The 4-volume series provides comprehensive coverage with thousands of references to the professional literature. Emphasizes the technology of space probes. Comprehensive coverage ranges from the earliest planetary probes to the most recent planetary flights and missions. 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 launches. In part 4, it focuses on the robotic missions initiated since 2004, including NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Pt. 1. The golden age, 1957-1982 : The beginning -- Of landers and orbiters -- The grandest tour ; Pt. 2. Hiatus and renewal, 1983-1996 : The decade of Halley -- The era of flagships -- Faster, cheaper, better ; Pt. 3. Wows and woes, 1997-2003 : The last flagship. Back to Saturn -- Selection and 'descoping' -- The flagship -- Huygens : ESA's masterpiece -- Launching the giant -- The long cruise -- Glitches and solutions -- Arrival and first discoveries -- Huygens' descent -- The primary mission -- The equinox mission -- Faster, cheaper, better continues. A landmark year -- Star Trek propulsion -- Going wild -- Faster, cheaper, worse -- From fire to ice . . . to nowhere -- The wounded falcon -- A space telescope -- Mars invaded. Losing hope -- Dinner for the 'cosmic ghoul' -- Canceled surveyors -- Water everywhere! -- Europe goes low-cost -- A lander network -- Blueberries on Mars -- The robots that did not want to die ; Pt. 4. The modern era 2004-2013 : New frontiers of the solar system -- Red planet blues -- The future.