Space science Books

Book SynopsisAstrochemistry is a well-established interdisciplinary subject and the methods for describing time-dependent chemistry in static or slowly-changing regions of interstellar space have been well-developed over many years. Existing astrochemical books normally describe the subject in terms of chemistry in static or slowly-varying astronomical situations but the most significant astronomical regions are those in which the physical conditions change on timescales that are comparable to or shorter than chemical timescales. Written by leading experts in this area, this is the first book specifically devoted to the astrochemistry of dynamically evolving astronomical regions. It provides a comprehensive description of this important area of science, stressing in particular the methods that have been developed for specific purposes. It will be of interest to researchers in astrochemistry, including both chemists and physicists and could form the basis of a postgraduate course for research students in chemistry and physics.Trade ReviewThis book will no doubt stand as the definitive work in this field for some time to come. If you have even a passing interest in the interstellar medium, either in the Milky Way or in other galaxies, you should read it. Furthermore, you will be able to give it to every future PhD student on their first day and say ‘start here’. -- Derek Ward-Thompson, University of Central Lancashire * The Observatory magazine, Volume 138, No. 1266 *Table of ContentsChemistry and Dynamics in the Interstellar Medium; Shocks and Turbulence and Their Effects on Chemistry; Non-Thermal Chemistry in the Interstellar Medium; Gas Dynamics under Gravity: Star Formation; Stellar Jets and Outflows; Outflows and Explosions of Evolved Stars; Conclusions: where do we go from here?

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis invaluable book provides an introduction to space science. It brings together the various space science disciplines in one volume, and will benefit a wide audience, particularly students starting their graduate studies. The text presents a unique outlook, which will encourage students to think in broad terms across the whole range of space science, from the Earth's climate system to cosmology. There are also chapters describing basic techniques necessary to progress in space science research.Trade Review"Space Science is now a remarkably wide ranging subject, with enormous advances having been made in the last decade in solar, planetary and X-ray astronomy, not to mention remote sensing, the Earth's upper atmosphere and it's interaction with the solar wind. Consequently, collecting together graduate level reviews in all these areas was a challenging project in which the editors have succeeded admirably. Exploiting the wide expertise available at MSSL, there are up-to-date articles on current research which will be of value to any space science graduate student. Because of the basic physics (e.g. plasma physics, magnetohydrodynamics, quantum physics) that is included in each chapter, the book could also serve as the basis for an advanced undergraduate course in space science. I will certainly recommend it to students here at Southampton." Professor Phil Charles University of Southampton "It brings together the various space science disciplines in one volume, and will bebefit a wide audience, particularly students starting their graduate studies." SpaceflightTable of ContentsRemote Sensing of the Earth's Climate System, I. Mason; Planetary Science, A. Coates; Space Plasma Physics - A Primer, C. Owen; Space Weather, S. Matthews; The Physics of the Sun, L. Harra; X-Ray Astronomy, K. Mason; Using Quantum Physics and Spectroscopy to Probe the Physical Universe, L. Harra, K. Mason; An Introduction to Magnetohydrodynamics, L. van Driel-Gesztelyi; Minimal Relativity, K. Wu; Cosmology, M. Page; Topics in Practical Statistics, M. Cropper; Instrumentation for Photon Detection in Space, L. Culhane; Space Engineering, A. Smith.

Read more less

Book SynopsisRocket Science. Two words which are synonymous with complexity. Two words which for many people signify the zenith of human genius. A phrase which has entered the English lexicon to describe the toughest discipline in human endeavour. Author Alfred Zaehringer has a unique perspective on both the phrase and the discipline. In this book, his first about space in nearly forty years, Alfred Zaehringer uses his lifetime of experience to take the mystery out of the phrase he coined. Beginning with a short history of the birth of rocketry he moves into an explanation of the physics that makes it possible to use rockets to fly in space. Leaving no stone unturned he moves on to the politics and economics of space-flight before providing a detailed cross-section of man''s different uses of the reaction rocket to fly into the heavens. Finally he looks at the proposals for future methods of space transportation and looks at the many promising new technologies which may offer cheaper access to space.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisConsiderable prospecting has been done in outer space to find natural resources and mineral deposits that can be excavated. Commercial space travel and tourism have been found technically feasible and economically viable. So is the enthusiasm for demographic migration to celestial bodies. Governments are not inclined to invest in commercial development and allied ventures. So, private players are ready, having harnessed technology and mustered funds and enough guts to take risks. Thus, the commercial scene in outer space activities is brimming with anticipation.The challenge is legal. Space law brooks no sovereignty on celestial bodies; private appropriation of celestial resources is not permitted and profit accruals from commercial activities in outer space have to be shared for the benefit of all countries. Other incidental challenges are that the share of each country and the modalities of distribution are not yet in place. And there is no competent organization to ensure incumbent regulation and compliance.Humanity should not be made to wait endlessly to enjoy this bonanza from outer space. This book describes such potentialities, discusses legal implications and explores the way forward with practical suggestions for immediate action as well as long-term plans for implementation.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this book Professor Lubin lays out the fundamental physics and mathematics required to radically alter our capabilities in propulsion to enable extreme high-speed space flight both in our solar system and beyond. The case is made that the only currently viable solution to enable this transformation, including relativistic flight for the first interstellar robotic missions, is using large-scale directed energy. Traditional methods of propulsion are not capable of achieving the speed required for these missions, including fast crewed missions to Mars as well as the many robotic missions desired both in our solar system and to the nearest stars. Humanity has now reached a technological tipping point with the ability to project power over vast distances with transformational implications in a wide variety of areas, from propulsion to beaming power throughout our solar system to planetary defence. In a series of over 60 technical papers, the fundamentals of this transformation are outlined and synthesized in this book, allowing a detailed understanding of the many challenges ahead and a roadmap for human exploration far beyond our solar system. While the road ahead is long and challenging, it provides the path to radically alter humanity's future.Related Link(s)

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA concise illustrated introduction to the history and physics of supernovae, the brilliant explosions of stars; with striking color illustrations. Supernovae are the explosions of stars. They are some of the most energetic phenomena in the Universe, rivaling the combined light of billions of stars. Supernovae have been studied for centuries, and they have also made appearances in popular culture: a glimpse of a supernova in a painting provides Sherlock Holmes with a crucial clue, for example. In this volume in the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, astrophysicist Or Graur offers a concise and accessible introduction to these awe-inspiring astronomical phenomena.  Graur explains that a deep observational understanding of supernovae—why and how they shine and how their brightness changes over time—allows us to use them as tools for experiments in astrophysics and physics. A certain type of supernova, for example, brightens and fade

