{"title":"Books by Piers Bizony","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9781408815540","title":"Starman","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e‘\u003ci\u003eStarman \u003c\/i\u003etakes us at breakneck speed through Gagarin's strange trajectory ... Without books like these to shelter it, history is eroded by propaganda and real heroes fall victim to spin' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e- New Scientist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e‘A riveting account of Gagarin's life ... \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eStarman \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003ebrilliantly captures the atmosphere of the time' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e- European\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e‘\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eStarman \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003ewas worth writing and is definitely worth reading' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e- Daily Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe definitive biography of Yuri Gagarin, re-published with new material to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of his momentous flight into space.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn April 12 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to leave the Earth's atmosphere and venture into space. An icon of the 20th century, he also became a danger to himself and a threat to the Soviet state. At the age of 34, he was killed in a plane crash. Based on KGB files, restricted documents from Russian space authorities, and interviews with his friends and colleagues, this biography of the Russian cosmonaut reveals a man in turmoil: torn apart by powerful political pressures, fighting a losing battle against alcoholism and rebelling against the cruelties of a corrupt totalitarian regime.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e2011 marks the fiftieth anniversary of Gagarin's flight. This new edition of \u003ci\u003eStarman\u003c\/i\u003e includes a new afterword that celebrates the importance of that momentous expedition and reflects on Gagarin's legacy.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43399952761010,"sku":"9781408815540","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781408815540_17b50dfa-416d-47e6-886c-1f5ca83771e6.jpg?v=1786019733"},{"product_id":"9780760373149","title":"NASA Missions to Mars","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGorgeously illustrated with NASA photography, the large-format (12 × 12 inches) \u003ci\u003eNASA Missions to Mars\u003c\/i\u003e examines everything from the first tentative steps toward the fourth planet to the 2021 landing of rover \u003ci\u003ePerseverance\u003c\/i\u003e and beyond.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSpace exploration has always been about pushing boundaries, but perhaps the achievement which has most piqued a sense of possibility has been the exploration of Mars. Beginning with \u003cb\u003eSoviet and American flybys in the early 1960s\u003c\/b\u003e that were part and parcel of the \u003cb\u003eSpace Race\u003c\/b\u003e, acclaimed space historian Piers Bizony continues through complete coverage of the \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eViking 1\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003e2\u003c\/i\u003e missions of 1975–1976\u003c\/b\u003e. Bizony also traces \u003cb\u003eNASA’s acclaimed rover program\u003c\/b\u003e, describing the development, technologies, mission histories, and achievements of the rovers \u003ci\u003eSojourner\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eOpportunity\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSpirit\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eCuriosity\u003c\/i\u003e—all on the 25th anniversary of their first landing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis awe-inspiring book features:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn engaging and \u003cb\u003ecomplete history of Mars exploration\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA treasure trove of \u003cb\u003eimagery from the NASA archives\u003c\/b\u003e, including photos and cartography beamed home, artworks and concept drawings created during development phases, as well as photography created to document testing phases\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA glimpse of \u003cb\u003efuture plans\u003c\/b\u003e for Mars exploration and habitation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoverage of \u003cb\u003eorbiters sent\u003c\/b\u003e to the red planet by not only NASA but by space agencies \u003cb\u003efrom Russia, India, Japan, Europe, China, and the UAE\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA two-sided \u003cb\u003e24-inch gatefold\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHumankind’s fascination with Mars can be traced back to prewar science fiction. While the billions of dollars and ingenious innovations have allowed us incredible views from more than 51 million miles away, no less incredible are the insights these missions, hardware, and scientists have provided into our universe—and our own planet. \u003ci\u003eNASA Missions to Mars\u003c\/i\u003e is your complete illustrated history of those efforts and \u003cb\u003ea necessary volume for the bookshelf of any space enthusiast\u003c\/b\u003e!","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56294785417589,"sku":"9780760373149","price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780760373149.jpg?v=1786015975"},{"product_id":"9783836588089","title":"The NASA Archives. 