The current Russian space programme is poorly known to English-speaking readers and there is a popular perception that it has succumbed to economic pressure or even ‘failed’.  In fact, Russia maintains an extensive space industry, has built a significant part of the space station and is about to move on to new,  exciting projects.

Author of ‘Race into space - the Soviet space programme’ (1988), ‘The new Russian space programme’ (1994), ‘Russia in space - the failed frontier?’ (2001), ‘Two roads into space - the Japanese and Indian space programmes’ (1998), ‘The Chinese space programme - from conception to future capabilities’ (1997), ‘The Chinese space programme - from conception to manned spaceflight’ (2004), ‘Europe’s space programme’ (2003), ‘Two roads to the moon’ (with Dave Shayler)(forthcoming), ‘Russian planetary exploration’ (forthcoming), ‘Latest in space 2007’ (forthcoming), all Praxis titles. Writer on articles on spaceflight for Astronomy Now, Orbit, Spaceflight, Journal of the British Interplanetary Society (JBIS), Space Chronicle, Astronomy & Space, Sunday Press, Quest, Irish Independent. Broadcaster for RTE, BBC (Radio 4, World Service), Canadian Broadcasting.