned in the future as well as a list of the countries that have launched space probes and satellites.
This book is designed as a primer only, and in that respect the author had been very successful.