45th Ed.","description":"\u003cp\u003eOn October 1, 1958, the world’s first civilian space agency opened for business as an emergency response to the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik a year earlier. Within a decade, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, universally known as NASA, had evolved from modest research teams experimenting with small converted rockets into \u003cstrong\u003eone of the greatest technological and managerial enterprises ever known\u003c\/strong\u003e, capable of sending people to the Moon aboard gigantic rockets and of dispatching robot explorers to Venus, Mars, and worlds far beyond. In spite of occasional, tragic setbacks in NASA’s history, the Apollo lunar landing project remains \u003cstrong\u003ea byword for American ingenuity\u003c\/strong\u003e; the winged space shuttles spearheaded the International Space Station and a dazzling array of astronomical satellites and robotic landers, and Earth observation programs have \u003cstrong\u003etransformed our understanding of the cosmos and our home world’s fragile place within it\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Throughout NASA’s 60-year history, images have played a central role. Who today is not familiar with the \u003cstrong\u003eHubble Space Telescope\u003c\/strong\u003e’s mesmerizing views of the universe or the pin-sharp panoramas of Mars from NASA’s surface rovers? And who could forget the photographs of the first men walking on the Moon?\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e This compact edition is derived from our XL edition, which was researched\u003cstrong\u003e in collaboration with NASA,\u003c\/strong\u003e and gathers\u003cstrong\u003e hundreds of historic photographs\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003erare concept renderings\u003c\/strong\u003e, scanned and remastered using the latest technology. Texts by science and technology journalist \u003cstrong\u003ePiers Bizony\u003c\/strong\u003e, former NASA chief historian \u003cstrong\u003eRoger Launius\u003c\/strong\u003e, and best-selling Apollo historian \u003cstrong\u003eAndrew Chaikin\u003c\/strong\u003e round out this \u003cstrong\u003ecomprehensive exploration of NASA\u003c\/strong\u003e, from its earliest days to its \u003cstrong\u003ecurrent development of new space systems for the future\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eThe NASA Archives\u003c\/em\u003e is more than just a fascinating pictorial history of the U.S. space program. 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This landmark program, developed in collaboration with international partners and private aerospace leaders, represents not just a return to the Moon, but a critical stepping stone toward Mars and beyond.   In Artemis: NASA’s New Lunar Adventure, acclaimed space historian Piers Bizony delivers a visually stunning and deeply informed account of this historic undertaking. Drawing on privileged access to NASA and its contractors, Bizony combines authoritative narrative with captivating imagery to bring Artemis to life. Inside, you will find:200+ extraordinary photographs from NASA and key partners, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX presented on large-format 12\" × 12\" pagesBehind-the-scenes looks at mission planning, engineering breakthroughs, and astronaut trainingA clear, engaging narrative explaining how Artemis builds on Apollo while pushing far beyond itInsights from engineers, mission managers, and astronauts shaping the future of human spaceflightA global perspective on the international partnerships driving the next space ageOversized and richly illustrated, this is both a definitive visual record and a compelling narrative of the most ambitious space program of the twenty-first century.   Perfect for space enthusiasts and gift buyers alike, Artemis: NASA’s New Lunar Adventure captures the urgency, scale, and excitement of humanity’s next giant leap—at the precise moment it is unfolding.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57499334443381,"sku":"9780760387320","price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780760387320.jpg?v=1786694645"},{"product_id":"robots-on-screen","title":"Robots on Screen","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDiscover how a century of cinema has imagined robots and artificial intelligence. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom the groundbreaking Maschinenmensch of \u003ci\u003eMetropolis \u003c\/i\u003eto the iconic droids of \u003ci\u003eStar Wars, Robots on Screen \u003c\/i\u003eexplores how film has shaped our relationship with intelligent machines. 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