NASA SP-2011-4234. This book presents the history of planetary protection by tracing the responses to the concerns on NASA's missions to the Moon, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and many smaller bodies of our solar system. The book relates the extensive efforts put forth by NASA to plan operations and prepare space vehicles that return exemplary science without contaminating the biospheres of other worlds or our own. To protect irreplaceable environments, NASA has committed to conducting space exploration in a manner that is protective of the bodies visited, as well as of our own planet.

Modern Military Aircraft is a fascinating guide to the most important military aircraft developed since World War II. This highly illustrated book features a wide range of aircraft that served in the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, conflicts in the Middle East and the Falklands. Types of aircraft range from front line fighters to reconnaissance aircraft to bombers to interceptors and helicopters. Spanning such famous planes as the Lockheed Blackbird and the MiG-21, Modern Military Aircraft also includes lesser-known examples such as the South African Atlas Cheetah and the EH101 Merlin helicopter. Arranged by countries, each of the 75 featured aircraft is presented with outstanding fully annotated three-view colour artworks, development and service history, specification tables and colour and black-&-white photographs. With a wealth of information and splendidly presented, this book is a must for aviation enthusiasts.

This book will appeal to aviation engineers, air traffic controllers and all pilots who have taken a U.K. commercial pilots license. It explains how the U.K. Civil Aviation Flying Unit (CAFU) was formed during WWII and the work for which it was intended. How Flight Inspection methods were evolved to meet increasing challenges of improving navigational and landing aids and to ensure suitable flying standards were set for the issue of newly created licence requirements. It details the aircraft provided, their role; the seemingly ever changing Ministries from MCA to the CAA . It plots the beginning and the end of CAFU, asking how and why this occurred; tracks the changes of Ministries, policies, airfields, aircraft, inadequate housing, staff levels and pay, of aircrew and engineers who gave themselves to the safety of aviation, ensuring that to-days commercial aircraft are able to land in zero visibility conditions safely. It is a post-war history of the United Kingdoms effort, to be at the forefront of international aviation safety that is enjoyed by all who fly today. Whether you are a passenger or pilot, CAFU was a small part of this process and one to be proud of.

In West with the Night, Beryl Markham chronicles her unconventional, free-spirited girlhood in Kenya and her adventures as a rescue pilot, mail carrier, and bush pilot, scouting game for safaris all over Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. The book earned high praise upon its publication in 1942 but fell out of print and into obscurity. When it was republished in 1983 the book became an international bestseller and is now considered both a classic of its genre and a significant literary achievement. National Geographic Adventure ranks it number 8 in a list of 100 best adventure books.

BERYL MARKHAM (1902–1986) was a racehorse trainer and breeder, aviator, and author. She grew up on her father’s horse ranch in Kenya, learning Swahili, Nandi, and Masai, and spear hunting with the local Nandi Murani tribe. In 1933 she became the first woman in Kenya to become a commercial pilot. In 1936 Markham, who was already a well-known figure among in aviation circles, made international news when she became the first woman to make a non-stop solo transatlantic flight from Europe to North America.

After a stint in Hollywood, Markham returned to Kenya and trained horses until her death in 1983.