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Sentinels in the sky : how satellites have revolutionized our understanding of Earth and space / James Lawrence Powell.

Oxford Scholarship Online Earth Science Available online

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Format:
Book
Author/Creator:
Powell, James Lawrence, 1936- author.
Language:
English
Subjects (All):
Artificial satellites--History.
Artificial satellites.
Observation (Scientific method).
Observation.
Medical Subjects:
Observation.
Genre:
History
Physical Description:
1 online resource : illustrations.
Place of Publication:
New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2026]
Summary:
Since the launch of Sputnik in 1957, satellites have become the silent sentinels of our planet and the cosmos. Orbiting high above, they have changed the way we live, the way we think, and most profoundly, the way we see. In 'Sentinels in the Sky', geologist and author James Lawrence Powell tells the remarkable story of how satellites have revolutionized science-transforming fields from geology to astronomy, meteorology to climate science, and agriculture to archaeology. What began as a Cold War contest to launch the first artificial satellite has evolved into a global enterprise in space-based observation, delivering a continuous stream of data about our planet and its place in the universe.
Contents:
Brick Moon to Peenemünde
Vengeance weapon to vanguard: the space race begins
Sputnik
The Doppler effect
Satellite navigation
Science by satellite: early steps
Harry Wexler’s dream
Weather satellites
Satellites and the sea
GRACE
The Earth’s energy imbalance
Land- and sea-surface temperatures
Plants and animals: the view from space
Coat of many colors
Telescopes in space
Pillars of creation
International cooperation in space
Golden age or gilded age?.
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Online resource; title from home page (Oxford Academic, viewed March 23, 2026).
Other Format:
Print version:
Print version: Powell, James Lawrence, 1936- Sentinels in the sky
ISBN:
9780197842850
0197842852
OCLC:
1572710641
Publisher Number:
CIPO000352462
Access Restriction:
Restricted for use by site license

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