There have been many developments in space technology since the first edition of this work was published back in 1981. The Challenger disaster, the Hubble Space Telescope, the Mars Pathfinder mission, and numerous other achievements and failures are all covered by this new edition. Similar to the first edition, the 3,000 alphabetical entries range in length from a single sentence to several pages, with most of the longer entries devoted to various missions or destinations. Although space programs from all nations are included, the emphasis is clearly on the U. S.

Entries are written for the general adult reader or student and do not rely heavily on mathematics for their explanations. The author is unashamedly a space enthusiast, and the writing sometimes reflects this position by promoting space exploration. Black-and-white diagrams and a few photos accompany some of the entries. Considering the availability of excellent public domain images related to space exploration, the quality of the illustrations in this work is disappointing. Appendixes list units of measure, conversion factors, and Web sites related to space exploration. Despite its poor illustrations, this work will be a useful tool for anyone interested in space exploration. A good companion on the reference shelf is Who's Who in Space (3d ed., Macmillan, 1999), which has astronaut biographies. Recommended for high-school, public, and academic libraries.

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