Beginning in the 1950s, spaceflight's history spans about a half a century--a short history, but profound in its cultural and technological impact and the level of resources involved. Evidently bound by love to the study, Walsh has assembled this three-volume reference, which includes entries on every space mission, both human and robotic, and is distinguished, also, by a substantial number of biographical entries covering astronauts, Russian cosmonauts, and other non-US, and non-Russian cosmonauts. Arranged alphabetically, the 699 entries are enhanced with small b&w photos; a chronology, a bibliography, and a comprehensive index appear in the third volume. Clear, accessible writing and comprehensive coverage make this a useful and engaging reference that will serve a wide audience of students and the general public as well as industry workers interested in the context and history of their endeavors. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)