Read more less

Book SynopsisPreface.- Introduction.- Chapter 1 Selection and Conversions of Coordinate System.- Chapter 2 Complete Solutions of the two-body Problem.- Chapter 3 Analytical methods of structural solutions for a perturbed satellite orbit.- Chapter 4 Non-singular point analytical solutions for a perturbed Earth's satellite orbit by extrapolation.- Chapter 5 Design of satellite orbit and lifespan estimation.- Chapter 6 Orbital solutions of satellites of the Moon and major planets.- Chapter 7 Orbits in the restricted three-body problem and calculation methods.- Chapter 8 Numerical methods for satellite orbit extrapolation.- Chapter 9 Formulation of orbit determination and calculation of initial orbit.- Chapter 10 Determination of precession orbit.- Appendix.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review“Shindell describes his book as ‘the history of human ideas about Mars’, and he thoughtfully follows its winding path through religion, literature and pop culture. . . . [He] persuasively argues that Mars is most instructive when it sheds light on how we see ourselves.” * New York Times *“[Shindell’s] fascinating narrative details how today’s discussions have been conditioned by distant antecedents. The book is a compact yet expansive survey, delving judiciously into the histories of religion and science, mass culture and popular literature, the Cold War and the Space Race—highlighting past mistakes and commending new possibilities.” * Wall Street Journal *"Shindell crafts a human-centered history of an alien world. For the Love of Mars offers a readable history of speculation and exploration about Mars, beginning with the skywatchers of ancient Mayan, Chinese, and Babylonian civilizations and ending with the scientists and engineers who work on current robotic missions." * Science *“Armchair astronomers and history buffs alike will find this to be a fresh and engaging account.” * Booklist *"This insightful history will charm readers of popular science, science fiction, and history." * Library Journal *"Shindell describes efforts to understand a celestial body closer to home, tracing the red planet’s evolution in the popular imagination." * Publishers Weekly *“If you want to be surprised and inspired by humankind’s fascination with the Red Planet, For the Love of Mars is a great read.” * BBC Sky at Night Magazine *“This is the right voice to bring Mars vividly to life. Shindell’s history of what we know about the red planet goes beyond Western ideas, bringing valuable knowledge from many times, places, and cultures both into our view and into rich conversation. Its diverse perspectives and cast of characters make For the Love of Mars an essential read.” * Janet Vertesi, author of Shaping Science: Organizations, Decisions, and Culture on NASA’s Teams *“Through a wonderful combination of scholarly scientific research and thoughtful humanist perspective, Shindell’s For the Love of Mars provides a delightfully educational and entertaining history of our exploration of the red planet.” * Jim Bell, Mars researcher and coauthor of Discovering Mars: A History of Observation and Exploration of the Red Planet *“Shindell has done the impossible: setting out the long history of human engagement with the red planet over thousands of years in a single book. For the Love of Mars is compelling reading for anyone who has ever looked at, or even just wondered about, the fourth world from the sun and whether we'll set foot on it someday.” * Robert Massey, deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society *"Humans are unsettled by incomplete data, unanswered questions. Show us objects in the night sky, and we create worlds. So it has been with Mars, conspicuous to us Earthbound gazers as one of the heavenly bodies that wanders from place to place against the backdrop of the stars. . . . a world that could share features with our own, as images of the known and unknown were both refashioned through intertwined changes in observation, understanding, exploration and belief. It’s that long evolution of ideas – not yet concluded – that Matthew Shindell relates in this compact survey." * The Arts Desk *"More than justifies itself as ‘another book about Mars’ in exploring the planet from a distinct and thought-provoking perspective." * E&T *"By focusing on the diverse human stories behind the telescopes and behind the robots we know and love, Shindell shows how Mars exploration has evolved in ways that have also expanded knowledge about other facets of the universe. Captained by an engaging and erudite expert, For the Love of Mars is a captivating voyage through time and space for anyone curious about Curiosity and the red planet." * Sandbox World *"Because of its visibility and striking color, everyone from Mayan priests to modern scientists have sought to center [Mars] in some way in human life. In this book, Shindell explores the ways our curiosity and subsequent exploration of the planet has led us to understanding the rest of our world as well." * Bookriot *"Historians of science are already well-acquainted with Mars’ centrality to science itself, as the Red Planet’s retrograde motion through the night sky led Renaissance and Enlightenment astronomers to toss out the wisdom of the Greeks and map out a series of laws of motion we now call physics. Science, though, is only part of this story: faith, fear, imperialism, and demonstrations of national prowess all figure in Shindell’s stories of Martian exploration, from the construction of telescopes to the landing of rovers on the Martian surface and preparations for future human settlement." * Quest *"By focusing on the diverse human stories behind the telescopes and behind the robots we know and love, the author shows how Mars exploration has evolved in ways that have also expanded knowledge about other facets of the universe. This book is a captivating voyage through time and space for anyone curious about Curiosity and the Red Planet." * LPIB *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Prologue: Mars in the Time of COVID-19 Introduction: Keeping Up with Mars 1 Mars and the Cosmic State 2 Mars in the Medieval Imagination 3 Restructuring the World 4 The Making of Modern Mars 5 Cold War Red Planet 6 Mars and the New Millennium Conclusion: The Human Future of Mars? Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisTaking a balanced look at issues that have contributed to decline of America's manned space program, such as lack of political support and funding, this book offers not only a critique but also a plan for enhancing US space security through cooperation rather than competition. It focuses on how policy changes of mid-1990s have changed the nation.Trade ReviewAny discussion of space policy would benefit from the informed, reasoned opinions of Joan Johnson-Freese. -- Eve Lichtgarn The Space ReviewTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments 1. A Clash of Ambitions 2. The Conundrum of Dual-Use Technology 3. From Apollo to Where? 4. The Militarization of Space 5. The Weaponization of Space 6. The Politicization of the U.S. Aerospace Industry 7. The Ambitions of Europe 8. The Ambitions of China 9. Avoiding a Clash of Ambitions: Toward a Comprehensive U.S. Space Strategy Notes Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisJames Clay Moltz explores efforts by China, Japan, India, South Korea, and ten other countries to boost their civil, commercial, and, in some cases, military profiles in orbit. He investigates these nations’ divergent goals and their tendency to focus on national solutions rather than on regionwide cooperation and multilateral initiatives.Trade ReviewClay Moltz's masterful survey of rapidly developing Asian space programs sheds new light on the complex economic, military, and political forces driving them. The significance of Asian space efforts extends beyond immediate technical and scientific achievements and foreshadows the future of international cooperation and competition across the Asia-Pacific region. -- Scott Pace, director, Space Policy Institute, George Washington University Asian states are latecomers to space, yet their collective choices will shape the space environment in the twenty-first century. Clay Moltz has written a theoretically informed, comparative book that expertly analyzes the strategic, economic, and domestic factors driving Asian states into space. He highlights the national and regional dynamics that are making space an increasingly 'congested, contested, and competitive environment,' but also identifies common interests and incentives that could support more cooperative outcomes. A must-read for space experts and Asia specialists alike. -- Phillip C. Saunders, National Defense University, coauthor of The Paradox of Power: Sino-American Strategic Restraint in an Era of Vulnerability As humankind enters a new and more globalized spacefaring era, many hope outer space can become a commons for cooperation. Yet Asian space powers risk a more divisive and destabilizing prospect: an Asian space race. In this exceptional book, Clay Moltz provides the best read available to describe and explain the remarkably dynamic, increasingly crowded, and troublingly competitive field of Asian civil, commercial, and military space activity and presents a range of well-reasoned policy prescriptions for a stronger and more effective regime for space security among Asian powers and their neighbors, especially the United States. -- Bates Gill, director, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), and coeditor of Governing the Bomb: Civilian Control and Democratic Accountability of Nuclear Weapons Serious followers of space technology and politics will find his analysis invaluably informative. Booklist Offering readers unfamiliar with international space politics an alarming picture of the hidden but turbulent developments in Asia, this book is recommended for serious readers in international relations and policymaking.Library Journal Library Journal Moltz deftly melds technological expertise with history and political analysis. -- Andrew J. Nathan Foreign Affairs ...the book should be on the 'must-read' list of senior and mid-level officer education programs...a highly useful primer on the nexus of space technology and geopolitics. -- Lieutenant Colonel Brian Hanley, U.S. Air Force (retired) Proceedings This articulate, comprehensive book provides illuminating insight into a region on the space-power fast track. -- Col Richard B. Van Hook, USAF Air Force Research Institute Book Reviews Asia's Space Race gives readers a succinct overview of a substantial amount of consequential material, especially trends in space...Moltz's book is a must-read for those who need to quickly get smart on the subject of space. -- Joan Johnson-Freese Nonproliferation Review ...a valuable resource both for readers new to the field of Asian space policy and to those seeking a comparative analysis of individual national programmes. -- Columba Peoples Space Policy His thoughtful examination exposes how economic and political competition among Asian nations has released new 'forces that have made space a very different and more complicated environment than it was during the cold war' -- James Matray H-Diplo ...important analysis, well designed for classroom use and also for general readers. -- Roger D. Launius Quest This book is unique for telling the story of the race from a comparative perspective. SurvivalTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction. Asia's New Presence in Space 1. Asian Space Developments: Motivations and Trends 2. The Japanese Space Program: Moving Toward "Normalcy" 3. The Chinese Space Program: From Turbulent Past to Promising Future 4. The Indian Space Program: Rising to a Challenge 5. The South Korean Space Program: Emerging from Dependency 6. Emerging Asian Space Programs: Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, North Korea, Pakistan, The Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam 7. Asia's Space Race: Implications for Regional and Global Policy Notes Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"UFOs, Chemtrails, and Aliens is a model of scientific reasoning, rational analysis, and elegant prose that reveals a phenomenon every bit as interesting as the possibility of alien life landing here on Earth or existing somewhere out there in the cosmos-the fact that we can conceive of such a concept, study it scientifically, and understand that we are part of the universe as evolved sentient beings capable of such sublime thought." -Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazineTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsPrologue: Consider the Following1. Science and the Paranormal2. The Believing Brain3. Area 51: What is Really Going on in There?4. The Roswell Incident: What Really Happened?5. Close Encounters of the Second Kind: Physical Evidence of Alien Contact6. Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Direct Encounters with Aliens7. Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind: Alien Abduction8. The Mythos of Ancient Aliens 9. Praying to Aliens10. Ancient Myths and Modern Media11. Cloud's Illusions12. Are They Out There?13. Why Do People Believe in UFOs and Aliens?14. The VerdictNotesIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book presents key documents from the pre-1915 history of the extraterrestrial life debate. Introductions and commentaries accompany each source document.Trade Review"This is a valuable book that is not available anywhere else. . . . Crowe's purpose is to let the reader see the original words of the authors who discussed other worlds. Crowe puts these documents in context by his substantial introduction and commentary. . . . Such a source book serves an important purpose, and is ideal for teaching and generating discussion in class. The subject is of increasing importance as we find more and more about the possibilities of extraterrestrial life through current disciplines such as astrobiology, bioastronomy, and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence." —Steven J. Dick, Director, NASA History Division, NASA"Having established himself as the world’s authority on the history of the debates about extraterrestrial life in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Michael Crowe is perfectly positioned to produce this source book. The introductory commentaries on the excerpts from primary sources he has so judiciously selected reveal again and again that no one else knows this subject as well as he does." —Frederick Gregory, University of Florida "The Extraterrestrial Life Debate gives new meaning to the word 'treasury.' Michael Crowe offers us more than 2000 years of golden materials—wrought by the astonishing alchemy of science, religion, philosophy, and sheer imagination—about a topic as alive today as it ever was: ET, with all his cousins and ancestors. The range of authors the book showcases, and the depth of context Crowe provides, will make his monumental anthology the starting point for future explorations of this rich vein of human thought." —Dennis Danielson, University of British Columbia“There are loads of books on ET, but only a small number of them take a historical approach . . . Anyone interested in the history of the extraterrestrial life debate will be interested in this book; it does complete in a certain way previous historical work done by Steven Dick and Michael Crowe by providing large portions of original texts rather than merely short quotations from them. . . . All the various perspectives, religious, literary, astronomical, philosophical, seem adequately represented. The multidisciplinary aspect of the debate comes across well from the authors selected.” —Marie I. George, St. John’s University“Extraterrestrials may not have invaded the Earth physically but for centuries they have done so mentally. In many a guise they have appeared not only in works of fiction but also in serious astronomical, philosophical and theological debate. It is impossible to open Michael Crowe's handsome and fastidiously prepared anthology of primary sources without being drawn into endlessly fascinating disputes concerning the possibility and character of extraterrestrial life. Savoring the many twists and turns in controversies that have extended far beyond the confines of popular astronomy, Professor Crowe has provided students and experts alike with a generous and indispensable resource. It is difficult to resist his invitation to investigate for ourselves the innumerable, and often surprising, ways in which the idea of intelligent life on other worlds has shaped and been shaped by perennial Earthly concerns.” —John Hedley Brooke, Andreas Idreos Professor Emeritus of Science and Religion, University of Oxford“A reader of sorts, either to accompany the earlier volume or for readers who prefer to read the primary sources and construct their own narrative.” —SciTech Book News“This source book, in fact, a monumental anthology, presents key documents from the pre-1915 history of the extraterrestrial life debate. . . . The book is designed to shed light on the question of the existence of extraterrestrials, and on those who sought to tackle the question.” —Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith“Who wrote about the possibilities and implications of intelligent extraterrestrial life? Thanks to this superb anthology one is prompted to ask, Who didn’t? Michael Crowe is no mere compiler of facsimile reprints of primary sources, but a scholarly editor. This source book is a wonderful addition to the teacher’s toolkit and should find a readership far wider than historians of science.” —ISIS

