This is the first book to present the science and instruments of NASA’S MESSENGER space mission. The articles, written by the experts in each area of the MESSENGER mission, describe the mission, spacecraft, scientific objectives, and payload. The book is of interest to all potential users of the data returned by the mission, to those studying the nature of Mercury, and by all those interested in the design and implementation of planetary exploration missions.

This book addresses all those interested in the origins, development and fate of intelligent species in the observable part of our universe. In particular, the author scrutinizes what kind of information about extraterrestrial intelligent life can be inferred from our own biological, cultural and scientific evolution and the likely future of mankind. The first part of the book provides the necessary background information from space and life sciences, thus making the book also accessible to students and the scientifically educated layman. -The first book of its kind that goes beyond the popular science level.

Discover places where a day is longer than a year, where hailstones are made of diamonds, and where a mountain looms twice the size of Everest. These and more are all to be found in The Planets. The Sun’s gravity holds in thrall eight planets, each with an entourage of moons, as well as dwarf planets, asteroids, and comets. The Planets takes you on a dazzling visual tour. From the Solar System’s fiery heart, travel to rocky worlds such as tiny Mercury scorched by the Sun. Then witness Venus swathed in a sulfurous haze, and go to the outer reaches to visit planets such as gas giant Jupiter, which is 120 times the size of Earth. Using 3-D models and photography from NASA and the European Space Agency, The Planets describes each one, as well as the extraordinary endeavors of space exploration. Edited by space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock, this book is enthralling reading for everyone interested in astronomy and space exploration.

Comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of all aspects of mantle convection, for advanced students and researchers.

The idea of a symposium devoted to the contemporary knowledge of the world of Copernicus - the planetary system - to commemorate the 500th anniversary of his birth, came during the XIV General Assembly of IAU in Brighton. The Executive Committee has approved it in the program of the Extraordinary (Copernicus) General Assembly ofIAU in Poland in 1973. The IAU Symposium No 65 (Copernicus Symposium IV) on the 'Exploration of the Planetary System' was held in Copernicus' native town - Torun, Poland, from 5th to 8th September, 1973 under the auspices of Commissions 16 (Physical Study of Planets and Satellites) and 40 (Radio-astronomy) and the co-sponsorship of COSPAR. There were about 140 invited participants from 29 countries and about the same num ber of other participants to the Extraordinary General Assembly of IAU who came to Torun to attend the sessions of this symposium. Special funds of the Polish Acade my of Sciences made possible the participation of several young astronomers in this meeting. We are very grateful to Professor P. Swings, the Director of the Astrophysical Institute of the University of Liege, Belgium, for accepting the task of chairing this symposium. His expert and enthusiastic guidance helped us constantly in the prepara tion. The efforts of the Members of the Scientific Organizing Committee are also very much appreciated. Special thanks are due to Professors A. Dollfus and T. Owen.

A first, comprehensive account of the development of Europe’s highly successful space programme.- Explains the politics, science and organisation of the European Space Programme and the many technological achievements of its satellites and rockets.- Highlights the major contributions of the European Space Agency’s scientific and applications programmes and puts them in a global perspective.- Focuses on Europe placing the various national programmes in a European context.

Reflecting the results of twenty years; experience in the field of multipurpose flights, this monograph includes the complex routes of the trajectories of a number of bodies (e.g., space vehicles, comets) in the solar system. A general methodological approach to the research of flight schemes and the choice of optimal performances is developed. Additionally, a number of interconnected methods and algorithms used at sequential stages of such development are introduced, which allow the selection of a rational multipurpose route for a space vehicle, the design of multipurpose orbits, the determination of optimal space vehicle design, and ballistic performances for carrying out the routes chosen. Other topics include the practical results obtained from using these methods, navigation problems, near-to-planet orbits, and an overview of proven and new flight schemes.