Stamping the Earth from Space

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxiv

   PDF

2. Prologue: From Sputnik to the International Space Station

   • Renato Dicati

   Pages 1-25

3. Satellite Geodesy

   • Renato Dicati

   Pages 27-57

4. Researches on the Atmosphere

   • Renato Dicati

   Pages 59-122

5. Ionospheric Research with Satellites

   • Renato Dicati

   Pages 123-151

6. Exploration of the Earth’s Magnetosphere

   • Renato Dicati

   Pages 153-206

7. Meteorological Satellites

   • Renato Dicati

   Pages 207-263

8. Study of Micrometeorites and Cosmic Dust

   • Renato Dicati

   Pages 265-292

9. Earth Remote Sensing

   • Renato Dicati

   Pages 293-359

10. Cartography and Mapping

    • Renato Dicati

    Pages 361-382

11. Oceanography from Space

    • Renato Dicati

    Pages 383-411

12. Back Matter

    Pages 413-429

    PDF

This unique book presents a historical and philatelic survey of Earth exploration from space. It covers all areas of research in which artificial satellites have contributed in designing a new image of our planet and its environment: the atmosphere and ionosphere, the magnetic field, radiation belts and the magnetosphere, weather, remote sensing, mapping of the surface, observation of the oceans and marine environments, geodesy, and the study of life and ecological systems. Stamping the Earth from Space presents the results obtained with the thousands of satellites launched by the two former superpowers, the Soviet Union and the United States, and also those of the many missions carried out by the ESA, individual European countries, Japan, China, India, and the many emerging space nations. Beautifully illustrated, it contains almost 1100 color reproductions of philatelic items. In addition to topical stamps and thematic postal documents, the book provides an extensive review of  astrophilatelic items. The most important space missions are documented through event covers and cards canceled at launch sites, tracking stations, research laboratories, and mission control facilities.

• Artificial Chromosomes
• Colonizing Mars
• Engineered Astronauts
• Fictional Interplanetary Travel
• Genetic Engineering for Space
• Human Enhancement
• Human Survival on Mars
• Interplanetary Travel
• Medical Nanotechnology
• Space Medicine
• Steered Evolution
• Synthetic Genomics
• Vasculoid Concept
• genetic engineering

“I have not come across a philatelic survey of the history of Earth exploration from space before. For anyone who has ever had a stamp album, or who has admired a postage stamp, this makes the book really special. The stamps are shown full size and in accurate colour reproduction. Well over 1100 stamps are illustrated. ... it is marvellous.” (David W. Hughes, The Observatory, Vol. 137 (1261), December, 2017)

• Unione Stampa Filatelica Italiana, Milan, Italy

  Renato Dicati

Born in Italy in 1950, Renato Dicati has cultivated since childhood a love for astronomy and an interest in space. In 1975 he graduated in Astrophysics at the University of Milan. After an interesting experience as a teacher in public schools, he has worked for 30 years at IBM Italy, dealing with education, training, and communications based on the use of information technology and multimedia. Over the last twenty years he has dedicated much of his free time to science. He has organized philatelic exhibitions on the history of astronomy and astronautics and has published numerous books and articles on astronomy, space exploration, and thematic philately. Renato Dicati is a member of AS.IT.AF (the Italian Astrophilately Society) and serves on the Board of Directors of USFI (Italian Philatelic Press Union). His activities include volunteering at ASPHI, a non-profit foundation that promotes the integration of people with disabilities in school, at work, and in society through the use of information communication technology. He published Stamping Through Astronomy with Springer in 2013.

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