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn its eerie likeness to Earth, Mars has long captured our imaginations—both as a destination for humankind and as a possible home to extraterrestrial life. It is our twenty-first century New World; its explorers robots, shipped 350 million miles from Earth to uncover the distant planet’s secrets.Its most recent scout is Curiosity—a one-ton, Jeep-sized nuclear-powered space laboratory—which is now roving the Martian surface to determine whether the red planet has ever been physically capable of supporting life. In Red Rover, geochemist Roger Wiens, the principal investigator for the ChemCam laser instrument on the rover and veteran of numerous robotic NASA missions, tells the unlikely story of his involvement in sending sophisticated hardware into space, culminating in the Curiosity rover''s amazing journey to Mars.In so doing, Wiens paints the portrait of one of the most exciting scientific stories of our time: the new era of robotic space exploration. Starting with NASA’s introduction of the Discovery Program in 1992, scrappier, more nimble missions became the order of the day, as manned missions were confined to Earth orbit, and behemoth projects went extinct. This strategic shift presented huge scientific opportunities, but tight budgets meant that success depended more than ever on creative engineering and human ingenuity. Beginning with the Genesis mission that launched his career, Wiens describes the competitive, DIY spirit of these robotic enterprises, from conception to construction, from launch to heart-stopping crashes and smooth landings.An inspiring account of the real-life challenges of space exploration, Red Rover vividly narrates what goes into answering the question: is there life elsewhere in the universe? Trade ReviewWashington Post "[Wiens] is a good guide through the process of building a space probe... His inside narration of how things go wrong at NASA is the great strength of this book. It is rich with details of how both the ChemCam team in particular and the Curiosity rover in general overcame engineering challenges such as faulty lenses and awkward temperature distributions." BBC Sky At Night "This engaging new book by Roger Wiens whose team built Curiosity's ChemCam instrument, gives a unique insider's view... Wiens's accessible and conversational writing is a major strength of Red Rover, providing a thoroughly human perspective on a complex technological subject." Booklist "An engaging history of robotic space exploration... A remarkable memoir and testament to the ingenuity of the space program's many scientists who build the tools needed to explore our solar system." Scientific American "Wiens offers a backstage tour of the delights and disappointments of working on missions." Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly "Wiens's writing is clear and engaging... A unique contribution... This book reinforces a vision of outer space as emblematic of technological progress, but also nicely encapsulates the external, messy factors that influence, hinder, and help the development of a robotic explorer." Publishers Weekly "This entertaining insider account of Wiens's work on two groundbreaking robotic space explorers - the Genesis and Curiosity Rover - captures all the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of modern space science... Wiens brings his work to life, candidly addressing the inevitable technological and bureaucratic obstacles and failures that compose the frustrating prelude to scientific victory." Kirkus Reviews "The author provides fascinating insight into the struggle to solve scientific problems despite technical constraints and equipment failures... A winning memoir of great achievement." Steve Squyres, Professor of Astronomy, Cornell University, and author of Roving Mars "We live in a new golden age of exploration, as robotic spacecraft fan out across the solar system, extending the human experience to other planets. With Red Rover, Roger Wiens provides a delightful, candid, and highly personal insider's view of this great endeavor." Jim Bell, Professor of Planetary Science, Arizona State University, President of the Planetary Society, and author of Postcards from Mars "Roger Wiens has crafted a delightful and very personal history of planetary exploration that takes us from his boyhood fascination with the Apollo Moon missions to his leading role as a key scientist on the latest Mars rover. His journey from a small prairie town to the laser labs of Los Alamos reminds us that passion, imagination, and perseverance are what propel us to explore the frontiers of space." John L. Phillips, retired NASA astronaut, and former NASA Chair Professor, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School "Red Rover offers an enticing personal look at the exaltations and disappointments of unmanned space exploration. Roger Wiens vividly portrays the genius and perseverance of the dedicated scientists and engineers who have made robotic exploration of the solar system a reality." Laurie Leshin, Dean, School of Science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute "In Red Rover, Roger Wiens gets you up close and personal with the highs and lows, the triumphs and disappointments that come with pushing the scientific envelope, and the great persistence required to succeed. A great read for anyone interested in exploring the frontiers of space."

