Deep Space Probes

To the Outer Solar System and Beyond

Gregory L. Matloff (Autor)

Buch | Hardcover

XXX, 242 Seiten

2005 | 2nd ed. 2005
Springer Berlin (Verlag)
978-3-540-24772-2 (ISBN)

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There is currently tremendous interest in the search for extrasolar life and extraterrestrial intelligence, and this is expressed by financial backing from NASA for extrasolar exploration by space probes. This book will be an authoritative and comprehensive survey of the present-day state of the art in the field of extrasolar and interstellar space exploration, focusing on the most promising techniques. "Deep-Space Probes" will appeal to a wide audience, including non-technical readers as well as engineering/physics graduates. Drawing upon his experience as a Faculty Fellow at the NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center, the author has attempted to make the book as up to date as possible.

The Space Age is nearly 50 years old but exploration of the outer planets and beyond has only just begun. Deep-Space Probes Second Edition draws on the latest research to explain why we should explore beyond the edge of the Solar System and how we can build highly sophisticated robot spacecraft to make the journey. Many technical problems remain to be solved, among them propulsion systems to permit far higher velocities, and technologies to build vehicles a fraction of the size of today's spacecraft.

Beyond the range of effective radio control, robot vehicles for exploring deep space will need to be intelligent, 'thinking' craft - able to make vital decisions entirely on their own. Gregory Matloff also looks at the possibility for human travel into interstellar space, and some of the immense problems that such journeys would entail.

This second edition includes an entirely new chapter on holographic message plaques for future interstellar probes - a NASA-funded project.

Motivations for deep-space travel.- The realms of space.- Tomorrow's targets.- Space propulsion today.- The incredible shrinking spaceprobe.- The nuclear option.- 21st century starflight.- On the technological horizon.- Exotic possibilities.- Of stars, planets and life.- Life between the stars.- Conscious spacecraft.- Meeting ET.- Interstellar message plaques.- Appendix: Photon sail history, engineering and mission analysis.

From the reviews of the second edition:

"In this new edition ... Matloff updates the contents and lays the groundwork for understanding the role of robotic and human space travel. The book contains a useful description of the solar system and an explanation of the stellar world around us. ... the book is a good place to learn about this solar system, interplanetary space travel, and journeys to the stars. ... well supplemented by good figures and tables. ... Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals." (W. E. Howard, CHOICE, March, 2006)

"The author has concentrated heavily on propulsion techniques touching on some esoteric techniques like anti-matter propulsion, magnetic surfing and warp drive, whilst paying also sufficient attention to nuclear propulsion and solar sailing - of which the author is clearly a proponent. The discussion is sprinkled with graphs and mathematical formulas ... . I can see that it will be of high interest to readers who have specialised in interplanetary and interstellar travel and are looking at the future challenges this branch of astronautics provides." (Jos Heyman, The News Bulletin of The Astronautical Society of Western Australia, Vol. 31 (1), November, 2005)

Erscheint lt. Verlag	25.4.2005
Reihe/Serie	Astronautical Engineering
Reihe/Serie	Springer Praxis Books
Zusatzinfo	XXX, 242 p.
Verlagsort	Berlin
Sprache	englisch
Maße	170 x 242 mm
Gewicht	656 g
Themenwelt	Technik ► Fahrzeugbau / Schiffbau
Themenwelt	Technik ► Luft- / Raumfahrttechnik
Schlagworte	Control • History • Raumfahrt • robot • space • Space Travel • Stars • Technologie
ISBN-10	3-540-24772-6 / 3540247726
ISBN-13	978-3-540-24772-2 / 9783540247722
Zustand	Neuware