Summary
Praise for the previous edition:
"...this work will be a useful tool for anyone interested in space exploration...Recommended for high-school, public, and academic libraries."—Booklist
"From the atomic mass number to zulu time, this dictionary presents some 3,000 definitions of words, concepts, places, artifacts, and events related to space exploration. Planned future projects and technologies are included. Mathematical equations are included in defintions where pertinent."—Scitech Book News
"...this revised book opens up the language of space technology to all who wish to participate in, or at least understand, this grandest of human adventures...An excellent reference."—Children's Literature
The recent tragedy of space shuttle Columbia has led many to question if looking to the stars to secure humanity's dreams for the future is safe or realistic. Still, many regard space technology and its uses as ever more fascinating, relevant, and complex. The Facts On File Dictionary of Space Technology, Revised Edition defines the basic terms and phrases that are used in the science of space, space flight, and space technology. This invaluable volume is the key to understanding everything tied to space, from basic physics to complex technical matters to the wonders of the cosmos. A comprehensive reference with concise definitions, it illustrates recent advances and makes accessible—in some cases for the very first time—nearly every word, concept, and event relating to this branch of science.
Accurate and easy-to-understand, the dictionary contains more than 1,500 entries that guide laypersons and professionals alike through humankind's activities in space, the beginnings of our extraterrestrial society, and the increasingly important role of space science in everyday life.
Coverage includes:
- Science basics and fundamentals
- Historic events
- Defense and the armed forces
- Planetary sciences.