This book is a detailed, but highly readable and balanced account of the history of animal space flights carried out by all nations, but principally the United States and the Soviet Union. It explores the ways in which animal high-altitude and space flight research impacted on space flight biomedicine and technology, and how the results - both successful and disappointing - allowed human beings to then undertake that same hazardous journey with far greater understanding and confidence. This complete and authoritative book will undoubtedly become the ultimate authority on animal space flights.
Dedication.- Foreword.- Acknowledgements.- Authors? Preface.- Taming the Rockets: From Wrath to Research.- High Altitude Research.- Pioneers of Destiny.- Holloman, and the Albert Hall of Fame.- Able and Baker Lead the Way.- The Most Famous Dog in History.- Prelude to Manned Space Flight.- Biting the HandistHHH.- The French Space Connection.- The Trouble with Bion.- Shuttling into Orbit.- Latter-Day Space Travellers.- Glossary and Notes.- List of Illustrations.- Appendixes.- Bibliography and References.- Index.
From the reviews:
"Animals in Space, a relentlessly factual account of animal endeavours in near Earth orbit. a ] The programme and its relationship to animal rights is surely fertile material for any future popular science work on the subject. a ] the history of animal space flight is long and fascinating. It deserves its place alongside the human stories of Vostok 1, Apollo 11 and Challenger." (New Scientist, April, 2007)
"Animals in Space is an extremely detailed, yet absorbing, history of animals used in the space programs around the world. a ] In addition to a list of references at the end of each chapter, the booka (TM)s documentation includes photos, charts, and lists of the U.S., Soviet, Chinese, French and international space missions (including Bion and International Space Station) that utilized animals as test and research subjects. a ] the book will surely serve as a standard on the subject for years to come." (Advocacy for Animals, November, 2007)