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Exploring the Planets

A Memoir

Fred Taylor

Provides a first hand account of the how the space programme eveloved over the last 50 years
Offers insights into exploration of the solar system, the world's space agencies, research labs, and conferences
Accessible to general readers

Exploring the Planets

A Memoir

Fred Taylor

Description

The planets fascinate us, and naturally we care about our own Earth, and things like how well we can forecast the weather and whether climate is really changing. Exploring the Planets offers a personal account on how the space programme evolved. It begins in the era of the first blurry views of our Earth as seen from space, and ends with current plans for sophisticated robots on places as near as our neighbours Venus and Mars and as far away as the rainy lakelands of Saturn's planet-sized moon Titan. Examining the scientific goals of these complex voyages of discovery, and the joys and hardships of working to achieve them.

The Space Age is now about 50 years old and for those lucky enough to be part of it at its inception, it's filled a worklong lifetime. Today, several satellites around the Earth have studied the atmosphere and the climate using instruments on board that the author helped design and build. 'Deep space' missions were embarked upon to visit the planets: all of the major bodies (six planets, the Moon and minor bodies, asteroids and comets) of the classical Solar System have been scrutinised close-up by experiments built in various laboratories worldwide. Most of the narrative is based on the author's experiences at the world's space agencies, research labs, and conferences, and at other places as diverse as Cape Canaveral and No. 10 Downing Street.

Exploring the Planets

A Memoir

Fred Taylor

1:Prelude
2:Satellites and Spires
3:The Gateway to the Planets
4:Voyage to Venus
5:With Galileo to Jupiter
6:Back to Oxford
7:Forecasting Weather and Climate
8:The Ozone Layer and other Crises
9:Mishaps at Mars
10:Operation Saturn
11:The Days of the Comet
12:Return to the Silent Planet
13:Marooned on Mercury
14:Mars at Last
15:Ice on the Moon
16:A Beginner's Guide to the End of the World
17:Standing at the Edge of Time
18:Epilogue

Exploring the Planets

A Memoir

Fred Taylor

Author Information

Fred Taylor, Halley Professor of Physics (Emeritus), Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, UK

Fred Taylor is Halley Professor of Physics Emeritus at Oxford University, UK, a Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford and a member of the Oxford Physics Department where he was head of Atmospheric, Oceanic & Planetary Physics for 21 years. He was educated at the University of Liverpool, and Oxford University. After graduating he spent ten years in the USA, in the Space Science Division of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. He was Principle Investigator on the Pioneer Venus Orbiter in 1979, making the first systematic study of meteorology of the atmosphere of Venus. He is currently participating in a number of planetary and Earth Observation space experiments, as well as contribution to theoretical work and modelling on problems in atmospheric and oceanic physics, such as ozone depletion, the greenhouse effect and climate change.

Exploring the Planets

A Memoir

Fred Taylor

Reviews and Awards

"Taylor tells it like it is. He also presents clear explanations of planetary discoveries that made his hard work worthwhile and the implications of these discoveries for global warming on Earth. This work is highly recommended for students contemplating science or engineering careers in space exploration and for space policy analysts and historians." - CHOICE

"...a blend of the authors personal life and an insight into some of the most exciting space missions from the past five decades." - Kevin McNulty, Popular Astronomy

"Taylor is a great storyteller and a skilful writer" - Govert Schilling, BBC Sky at Night

"captivating behind-the-scenes look at space astronomy" - Govert Schilling, BBC Sky at Night

"a rich and illuminating book ... a must-read for everyone interested in planetary science or considering a career in space exploration" - Govert Schilling, BBC Sky at Night

"entertaining" - David Edwards, Geoscientist

"splendidly vivid memoir" - Nicholas Booth, Astronomy Now

"a wonderfully warm and witty memoir ... Fred is a wise, skilled narrator" - Nicholas Booth, Astronomy Now

"A welcome addition to any library" - Nicholas Booth, Astronomy Now

"There's certainly plenty here for the (unmanned) space exploration fan to get his or her teeth into." - Brian Clegg, Popular Science

"Taylor has the happy knack of making the most complex scientific information both interesting and accessible" - Steve Craggs, Northern Echo

Exploring the Planets

A Memoir

Fred Taylor

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