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Hardcover: 800 pages
Publisher: Macmillan Reference USA (September 16, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 002865546X
ISBN-13: 978-0028655468

From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up-Covering scientific, technological, and business aspects, this set offers a unique approach to its subject. Each alphabetically arranged volume has a different focus. The first, Space Business, covers current commercial activity in space, such as medical research, satellites, space law, business applications, and associated careers. Planetary Science and Astronomy has information on galaxies, stars, planets, and other celestial bodies. Space travel, vehicles, equipment, and explorers are covered in Humans in Space. The final volume, Our Future in Space, is highly speculative in its discussion of potential possibilities, technology, and conjectural ideas, such as faster-than-light travel, from science fiction writers, books, and movies. Biographical entries appear throughout the set. Articles include events and publications through 2001. Captioned color and black-and-white photos featuring people and equipment are informative, sometimes spectacular, although often small. Each table of contents covers the entire set and cross-references refer readers to articles in the other volumes. Glossary terms are highlighted in the text and defined in the margins as well. A useful and appealing approach to the subject.
Jeffrey A. French, Euclid Public Library, OH
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
In this wonderful encyclopedia designed for middle- and high-school students, 341 entries explore the wonders of space. Each volume has a theme. Space Business (volume 1) covers topics such as Communications satellite industry, Law of space, and Space tourism. Planetary Science and Astronomy (volume 2) covers the more scientific aspects, including planetary explorations. Humans in Space (volume 3) treats manned missions and various astronauts, and Our Future in Space has entries for topics such as Asteroid mining, Mars bases, and Military uses of space. The entries in each volume are in alphabetical order and range from a single paragraph to several pages in length, with most being one or two pages long.

The front and back matter are the same in each volume and include a few pages of reference tables such as conversion charts, time lines of milestones in space history and human achievements in space, a list of contributors, a table of contents for the set, and a glossary. Volume 1 has a unique time line of "Major Business Milestones in U.S. History." The index in the first three volumes is specific to the volume only, and there is a cumulative index in volume 4.

Numerous sidebars provide additional information throughout the set. Words that appear in bold type in the entry are defined in the page margins and also in the glossary. The color illustrations and photographs are beautifully reproduced and appear on almost every two-page spread. Additionally, there are smaller portraits and black-and-white illustrations. Almost every person mentioned has a portrait somewhere in the set.

The entries are well written and should be easily understood by the target audience of YA students. The breadth and depth of information will fascinate students and be very helpful in preparing reports and projects on a wide variety of space-related topics. School and public libraries should eagerly add this set to their collections. RBB
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