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

This book was so informative that even I as non-space person loved it! This book should be in every Jr.high and high school library. It captures the imagination with it's amazing pictures. So much to learn about what is going on with robotics in space and this book really describes it well. Great job Nancy!!

While the title is a bit hyperbolic, the book is a solid work of journalism covering the major unmanned US space mission currently or at least recently underway. It kicks off with New Horizon, a good choice, providing some easy to digest information and insight into what it took to get to Pluto and what was found there; I admit I do find it kind of incredible that, well within my lifetime, space exploration went from gaining Earth orbit to reaching a world that, whether a proper planet or not, once upon a time defined the outer limit of our solar system. The reporting then moves on to the superstar Martian rover, Curiosity, followed by the remarkable Hubble space telescope and…well, you get the drift. The overall package delivers a pretty good picture of where we are right now in these endeavors, and in that respect it is very useful as a topical reference. This use will be transitory, of course, as the material will soon, inevitably, become dated. Still, we are in quite a moment in the history of such programs, and that deserves an accessible record like this.

Disclaimer: Nancy is a friend of mine. If you want a great, easy read that covers "highlights" of modern space exploration, order this book! The writing level captures attention, without being overly technical. A great "coffee table" book to go along with "Your Ticket to The Universe" by Watzke & Arcand.

Great book full of anecdotes, stories, and gorgeous pictures. High quality printing, especially nice and sturdy for a soft bound book.

Excellent book! I recommend it to anyone who has interest or curiosity in space. It is well written and very readable.