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn 1969, Princeton physicist Gerard O'Neill began looking outward to space colonies as the new frontier for humanity's expansion. Eric Drexler, an MIT-trained engineer, turned his attention to the molecular world. This title tells the story of how these scientists designed popularized technologies such as space colonies and nanotechnologies.Trade ReviewWinner of the 2014 Watson Davis and Helen Miles Davis Prize, History of Science Society Winner of the 2012 Eugene E. Emme Award for Astronautical Literature, American Astronautical Society "In his fascinating new book, McCray profiles the larger-than-life characters and ideas that changed science and technology in the second half of the 20th century and beyond. The author describes the titular visioneers as 'hybrids'--creative combinations of futurist, scientist, and charismatic promoter. At the center of this story are physicist Gerard O'Neill and biotech pioneer K. Eric Drexler... McCray, a professor of history at UC Santa Barbara, discusses how O'Neill's vision of space as a tabula rasa for the human race spurred the formation of grassroots groups like the L5 Society and captured the imaginations of many young scientists and engineers like Drexler, as well as influential figures like Stewart Brand and Timothy Leary. Considered together, they 'took speculative ideas out of the hands of sci-fi writers' and had an enormous impact on generations of people, science, and political policy."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) "McCray focuses on Gerard K. O'Neill, the Princeton physicist and designer of space colonies, and on his protege, K. Eric Drexler, the 'speculative engineer' trained at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge who helped to put nanotechnology on political agendas in the early 1990s. Along the way, McCray introduces a large and colourful cast of others who, over four decades, promoted technological progress as the way to overcome every limit... McCray's book is especially convincing in following the various movements that arose in reaction to the Club of Rome's 1972 book (The Limits of Growth)... McCray's argument that visioneers play an important part in the 'technological ecosystem' is also compelling."--Cyrus Mody, Nature "The overarching narrative of The Visioneers--that of humankind's struggle against limits real and imagined--is compelling, and no less so because of how effectively it reflects the questions of technology surrounding today's big fears like peak oil and global warming... [The Visioneers] is an extremely edifying and well-researched history. Recommended for technology buffs, doomsayers, and anyone with an interest in the intersection of science, technology, and society."--ForeWord "[A] thoughtful, meticulous history."--Simon Ings, New Scientist "I recommend McCray's The Visioneers to all readers interested recent history of science in the making and, more generally, in the place of science in society. The marketing of science is entering a new era and many of the visioneers described by McCray may be seen as the first of a wave of new kind of figures in the history of science, both technoscientists and visionary promoters."--Roger F Malina, Leonardo Journal "McCray's narrative is often fascinating. He connects interest in space colonies with a pervasive fear in the 1970s that unchecked population growth would precipitate an apocalyptic environmental crisis on Planet Earth."--Glenn C. Altschuler, Tulsa World "Remember the late 20th century? When machines on the moon were spitting 10-pound spoonfuls of soil into orbit every few seconds, as raw material for space colonies and zero-gravity factories? When solar panels in orbit were beaming down the planet's power supply? When we were manufacturing everything we wanted, molecule by molecule, via machines smaller than the smallest objects we previously knew? In The Visioneers, the UC-Santa Barbara historian W. Patrick McCray revisits the birth and growth of those futures--or rather, those concepts of the future, which haven't (yet) come true... [W]ell-detailed."--Brian Doherty, Reason "[M]cCray focuses on the public relations efforts of [Gerard O'Neil and Eric Drexler] and how their agenda helped shape the national agenda for science and technology research and reveals how these visionaries worked tirelessly to make their dreams a reality. Recommended for readers with an interest in the history of science, especially in the space exploration or nanotechnology fields."--Library Journal "McCray skilfully weaves a narrative between O'Neill and Drexler in what is a superb and important book."--Keith Cooper, Astronomy Now "[H]istorians of contemporary science, technology and popular culture--in addition to a wide non-academic audience--will find much to savour in this rich and well-written book."--Peder Roberts, British Journal for the History of Science "In this engaging, highly detailed and meticulously researched account of late twentieth century technological dreaming and development, McCray ... does an impressive job of assembling a wealth of information and analysis of a particular period of futures-making in America's recent past... For those interested in the extensive early efforts to identify, consolidate and promote the nanotechnology field (or for that matter, space settlement), this book will provide a treasure trove of information and insight."--Georgia Miller, Nanoethics "The book is a worthy contribution to a growing historiography of the sprawling intellectual and cultural spaces that have existed around the edges of mainstream science and technology."--William Thomas, Technology & Culture "Brilliantly researched."--Brian Jirout, Oral History ReviewTable of ContentsList of Illustrations ix Acknowledgments xi Introduction: Visioneering Technological Futures 1 Chapter 1 Utopia or Oblivion for Spaceship Earth? 20 Chapter 2 The Inspiration of Limits 40 Chapter 3 Building Castles in the Sky 73 Chapter 4 Omnificent 113 Chapter 5 Could Small Be Beautiful? 146 Chapter 6 California Dreaming 183 Chapter 7 Confirmation, Benediction, and Inquisition 222 Chapter 8 Visioneering's Value 258 A Note on Sources 277 Notes 281 Index 325

Read more less

Book SynopsisExplains the global physical and chemical processes that determine climate on any planet or major planetary satellite - from Mercury to Neptune and even large moons such as Saturn's Titan.Trade Review"Prof Andrew Ingersoll has made many important contributions to planetary science through his career, and in Planetary Climates he wields his immense expertise to really get across the weirdness of weather systems on other worlds."--Lewis Dartnell, BBC Sky at Night "[This] is an ideal introduction for science students and nonspecialist scientists, as well as general readers with a scientific background."--Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin "Like all works in the excellent 'Princeton Primers in Climate' series, this book presents content in the main body in a nontechnical manner, with little mathematical detail, but then includes detailed technical/mathematical information in sidebars and boxes so that various levels of more advanced discussion can be individually tailored to a particular group of students."--ChoiceTable of Contents1 Introduction: The Diversity of Planetary Climates 1 2 Venus: Atmospheric Evolution 7 3 Venus: Energy Transport and Winds 26 4 Mars: Long-Term Climate Change 74 5 Mars: The Present Era 92 6 Titan, Moons, and Small Planets 111 7 Jupiter the Gas Giant 136 8 Jupiter Winds and Weather 162 9 Saturn 202 10 Uranus, Neptune, and Exoplanets 223 11 Conclusion 240 Glossary 247 Notes 257 Further Reading 271 Index 273

Read more less

Book SynopsisOffers an introduction to planetary climates that explains the global physical and chemical processes that determine climate on any planet or major planetary satellite - from Mercury to Neptune and even large moons such as Saturn's Titan.Trade Review"Prof Andrew Ingersoll has made many important contributions to planetary science through his career, and in Planetary Climates he wields his immense expertise to really get across the weirdness of weather systems on other worlds."--Lewis Dartnell, BBC Sky at Night "[This] is an ideal introduction for science students and nonspecialist scientists, as well as general readers with a scientific background."--Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin "Like all works in the excellent 'Princeton Primers in Climate' series, this book presents content in the main body in a nontechnical manner, with little mathematical detail, but then includes detailed technical/mathematical information in sidebars and boxes so that various levels of more advanced discussion can be individually tailored to a particular group of students."--ChoiceTable of Contents1 Introduction: The Diversity of Planetary Climates 1 2 Venus: Atmospheric Evolution 7 3 Venus: Energy Transport and Winds 26 4 Mars: Long-Term Climate Change 74 5 Mars: The Present Era 92 6 Titan, Moons, and Small Planets 111 7 Jupiter the Gas Giant 136 8 Jupiter Winds and Weather 162 9 Saturn 202 10 Uranus, Neptune, and Exoplanets 223 11 Conclusion 240 Glossary 247 Notes 257 Further Reading 271 Index 273

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWinner of the 2013 Eugene E. Emme Award for Astronautical Literature, American Astronautical Society "Dreams of Other Worlds synthesizes that knowledge as it has been derived from unmanned spacecraft in the half-century since NASA was founded in 1958... One of the strengths of Dreams of Other Worlds is its discussion of how the data generated by any given mission continues to produce results long after the mission ends... An account of a magnificent panorama of knowledge."--Konstantin Kakaes, Wall Street Journal "Refreshing... [W]ell-analysed and presented in a scholarly yet engaging way... [F]rom the interior of the Sun to the outer reaches of our Solar System--Impey and Henry are able guides. They explain the scientific imperative of these missions in a way that is accessible and interesting to specialists and generalists."--John Zarnecki, Nature "Although less sexy than manned space travel, satellites, probes and landers have produced a scientific bonanza with more to come. Impey and Henry team up for an enthusiastic account of a dozen programs... The authors' largely uncritical, gee-whiz approach is entirely appropriate since these programs were not only technological marvels, but produced dazzling, quantum-leap discoveries."--Kirkus Reviews "[W]ell-balanced... This richly illustrated work of remarkable scholarship spans the depths of the solar system, the Milky Way, and beyond, revealing how the great leaps forward in astronomy have brought into focus a landscape few could have imagined. The authors present a combination of hard science and edifying narrative that is both informative and entertaining. Recommended for NASA 'nerds' and anyone with even a passing interest in astronomy."--Library Journal "Packed with absorbing insights and written in an accessible voice, this volume translates scientific discoveries into simple, visual terms... Diverse references--ranging from the caves at Lascaux and Pythagoras to Einstein, Carl Sagan, quantum mechanics, and, yes, even Virginia Woolf--enliven and enrich this engaging and beautifully crafted book."--Kristen Rabe, ForeWord Reviews "The book helps provide a bigger picture of the significance of studying the universe with these robotic explorers, be they spacecraft that remain in Earth orbit or, like Voyager 1, head out into the cosmos."--Jeff Foust, Space Review "[A] riveting read... The book is well told, and interweaves its story with wonderful little nuggets."--Katia Moskvitch, BBC Sky at Night "Dreams of Other Worlds is a substantial chronology of the exploration of the solar system objects that humans have wondered about ever since Galileo first pointed his telescope at Jupiter and peered through it. The undertaking spotlights all the struggles and setbacks that ultimately led to a complete mapping of the solar system."--D. Wayne Dworsky, San Francisco Book Review "Noted astronomer Impey has teamed up with English professor Henry to write an interesting book about NASA's unmanned space explorations... People with an interest in space exploration will want to read this fascinating work."--Choice "The achievement of this book is to present robotic spaceflight in intimate relation to the cultural world we all inhabit... Dreams of Other Worlds succeeds in connecting the cultural work of science to everyday dreams and stories."--De Witt Douglas Kilgore, Quest "A fantastic journey throughout the world of space exploration over the last 40 years. Even though at a first glance the well over 400 pages seem overwhelming, within just a few hours you will find yourself desperate for more... A smooth, skillfully written account of the beginning of the extraterrestrial history of humankind, a history that started just a few decades ago."--Read about ScienceTable of Contents1 Introduction 1 2 Viking: Discovering the Red Planet 13 3 MER: The Little Rovers That Could 40 4 Voyager: Grand Tour of the Solar System 74 5 Cassini: Bright Rings and Icy Worlds 111 6 Stardust: Catching a Comet by the Tail 137 7 SOHO: Living with a Restless Star 161 8 Hipparcos: Mapping the Milky Way 186 9 Spitzer: Unveiling the Cool Cosmos 211 10 Chandra: Exploring the Violent Cosmos 242 11 HST: The Universe in Sharp Focus 270 12 WMAP: Mapping the Infant Universe 302 13 Conclusion: New Horizons, New Worlds 327 Notes 343 Selected Bibliography 405 Index 417

