Incredible Stories From Space: A Behind the Scenes Look at the Missions Changing Our View of the Cosmos

by Nancy Atkinson

In "Incredible Stories from Space," veteran space journalist Nancy Atkinson shares compelling insights from over 35 NASA scientists and engineers, taking readers behind the scenes of the unmanned missions that are transforming our understanding of the solar system and beyond. Weaving together one-on-one interviews along with the extraordinary sagas of the spacecraft themselves, this book chronicles the struggles and triumphs of nine current space missions and captures the true spirit of exploration and discovery. Full color images throughout reveal scientific discoveries and the stunning, breathtaking views of our universe, sent back to Earth by our robotic emissaries to the cosmos.

-Travel along with the first mission to Pluto
-Explore Mars alongside the Curiosity Rover
-Join the unprecedented hunt for extrasolar planets
-Unlock the mysteries of the cosmos with the iconic Hubble Space Telescope
-Discover the latest findings in our solar system
-See the future of space exploration with a preview of upcoming missions

Genres: Nonfiction, Astronomy, Science, Space, History

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published December 20, 2016

About the author

Nancy Atkinson is a science journalist and author with a passion for telling the stories of people involved in space exploration and astronomy. She writes for Universe Today, Seeker and Ad Astra, and her latest book about the Apollo program is titled “Eight Years to the Moon: The History of the Apollo Missions.” It shares the untold stories of engineers and scientists who helped make the Apollo program so successful, despite the daunting odds against it.

Her first book “Incredible Stories From Space: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Missions Changing Our View of the Cosmos” (Dec. 2016) tells the stories of 37 scientists and engineers that work on several current NASA robotic missions to explore the solar system and beyond.

She has been involved with several space-related podcasts, including Astronomy Cast, 365 Days of Astronomy and was the host of the NASA Lunar Science Institute podcast. Nancy lives in Minnesota.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the only book I have ever finished and then, immediately restarted. It’s absolutely mind-blowing in the most enchanting, digestible way. Jam packed with incredible information that brings it from the large and grand, to the granular and awe-inspiring. I can’t speak long enough or well enough about this incredible work - please, please, PLEASE give it a read!!

[Phillip Fuller · Rating 3 out of 5]

What the author is trying to do is promote space exploration and does it to some degree but I did not feel a sense of wonder at looking at pictures of Pluto and Mars. The practical application of science and the efforts of the ground crew were inspiring to me. The science writing was great but I can't get excited over seeing chunks of rock in space.

[Cynthia Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned so much from reading this book. The beautiful color pictures left me in awe of our huge universe. We have so much more to learn and many more space missions/explorations yet to come. We have just uncovered the tip of the iceberg, when it come to knowledge of space/universe and everything that is out there. The author really knows her stuff. Great amazing book, and my children enjoyed it too.

[Patrick Schwisow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of serious science in here, but the author does a great job of telling the stories of the people who worked on these (mostly unmanned) missions. This makes the hard-core science much more approachable. Very well written.

DISCLAIMER: I received my copy free from the publisher as part of a Goodreads Giveaway.

[John Jaksich · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author does a great job relating robotic exploration of the solar system. Ms. Atkinson is known for collaborations with Fraser Cain and professor Pamela Gay of Cosmoquest and www.universetoday.com

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here’s a great way to catch up on 20 years of space science missions, up to 2016. I came away with a renewed sense of how hard these teams work, and the interesting personalities involved.

If there is a hardback copy available, I’d recommend that, as the paperback has weirdly small text, and a few of the diagrams have text that is too small to read (and I don’t even require reading glasses yet)

[Brynn Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The author does a great job writing about the missions to space

[Syaddad Bahalwan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robbana maa kholakta hadzaa bathila, subhanaka fakina adzaa ban naar.

[Sean Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read on the unmanned heroes of space exploration.