Paolo Ulivi was born in Florence, Italy and graduated from the Politecnico di Milano University with a thesis on robotics for Mars sample return missions. He works as a consultant in aerospace structures in Toulouse, France. In his free time, he researches the history of astronautics, astronomy, aeronautics and the Cold War. He is also an amateur astronomer and specializes in Solar System observations.

David Harland studied astronomy to degree level, and pursued a career lecturing in computer science, and academic and industrial research. In 1995, David "retired" to resume his interest in spaec and started to write. He has over two dozen books published to date, a majority of them with Springer/Praxis and several others under contract. These days he considers himself to be an amateur hermit and a professional space historian.

The 3-volume series will provide comprehensive coverage with thousands of references to the professional literature that should make it the 'first port of call' for people seeking information on the topic

Emphasises the technology of space probes

Comprehensive coverage ranges from the earliest planetary probes to the most recent planetary flights and missions

Provides multilingual references (including Chinese, Russian, Czech, French, Italian)

Details many unflown and unfulfilled missions, which may still be proven and useful in the future

Describes the technical rivalry between the US and Soviet Union in the development of launchers

(In Part 1) Introduction.- Chapter 1: The beginning.- Chapter 2: Of landers and orbiters.- Chapter 3: The grandest tour.- (In Part 2) Chapter 4: The decade of Halley.- Chapter 5: The era of flagships.- Chapter 6: Faster, cheaper, better.- (Now in Part 3) Foreword.- Author's Preface.- Acknowledgments.- Chapter 7: The last flagship.- Chapter 8: Faster, cheaper, better continues.- Chapter 9: Mars invaded.- Glossary.- Appendices.- Chapter references.- Further reading.- Previous volumes in this series.- Index.