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWinner of the 2014 Watson Davis and Helen Miles Davis Prize, History of Science Society Winner of the 2012 Eugene E. Emme Award for Astronautical Literature, American Astronautical Society "In his fascinating new book, McCray profiles the larger-than-life characters and ideas that changed science and technology in the second half of the 20th century and beyond. The author describes the titular visioneers as 'hybrids'--creative combinations of futurist, scientist, and charismatic promoter. At the center of this story are physicist Gerard O'Neill and biotech pioneer K. Eric Drexler... McCray, a professor of history at UC Santa Barbara, discusses how O'Neill's vision of space as a tabula rasa for the human race spurred the formation of grassroots groups like the L5 Society and captured the imaginations of many young scientists and engineers like Drexler, as well as influential figures like Stewart Brand and Timothy Leary. Considered together, they 'took speculative ideas out of the hands of sci-fi writers' and had an enormous impact on generations of people, science, and political policy."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) "McCray focuses on Gerard K. O'Neill, the Princeton physicist and designer of space colonies, and on his protege, K. Eric Drexler, the 'speculative engineer' trained at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge who helped to put nanotechnology on political agendas in the early 1990s. Along the way, McCray introduces a large and colourful cast of others who, over four decades, promoted technological progress as the way to overcome every limit... McCray's book is especially convincing in following the various movements that arose in reaction to the Club of Rome's 1972 book (The Limits of Growth)... McCray's argument that visioneers play an important part in the 'technological ecosystem' is also compelling."--Cyrus Mody, Nature "The overarching narrative of The Visioneers--that of humankind's struggle against limits real and imagined--is compelling, and no less so because of how effectively it reflects the questions of technology surrounding today's big fears like peak oil and global warming... [The Visioneers] is an extremely edifying and well-researched history. Recommended for technology buffs, doomsayers, and anyone with an interest in the intersection of science, technology, and society."--ForeWord "[A] thoughtful, meticulous history."--Simon Ings, New Scientist "I recommend McCray's The Visioneers to all readers interested recent history of science in the making and, more generally, in the place of science in society. The marketing of science is entering a new era and many of the visioneers described by McCray may be seen as the first of a wave of new kind of figures in the history of science, both technoscientists and visionary promoters."--Roger F Malina, Leonardo Journal "McCray's narrative is often fascinating. He connects interest in space colonies with a pervasive fear in the 1970s that unchecked population growth would precipitate an apocalyptic environmental crisis on Planet Earth."--Glenn C. Altschuler, Tulsa World "Remember the late 20th century? When machines on the moon were spitting 10-pound spoonfuls of soil into orbit every few seconds, as raw material for space colonies and zero-gravity factories? When solar panels in orbit were beaming down the planet's power supply? When we were manufacturing everything we wanted, molecule by molecule, via machines smaller than the smallest objects we previously knew? In The Visioneers, the UC-Santa Barbara historian W. Patrick McCray revisits the birth and growth of those futures--or rather, those concepts of the future, which haven't (yet) come true... [W]ell-detailed."--Brian Doherty, Reason "[M]cCray focuses on the public relations efforts of [Gerard O'Neil and Eric Drexler] and how their agenda helped shape the national agenda for science and technology research and reveals how these visionaries worked tirelessly to make their dreams a reality. Recommended for readers with an interest in the history of science, especially in the space exploration or nanotechnology fields."--Library Journal "McCray skilfully weaves a narrative between O'Neill and Drexler in what is a superb and important book."--Keith Cooper, Astronomy Now "[H]istorians of contemporary science, technology and popular culture--in addition to a wide non-academic audience--will find much to savour in this rich and well-written book."--Peder Roberts, British Journal for the History of Science "In this engaging, highly detailed and meticulously researched account of late twentieth century technological dreaming and development, McCray ... does an impressive job of assembling a wealth of information and analysis of a particular period of futures-making in America's recent past... For those interested in the extensive early efforts to identify, consolidate and promote the nanotechnology field (or for that matter, space settlement), this book will provide a treasure trove of information and insight."--Georgia Miller, Nanoethics "The book is a worthy contribution to a growing historiography of the sprawling intellectual and cultural spaces that have existed around the edges of mainstream science and technology."--William Thomas, Technology & Culture "Brilliantly researched."--Brian Jirout, Oral History ReviewTable of ContentsList of Illustrations ix Acknowledgments xi Introduction: Visioneering Technological Futures 1 Chapter 1 Utopia or Oblivion for Spaceship Earth? 20 Chapter 2 The Inspiration of Limits 40 Chapter 3 Building Castles in the Sky 73 Chapter 4 Omnificent 113 Chapter 5 Could Small Be Beautiful? 146 Chapter 6 California Dreaming 183 Chapter 7 Confirmation, Benediction, and Inquisition 222 Chapter 8 Visioneering's Value 258 A Note on Sources 277 Notes 281 Index 325

