Spies in the Sky by Pat Norris

Spies in the Sky by Pat Norris

In Spies in the Sky Patrick Norris responds to the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the dawn of the Space Age – the launch of Sputnik 1 – with a review of the most important historical applications of space science for the benefit of the human race during that half century, focusing particularly on the prevention of nuclear war. The author addresses the oft quoted conclusion that the Moon landings and the ‘race to the Moon’ between the two superpowers were a side effect of the Cold War, by describing what he believes was the more important event – the use of satellites by military to prevent the Cold War becoming a ‘hot war’. In developing the story the author casts a spotlight on a little-known aspect of the Space Age, namely the military dimension. Today military satellites represent 25 percent of all satellites in orbit, and they are just as important now in preventing regional nuclear war as they were in preventing global Armageddon more than 30 years ago.

From the reviews:

"The author’s aim, in this book, is to persuade readers that ‘the most crucial role’ played by satellites …The book is illustrated with 50 black-and-white photos and has a reference section … . In one neat and readable package, this book brings together the myths and rumours, facts and factoids, of which most of us have … recollection, and places them in an historical setting. In the final analysis, the author’s take on the ‘crucial role’ of spy satellites is compelling … ." (Satellite Evolution Group, October, 2008)

Watching Earth from Space derives from the author's unique experience of being part of the team that developed Europe's first and Japan's latest generations of weather satellites, of using satellite images to monitor the UK potato and sugar beet crops, and helping to define the use of satellites to monitor global change and prevent nuclear war. Pat Norris's direct access to politicians, civil servants, technologists, and both military and civilian users of space images worldwide has also proved essential to the accuracy of the story told in this book. This book is the natural successor to Pat Norris's book on the origins of spy satellites: Spies in the Sky (Springer-Praxis, 2008), which told the story of the first military satellites to monitor the Earth.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780387716725
ISBN 10	0387716726
Title	Spies in the Sky
Author	Pat Norris
Series	Springer Praxis Books
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Year published	2007-10-04
Number of pages	220
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.