"Many space buffs, especially young ones, should find this a satisfying narrative."-Publishers Weekly "Ambassadors is written in an accessible and engaging style, introducing readers to behind-the-scenes players most of us have never heard of."-Russell Lewis, NPR "[Ambassadors from Earth] offers an accessible account of the U.S. and Soviet planetary missions of the Space Race era, as well as the more widespread efforts of more recent times."-Roger Launius, Air & Space Magazine "Utilising original interviews with key players, bolstered by never-before-seen photographs, journal excerpts, and primary source documents, Gallentine delivers a quirky and unforgettable look at the lives and legacy of the Americans and Soviets who conceived, built, and guided those unmanned missions to the planets and beyond."-Philip Corneille, Spaceflight "This book provides a wonderful way of renewing interest in the pioneering contributions of the robotic space programs pursued by the United States and the Soviet Union."-De Witt Douglas Kilgore, Quest "An intriguing and essential read on the history of unmanned space programs and especially the tug-of-war between the United States and the Soviety Union for space supremacy in the late 1950s and the decade of the 1960s."-Dale A. Stirling, Journal for the History of Discoveries