Read more less

Book SynopsisDavid Harvey is unquestionably the most influential, as well as the most cited, geographer of his generation. This book brings together for the first time seminal articles published over three decades on the tensions between geographical knowledges and political power and on the capitalist production of space.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBilstein goes on to describe NASA's recent planetary and extraplanetary exploration, as well as its less well-known research into the future of aeronautical design.Trade ReviewNo better introductory history of NACA and NASA exists. Choice 2003Table of ContentsContents: Preface Acknowledgments Abbreviations 1. Foundations for Flight, 1915-1930 2. Aeronautics in Peace and War, 1930-1945 3. Jets, Sonic Speed, and Satellites, 1945-1958 4. On the Fringes of Space, 1958-1964 5. Dress Rehearsals, 1964-1969 6. Aerospace Dividends, 1969-1973 7. International Ventures, 1973-1980 8. Aircraft and Aerospace Craft, 1980-1989 9. The Post-Challenger Years, 1989-1990's 10. Toward Century 21 11. Retrospect and Prospect Notes on Reading Chronology Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisFree yourself from cosmological tyranny! Everything started in a Big Bang? Invisible dark matter? Black holes? Why accept such a weird cosmos? For all those who wonder about this bizarre universe, and those who want to overthrow the Big Bang, this handbook gives you ''just the facts'': the observations that have shaped these ideas and theories. While the Big Bang holds the attention of scientists, it isn''t perfect. The authors pull back the curtains, and show how cosmology really works. With this, you will know your enemy, cosmic revolutionary - arm yourself for the scientific arena where ideas must fight for survival! This uniquely-framed tour of modern cosmology gives a deeper understanding of the inner workings of this fascinating field. The portrait painted is realistic and raw, not idealized and airbrushed - it is science in all its messy detail, which doesn''t pretend to have all the answers.Trade Review'Overthrowing all of modern cosmology isn't easy, but it could happen. Maybe you will be the one to do it! If you're up for the challenge, Luke A. Barnes and Geraint F. Lewis tell you exactly what you have to accomplish. Even if you don't topple the stodgy edifice of modern science, you'll certainly learn some exciting things about the universe along the way.' Sean Carroll, author of Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime'If you are looking for a fun rendezvous with the universe, this is the book for you! Barnes and Lewis help you understand the basics of cosmology with simplicity and clarity - quite a feat given the complexity of our universe.' Priyamvada Natarajan, author of Mapping the Heavens: The Radical Scientific Ideas that Reveal the Cosmos'… a great starting point for budding astronomers or cosmologists who want to be able to 'debunk' would-be revolutionaries - or answer the 'but how do we know …' they're likely to get asked.' Chris North, BBC Sky at Night Magazine'A must-read for anyone interested in better understanding why cosmologists believe all those very strange things about the Universe. Mind you, new Galileo, you will still need a degree in physics and professional research training if you want to overthrow the Big Bang model, but this book might very well be the first step towards your goal.' Sunny Vagnozzi, Nature Astronomy'The general educated public has heard about many key terms of modern science: 'evolution,' 'virus,' 'quantum theory,' and the 'big bang,' for example. But the framework and methodology of science are barely understood by most … Here, Barnes (Western Sydney Univ.) and Lewis (Sydney Institute for Astronomy) inform the general reader about many fascinating aspects of astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology. The book is full of scientific facts and clarifying figures. More importantly, it clarifies the routes that lead to major scientific results … Readers will gain a more than nodding acquaintance with the basics of astrophysics, including magnetic monopoles, dark matter, the inflationary model, and related key concepts … books like this will inform and educate those who respect science and are willing to learn about good science and how it is done. This should be required reading for all college students, regardless of their major.' V. V. Raman, Choice'The book is well written and includes a bit more 'how' (do we know) in addition to the 'what' of the standard model of cosmology … I enjoyed reading this book; it's a breezy but careful introduction to where we are in our understanding of the Universe and how we got there.' Phillip Helbig, The ObservatoryTable of ContentsPreface; Acknowledgements; 1. Understanding science; 2. How dark is the night?; 3. Run for the hills!; 4. Going gently into that good night; 5. An ever-changing universe; 6. The wood for the trees; 7. We are (mostly) made of stars; 8. Ripples in the night sky; Notes; Further reading; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book is for everyone with an interest in whether there is extraterrestrial life. Recent discoveries of planets beyond the solar system (more than 4000 of them) suggest that the question is not 'whether?' but 'where?'. This book enables general readers to understand current endeavours to answer this question and the related one of 'what kind?'Trade Review'Wallace Arthur addresses the most exciting question in science: 'Are we alone?' His brilliant exposition argues convincingly that we are likely to go through a Copernican revolution regarding the biological universe and discover that we are not at its centre.' Avi Loeb, Chair of the Harvard Astronomy department'An engaging, well-informed, and accessible guide to one of the great questions. Thoroughly enjoyable and unputdownable.' Peter Atkins, Emeritus Professor of Physical Chemistry, University of Oxford, and fellow of Lincoln College'The Biological Universe performs a fascinating dissection of our tree of life, asking which of its features we might share with other such trees on worlds throughout the Galaxy. A truly unique perspective on finding life in the Universe, which starts with who is eating whom in the soil under our feet.' Elizabeth Tasker, author of The Planet Factory'In this thought-provoking book, Arthur's deep knowledge of life and its myriad manifestations, coupled with a cosmologist's understanding of the cosmos at large, enables him to explore one of science's greatest mysteries - how the biological and physical universes relate to one another. Does life exist beyond this planet? What form would it take? How could we detect it? Arthur musters fact, logic, and intuition, in his far-reaching attempt to nail down life's place within the wider cosmic dimension.' Addy Pross, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel'Wallace Arthur takes us on a fascinating journey to discover if and how our living planet is unique in the universe. In his characteristically engaging style, he propels his story with sharp questions, arresting details, and vivid explanations, so that we arrive, via photosynthesis-stealing slugs and the extremes of extraterrestrial atmospheres, at a new understanding of ourselves and our world.' Ronald Jenner, Natural History Museum, London, UK'Wallace Arthur's book The Biological Universe is highly significant. We will soon know if we are alone in the universe. The next few years could provide us with this long-sought answer. This book, extremely well written, tells us how.' Simon 'Pete' Worden, Executive Director, Breakthrough Initiatives, Luxembourg and USA'Working his way up from first principles of physics, chemistry, and biology, Wallace Arthur asks what is needed for life to exist. In his familiar readable style, he then asks whether these requirements are likely to be found elsewhere in the universe, and answers with a resounding 'Yes'. Anyone who works on the evolution of life on Earth will have asked themselves similar questions. Arthur's presentation of the questions, and of the answers, is both enjoyable and eye-opening.' Ariel Chipman, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel'Arthur has done an admirable job pulling together all these different fields and his explanations of tricky topics are clear.' Lewis Dartnell'Wallace Arthur's The Biological Universe is a romp through astrobiology intended for general readers. Curiously, we meet almost no one along the way … The Biological Universe covers an impressive amount of territory.' Max Dresow, The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsPart I. Painting Big Pictures: 1. A tree with millions of twigs; 2. A galaxy with billions of planets; 3. The likelihood of other trees; Part II. Life Here, Implications for Elsewhere: 4. A thin sliver of existence; 5. Energy and life; 6. Habitats and life; 7. Skeletons and life; 8. Intelligence and life; Part III. Planetary Systems and Life: 9. Types of planetary system; 10. Habitable zones; 11. Other habitability factors; 12. How many inhabited planets?; Part IV. Discovering Life: 13. On the repeatability of evolution; 14. Candidate planets; 15. Atmospheric signatures; 16. Radio and life; 17. Sixty years of SETI; Part V. Beyond the Milky Way: 18. The physical universe; 19. The biological universe; 20. The intelligent universe; Bibliography; Acknowledgements.

