Robots in Space: The Secret Lives of Our Planetary Explorers

by Ezzy Pearson

SPACE SPARKS THE IMAGINATION in fantastic ways, but nothing quite captures people’s attention more than when we actually reach out and touch another world. Whether it’s missions to the Moon, transporting rovers to Mars or landing Philae on a comet, the idea that we can not only picture these worlds from afar, but to touch them is wonderfully inspiring, and it is through cutting-edge robotic technology that it is made possible. In Robots in Space expert space journalist Dr Ezzy Pearson delves into the fascinating robotic history of space exploration, from distant times when stars were an unreachable godly mystery, through the intense Space Race following the Second World War to the Mars missions of the twenty-first century. As we find ourselves on the cusp of a new and exciting space age, Pearson explores how and why humanity turns its best minds to travelling to the stars, and exactly how far we could go.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Astronomy, Science

288 pages, Hardcover

Published October 2, 2020

Reviews

[Peter Tillman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good survey of just what it says in the title. The best part, for me, was the information on the old Soviet efforts, especially about their missions to Venus, still the only spacecraft to land on that planet, in amazingly hostile conditions. Most of the USA/NASA missions I was already familiar with, but she had some fresh angles on those missions too. And she extended coverage to more recent Japanese, Chinese and Indian robot explorers. I read the book in fits and starts. It's not difficult reading, but I didn't much care for her style, and her attempts at humor fell flat for me. Overall rating: 3.5 stars, rounded down for style.

Chemistry World's nice review: https://www.chemistryworld.com/review...
Excerpt:
"Robots in Space by Ezzy Pearson is a wonderful read about the history of space exploration from a robotics point of view. It covers the space race to the moon, visits to the inner planets and our first steps into the outer solar system.

As well as having a PhD in astrophysics, Pearson is also a space journalist – this really shows in her style of writing. As well as understanding the science behind the missions, she also knows how to tell a good story. Something that I find is not always the case with non-fiction authors."

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating (and very accessible) history of unmanned space missions (probes, rovers, etc). I had no idea just how many there have been! It's also a celebration of the utterly extraordinary achievements of countless scientists and engineers over the years, and a sobering reminder that governments' enthusiasm for funding space exploration waxes and wanes with public opinion and the prevailing international politics of the day.

This could have been quite a dry book, especially as it's essentially telling the same story over and over - mission planned, mission happens (more or less successfully), lessons are learned, repeat - but Dr Pearson has a really lively, engaging style that keeps it interesting throughout. You can see why she's a successful space journalist as well as a scientist.

Thoroughly recommended to anyone with an interest in space exploration or the history of our relationship with space.

[Declan Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Space may be the final frontier, but we no longer have to explore it on our own... we have robots to go out into the great dark abyss and do our bidding!

Dr Ezzy Pearson brings us the history of these Robots, their adventures, failures and successes. Pearson brings them to life and imbues them with goals and personalities, turning them into remote-human explorers... from those who are destined to die in the atmosphere of planets and moons, to those trundling around long beyond their expected time.

We couldn't have learnt what we know about Space without these plucky explorers and this book is a superb, heart-felt, and well-written homage to them.

Dr Pearson takes us through the history of Robots in Space with the Moon, Venus and Mars and our solar systems neighbours a little further away - comets, asteroids, and the moons of the Gas Giants. The book covers much I didn't know and all of it was interesting. It shows the importance of collaboration, teamwork and the army of people who work to get space exploration right... but also reflects on the failures and how the space agencies pick themselves up, dust themselves off and get going on the next mission(s). A moral for us all!

I'll now be watching the Hayabusa2 sample return mission due to arrive today! A book that inspires further learning is a great find.

[Elee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the best, most unbiased overview of the Space Race I have ever read. It’s very accessible for those who do not have an engineering background and aren’t particularly tech-savvy either.

I typically stick to articles and shorter books or scientific magazines on topics like this, but this was so engaging that I couldn’t put it down. I still can’t believe that 280 pages about failed probes and space missions, along with the fewer successful ones, had me on the edge of my seat! LOL

[Fabrizio Forlani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good sci-journalist account of the life and misfortune of automated probes that gaves us a lot of information about the solar system's body, always at their expense :)