This atlas is a comprehensive, interesting portfolio covering humanity's fascination with space. The journey starts with a historical view of space exploration. Launius and Johnston (both, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum) provide short, heavily illustrated articles on topics ranging from the origins of rocketry and early space flight missions to the complex social pressures surrounding the Cold War space race. Most prominently, the authors provide historical detail for the lunar missions; for example, the images of Saturn V rockets from conception to launch pad offer intriguing insights on this technology, which shuttled astronauts to the moon in the 1960s and 1970s. Finally, the book extends space exploration to the rest of the solar system, from early missions to Mars to recent images received from modern spacecraft traveling though the outer solar system. The atlas is packed with fun as well as factual information, e.g., a detailed ejection seat diagram from 1965. This astounding history will resonate with modern readers living in a new era of space exploration as the US makes plans to return humans to the moon by 2020 and then go to Mars. The book successfully demonstrates that new missions to space will continue an already remarkable journey. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Undergraduate students and general readers, all levels. L. R. Johnston University of Minnesota

The mysteries of space have long inspired people to reach for the stars. Authored by two experts in aerospace history, Smithsonian Atlas of Space Exploration relates the story of space exploration in text, photographs, illustrations, and maps from the earliest times to the present. Written at a level geared to the general reader, this topically arranged work is divided into seven parts: Envisioning Space, Beginning the Space Age, Gateways to Space, Orbiting the Earth, Reaching for the Moon, Other Terrestrial Worlds, and Across the Solar System. Each part contains a number of two- or four-page subsections covering topics ranging from the earliest observatories of the ancient world to the possibilities for space flight in the future. Exceptional large-format color photographs from NASA and other sources provide amazing images, such as astronaut James B. Irwin on the moon with the Lunar Roving Vehicle, astronauts repairing the Hubble Space Telescope, a view of the Moon setting over the Earth taken from the space shuttle Discovery, and a view of the surface of Mars near the Viking 1 lander. This work is further enhanced by excellent artistic renditions of subjects such as the possible configuration of a future lunar surface base, a map of objects in low Earth orbit, and a portrayal of a NASA Mars Exploration Rover on the surface of Mars. Color as well as black-and-white illustrations, diagrams, and specially commissioned maps further supplement text. A four-page index provides subject access to the contents; also included is a basic four-page annotated bibliography of readings on the history of space exploration. Distinguished by outstanding color illustrations and photographs, the very reasonably priced atlas should appeal to a broad audience and is recommended for high-school, undergraduate, and public libraries.--Cannon, Nancy Copyright 2009 Booklist