Read more less

Book SynopsisComprehensive coverage of all aspects of space application oriented fault tolerance techniques Experienced expert author working on fault tolerance for Chinese space program for almost three decades Initiatively provides a systematic texts for the cutting-edge fault tolerance techniques in spacecraft control computer, with emphasis on practical engineering knowledge Presents fundamental and advanced theories and technologies in a logical and easy-to-understand manner Beneficial to readers inside and outside the area of space applicationsTable of ContentsBrief Introduction xiii Preface xv 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Fundamental Concepts and Principles of Fault-tolerance Techniques 1 1.1.1 Fundamental Concepts 1 1.1.2 Reliability Principles 4 1.1.2.1 Reliability Metrics 4 1.1.2.2 Reliability Model 6 1.2 The Space Environment and Its Hazards for the Spacecraft Control Computer 9 1.2.1 Introduction to Space Environment 9 1.2.1.1 Solar Radiation 9 1.2.1.2 Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) 10 1.2.1.3 Van Allen Radiation Belt 10 1.2.1.4 Secondary Radiation 12 1.2.1.5 Space Surface Charging and Internal Charging 12 1.2.1.6 Summary of Radiation Environment 13 1.2.1.7 Other Space Environments 14 1.2.2 Analysis of Damage Caused by the Space Environment 14 1.2.2.1 Total Ionization Dose (TID) 14 1.2.2.2 Single Event Effect (SEE) 15 1.2.2.3 Internal/surface Charging Damage Effect 20 1.2.2.4 Displacement Damage Effect 20 1.2.2.5 Other Damage Effect 20 1.3 Development Status and Prospects of Fault Tolerance Techniques 21 References 25 2 Fault-Tolerance Architectures and Key Techniques 29 2.1 Fault- tolerance Architecture 29 2.1.1 Module-level Redundancy Structures 30 2.1.2 Backup Fault-tolerance Structures 32 2.1.2.1 Cold-backup Fault-tolerance Structures 32 2.1.2.2 Hot-backup Fault-tolerance Structures 34 2.1.3 Triple-modular Redundancy (TMR) Fault-tolerance Structures 36 2.1.4 Other Fault-tolerance Structures 40 2.2 Synchronization Techniques 40 2.2.1 Clock Synchronization System 40 2.2.1.1 Basic Concepts and Fault Modes of the Clock Synchronization System 40 2.2.1.2 Clock Synchronization Algorithm 41 2.2.2 System Synchronization Method 52 2.2.2.1 The Real-time Multi-computer System Synchronization Method 52 2.2.2.2 System Synchronization Method with Interruption 56 2.3 Fault-tolerance Design with Hardware Redundancy 60 2.3.1 Universal Logic Model and Flow in Redundancy Design 60 2.3.2 Scheme Argumentation of Redundancy 61 2.3.2.1 Determination of Redundancy Scheme 61 2.3.2.2 Rules Obeyed in the Scheme Argumentation of Redundancy 62 2.3.3 Redundancy Design and Implementation 63 2.3.3.1 Basic Requirements 63 2.3.3.2 FDMU Design 63 2.3.3.3 CSSU Design 64 2.3.3.4 IPU Design 65 2.3.3.5 Power Supply Isolation Protection 67 2.3.3.6 Testability Design 68 2.3.3.7 Others 68 2.3.4 Validation of Redundancy by Analysis 69 2.3.4.1 Hardware FMEA 69 2.3.4.2 Redundancy Switching Analysis (RSA) 69 2.3.4.3 Analysis of the Common Cause of Failure 69 2.3.4.4 Reliability Analysis and Checking of the Redundancy Power 70 2.3.4.5 Analysis of the Sneak Circuit in the Redundancy Management Circuit 72 2.3.5 Validation of Redundancy by Testing 73 2.3.5.1 Testing by Failure Injection 73 2.3.5.2 Specific Test for the Power of the Redundancy Circuit 74 2.3.5.3 Other Things to Note 74 References 74 3 Fault Detection Techniques 77 3.1 Fault Model 77 3.1.1 Fault Model Classified by Time 78 3.1.2 Fault Model Classified by Space 78 3.2 Fault Detection Techniques 80 3.2.1 Introduction 80 3.2.2 Fault Detection Methods for CPUs 81 3.2.2.1 Fault Detection Methods Used for CPUs 82 3.2.2.2 Example of CPU Fault Detection 83 3.2.3 Fault Detection Methods for Memory 87 3.2.3.1 Fault Detection Method for ROM 88 3.2.3.2 Fault Detection Methods for RAM 91 3.2.4 Fault Detection Methods for I/Os 95 References 96 4 Bus Techniques 99 4.1 Introduction to Space-borne Bus 99 4.1.1 Fundamental Concepts 99 4.1.2 Fundamental Terminologies 99 4.2 The MIL-STD-1553B Bus 100 4.2.1 Fault Model of the Bus System 101 4.2.1.1 Bus-level Faults 103 4.2.1.2 Terminal Level Faults 104 4.2.2 Redundancy Fault-tolerance Mechanism of the Bus System 106 4.2.2.1 The Bus-level Fault-tolerance Mechanism 107 4.2.2.2 The Bus Controller Fault-tolerance Mechanism 108 4.2.2.3 Fault-tolerance Mechanism of Remote Terminals 113 4.3 The CAN Bus 116 4.3.1 The Bus Protocol 117 4.3.2 Physical Layer Protocol and Fault-tolerance 117 4.3.2.1 Node Structure 117 4.3.2.2 Bus Voltage 118 4.3.2.3 Transceiver and Controller 119 4.3.2.4 Physical Fault-tolerant Features 119 4.3.3 Data Link Layer Protocol and Fault-tolerance 120 4.3.3.1 Communication Process 120 4.3.3.2 Message Sending 120 4.3.3.3 The President Mechanism of Bus Access 120 4.3.3.4 Coding 121 4.3.3.5 Data Frame 121 4.3.3.6 Error Detection 122 4.4 The SpaceWire Bus 124 4.4.1 Physical Layer Protocol and Fault-tolerance 126 4.4.1.1 Connector 126 4.4.1.2 Cable 126 4.4.1.3 Low Voltage Differential Signal 126 4.4.1.4 Data Filter (DS) Coding 128 4.4.2 Data Link Layer Protocol and Fault-tolerance 129 4.4.2.1 Packet Character 129 4.4.2.2 Packet Parity Check Strategy 131 4.4.2.3 Packet Structure 131 4.4.2.4 Communication Link Control 131 4.4.3 Networking and Routing 136 4.4.3.1 Major Technique used by the SpaceWire Network 136 4.4.3.2 SpaceWire Router 138 4.4.4 Fault-tolerance Mechanism 139 4.5 Other Buses 141 4.5.1 The IEEE 1394 Bus 141 4.5.2 Ethernet 143 4.5.3 The I2C Bus 145 References 148 5 Software Fault-Tolerance Techniques 151 5.1 Software Fault-tolerance Concepts and Principles 151 5.1.1 Software Faults 151 5.1.2 Software Fault-tolerance 152 5.1.3 Software Fault Detection and Voting 153 5.1.4 Software Fault Isolation 154 5.1.5 Software Fault Recovery 155 5.1.6 Classification of Software Fault-tolerance Techniques 156 5.2 Single-version Software Fault-tolerance Techniques 156 5.2.1 Checkpoint and Restart 157 5.2.2 Software-implemented Hardware Fault-tolerance 160 5.2.2.1 Control Flow Checking by Software Signatures (CFCSS) 161 5.2.2.2 Error Detection by Duplicated Instructions (EDDI) 164 5.2.3 Software Crash Trap 165 5.3 Multiple-version Software Fault-tolerance Techniques 165 5.3.1 Recovery Blocks (RcB) 165 5.3.2 N-version Programming (NVP) 167 5.3.3 Distributed Recovery Blocks (DRB) 168 5.3.4 N Self-checking Programming (NSCP) 169 5.3.5 Consensus Recovery Block (CRB) 172 5.3.6 Acceptance Voting (AV) 172 5.3.7 Advantage and Disadvantage of Multiple-version Software 172 5.4 Data Diversity Based Software Fault-tolerance Techniques 173 5.4.1 Data Re-expression Algorithm (DRA) 173 5.4.2 Retry Blocks (RtB) 174 5.4.3 N-copy Programming (NCP) 174 5.4.4 Two-pass Adjudicators (TPA) 175 References 177 6 Fault-Tolerance Techniques for FPGA 179 6.1 Effect of the Space Environment on FPGAs 180 6.1.1 Single Event Transient Effect (SET) 181 6.1.2 Single Event Upset (SEU) 181 6.1.3 Single Event Latch-up (SEL) 182 6.1.4 Single Event Burnout (SEB) 182 6.1.5 Single Event Gate Rupture (SEGR) 182 6.1.6 Single Event Functional Interrupt (SEFI) 183 6.2 Fault Modes of SRAM-based FPGAs 183 6.2.1 Structure of a SRAM-based FPGA 183 6.2.2 Faults Classification and Fault Modes Analysis of SRAM-based FPGAs 186 6.2.2.1 Faults Classification 186 6.2.2.2 Fault Modes Analysis 186 6.3 Fault-tolerance Techniques for SRAM-based FPGAs 190 6.3.1 SRAM-based FPGA Mitigation Techniques 191 6.3.1.1 The Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) Design Technique 191 6.3.1.2 The Inside RAM Protection Technique 193 6.3.1.3 The Inside Register Protection Technique 194 6.3.1.4 EDAC Encoding and Decoding Technique 195 6.3.1.5 Fault Detection Technique Based on DMR and Fault Isolation Technique Based on Tristate Gate 198 6.3.2 SRAM-based FPGA Reconfiguration Techniques 199 6.3.2.1 Single Fault Detection and Recovery Technique Based on ICAP+FrameECC 199 6.3.2.2 Multi-fault Detection and Recovery Technique Based on ICAP Configuration Read-back+RS Coding 205 6.3.2.3 Dynamic Reconfiguration Technique Based on EAPR 210 6.3.2.4 Fault Recovery Technique Based on Hardware Checkpoint 216 6.3.2.5 Summary of Reconfiguration Fault-tolerance Techniques 217 6.4 Typical Fault-tolerance Design of SRAM-based FPGA 219 6.5 Fault-tolerance Techniques of Anti-fuse Based FPGA 227 References 230 7 Fault-Injection Techniques 233 7.1 Basic Concepts 233 7.1.1 Experimenter 234 7.1.2 Establishing the Fault Model 234 7.1.3 Conducting Fault-injection 235 7.1.4 Target System for Fault-injection 235 7.1.5 Observing the System’s Behavior 235 7.1.6 Analyzing Experimental Findings 235 7.2 Classification of Fault-injection Techniques 236 7.2.1 Simulated Fault-injection 236 7.2.1.1 Transistor Switch Level Simulated Fault-injection 237 7.2.1.2 Logic Level Simulated Fault-injection 237 7.2.1.3 Functional Level Simulated Fault-injection 237 7.2.2 Hardware Fault-injection 238 7.2.3 Software Fault-injection 240 7.2.3.1 Injection During Compiling 240 7.2.3.2 Injection During Operation 241 7.2.4 Physical Fault-injection 242 7.2.5 Mixed Fault-injection 244 7.3 Fault-injection System Evaluation and Application 245 7.3.1 Injection Controllability 245 7.3.2 Injection Observability 246 7.3.3 Injection Validity 246 7.3.4 Fault-injection Application 247 7.3.4.1 Verifying the Fault Detection Mechanism 247 7.3.4.2 Fault Effect Domain Analysis 247 7.3.4.3 Fault Restoration 247 7.3.4.4 Coverage Estimation 247 7.3.4.5 Delay Time 247 7.3.4.6 Generating Fault Dictionary 248 7.3.4.7 Software Testing 248 7.4 Fault-injection Platform and Tools 248 7.4.1 Fault-injection Platform in Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Environment 249 7.4.2 Computer Bus-based Fault-injection Platform 252 7.4.3 Serial Accelerator Based Fault-injection Case 254 7.4.4 Future Development of Fault-injection Technology 256 References 258 8 Intelligent Fault-Tolerance Techniques 261 8.1 Evolvable Hardware Fault-tolerance 261 8.1.1 Fundamental Concepts and Principles 261 8.1.2 Evolutionary Algorithm 266 8.1.2.1 Encoding Methods 270 8.1.2.2 Fitness Function Designing 272 8.1.2.3 Genetic Operators 273 8.1.2.4 Convergence of Genetic Algorithm 277 8.1.3 Programmable Devices 277 8.1.3.1 ROM 278 8.1.3.2 PAL and GAL 279 8.1.3.3 FPGA 281 8.1.3.4 VRC 282 8.1.4 Evolvable Hardware Fault-tolerance Implementation Methods 285 8.1.4.1 Modeling and Organization of Hardware Evolutionary Systems 286 8.1.4.2 Reconfiguration and Its Classification 289 8.1.4.3 Evolutionary Fault-tolerance Architectures and Methods 291 8.1.4.4 Evolutionary Fault-tolerance Methods at Various Layers of the Hardware 293 8.1.4.5 Method Example 298 8.2 Artificial Immune Hardware Fault-tolerance 302 8.2.1 Fundamental Concepts and Principles 302 8.2.1.1 Biological Immune System and Its Mechanism 304 8.2.1.2 Adaptive Immunity 305 8.2.1.3 Artificial Immune Systems 307 8.2.1.4 Fault-tolerance Principle of Immune Systems 310 8.2.2 Fault-tolerance Methods with Artificial Immune System 314 8.2.2.1 Artificial Immune Fault-tolerance System Architecture 316 8.2.2.2 Immune Object 318 8.2.2.3 Immune Control System 321 8.2.2.4 Working Process of Artificial Immune Fault-tolerance System 325 8.2.3 Implementation of Artificial Immune Fault-tolerance 328 8.2.3.1 Hardware 328 8.2.3.2 Software 330 References 334 Acronyms 337 Index 343

