This, fifty years after Sputnik, is the definitive book on the Russian space program. The author covers all the key elements of the current Russian space program, including both manned and unmanned missions. He examines the various types of unmanned applications programs as well as the crucial military program, and even analyzes the infrastructure of production, launch centres and tracking. You'll also find discussion of the commercialization of the program and its relationship with western companies. Russia's current space experiment is also put in a comparative global context. Strong emphasis is placed on Russia's future space intentions and on new programs and missions in prospect.

Author of 'Race into space - the Soviet space programme' (1988), 'The new Russian space programme' (1994), 'Russia in space - the failed frontier?' (2001), 'Two roads into space - the Japanese and Indian space programmes' (1998), 'The Chinese space programme - from conception to future capabilities' (1997), 'The Chinese space programme - from conception to manned spaceflight' (2004), 'Europe's space programme' (2003), 'Two roads to the moon' (with Dave Shayler)(forthcoming), 'Russian planetary exploration' (forthcoming), 'Latest in space 2007' (forthcoming), all Praxis titles. Writer on articles on spaceflight for Astronomy Now, Orbit, Spaceflight, Journal of the British Interplanetary Society (JBIS), Space Chronicle, Astronomy & Space, Sunday Press, Quest, Irish Independent. Broadcaster for RTE, BBC (Radio 4, World Service), Canadian Broadcasting.