Cambridge Encyclopedia of Space: Missions, Applications and Exploration »

Fernand Verger is Emeritus Professor of Geography at l'École Normale Supérieure, Paris. He was NASA Principal Investigator for the Landsat-1 and 2 programs, and project director of the preliminary program for assessing the SPOT satellite.

Isabelle Sourbès-Verger is a researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique, Paris.

Raymond Ghirardi is a cartographic engineer at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and has worked on many geographical and geopolitical projects.

Xavier Pasco is a researcher at the Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique, and Associate Professor at the Université de Marne la Vallée.

The definitive reference source on space applications, missions and exploration: with unique breadth, depth and presentation.

Foreword; Preface; List of figures;

1. The environment of outer space;
2. Orbits;
3. Ground tracks;
4. The occupation of space;
5. Launchers and launch sites;
6. Political and economic aspects;
7. Near-Earth science missions;
8. Exploration beyond geocentric orbit;
9. Earth observation;
10. Telecommunications;
11. Military applications;
12. Man in space; Bibliography; Internet sites; Index.