Read more less

Book SynopsisOliver's study is rigorous and detailed but contemplative in its approach, examining the larger meanings of mankind's first adventures in the heavens.Trade ReviewTo Touch the Face of God... support[s] the importance of the strength of individual faith, the power of community, and the American need for both heroes and villains of biblical proportions to change the world. -- David Rosman New York Journal of Books Oliver analyses spaceflight and religion in a sophisticated manner, well informed by the scholarly literature of 'new aerospace history,' which examines intersections between space history and other disciplines or themes... Oliver engages histories of theology and religious practice in a broad conversation of motivations, implications, transformations and reinforcements of religion in the history of spaceflight. -- Margaret Weitekamp Times Higher Education Religious and science colletions alike will relish this survey. Midwest Book Review To Touch the Face of God is well-written, with short, precise excursions into what almost amounts to poetry, for example: 'They [the astronauts in space] could not sit for a morning in the manner of Thoreau, slowly incubating epiphany'... It is an important contribution to the study of the complex connections between spaceflight and religion and thus highly recommended. -- Thore Bjornvig Quest: History of Spaceflight Quarterly Oliver's well-research book sparkles with graceful prose and cogent insights... Also refreshing is Oliver's breadth of knowledge, which leads to pregnant thoughts... To Touch the Face of God is a stimulating and original examination of the long Sixties. Looking at America through this unique window-actually a spaceship's portal-reveals things I had not seen before. -- Robert Spinney Fides Et HistoriaTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: The Blasphemy of Going Up1. A Power Greater Than Any of Us: Religion and Secularity in the Formation of the American Space Program2. Signals of Transcendence: The Rise and Fall of Space-Age Theology3. Into the Other World: Anticipations of Spaceflight as Religious Experience4. Perhaps a Meaning to Us: The Apollo Missions as Religious Experience5. Evil Triumphs When Good Men Do Nothing: Religious Americans and NASA in the Autumn of the Space AgeEpilogueNotesBibliographic EssayIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first book-length, in-depth ethnography of U.S. human spaceflight What if outer space is not outside the human environment but, rather, defines it? This is the unusual starting point of Valerie Olson’s Into the Extreme, revealing how outer space contributes to making what counts as the scope and scale of today’s natural and social environments. With unprecedented access to spaceflight worksites ranging from astronaut training programs to life science labs and architecture studios, Olson examines how U.S. experts work within the solar system as the container of life and as a vast site for new forms of technical and political environmental control. Olson’s book shifts our attention from space’s political geography to its political ecology, showing how scientists, physicians, and engineers across North America collaborate to build the conceptual and nuts-and-bolts systems that connect Earth to a specifically ecosystemic cosmos. This cosmos is being redefined as a competitive space for potential economic resources, social relations, and political strategies. Showing how contemporary U.S. environmental power is bound up with the production of national technical and scientific access to outer space, Into the Extreme brings important new insights to our understanding of modern environmental history and politics. At a time when the boundaries of global ecologies and economies extend far below and above Earth’s surface, Olson’s new analytic frameworks help us understand how varieties of outlying spaces are known, made, and organized as kinds of environments—whether terrestrial or beyond.Trade Review"This captivating book tells the story of how 'outer space' is being reimagined and remade in the key of the environmental, as a cosmic ecosystem. Drawing on fieldwork with scientists at an undersea space-analog habitat, at NASA mission control, and at a center for space medicine, Valerie Olson artfully demonstrates how our human home planet is the scale and place from which a habitable cosmos is made and imagined."—Stefan Helmreich, author of Sounding the Limits of Life: Essays in the Anthropology of Biology and Beyond"In this seminal ethnographic study, Valerie Olson offers nothing less than a new anthropological object: the system—solar, living, artificial, conceptual—for showing how ‘future space’ is being made on the horizons of the contemporary ecopolitical moment. Traveling alongside her, we come into close contact with knowledge that unEarthed entities are uniquely placed to reveal, and with questions that closed and semi-open systems pose to timeworn discliplinary limits."—Debbora Battaglia, author of E.T. Culture: Anthropology in Outerspaces"Olson’s ethnography sheds light on the everyday practices that go into the creation not only of specific systems and environments, but also of a general way of thinking about relations."—CHOICE"Into the Extreme is a testament to Olson’s comprehensive and creative reading practices and skillful ability to identify and synthesize concerns stretching across a diverse set of fields, histories, and genres."—Anthropological QuarterlyTable of ContentsContentsIntroduction: Space Systems1. Metasystem2. Connection3. Separation4. Transhabitation5. Solar EcosystemConclusion: Future SpaceAcknowledgmentsBibliography

Read more less

Book Synopsis"Let's go!" With that, the boyish, grinning Yuri Gagarin launched into space on April 12, 1961, becoming the first human being to exit Earth's orbit. The twenty-seven-year-old lieutenant colonel departed for the stars from within the shadowy world of the Soviet military-industrial complex. Barbed wires, no-entry placards, armed guards, false identities, mendacious maps, and a myriad of secret signs had hidden Gagarin from prying outsiders—not even his friends or family knew what he had been up to. Coming less than four years after the Russians launched Sputnik into orbit, Gagarin's voyage was cause for another round of capitalist shock and Soviet rejoicing. The Cosmonaut Who Couldn't Stop Smiling relates this twentieth-century icon's remarkable life while exploring the fascinating world of Soviet culture. Gagarin's flight brought him massive international fame—in the early 1960s, he was possibly the most photographed person in the world, flashing his trademark smile while rubbing elbows with the varied likes of Nehru, Castro, Queen Elizabeth II, and Italian sex symbol Gina Lollobrigida. Outside of the spotlight, Andrew L. Jenks reveals, his tragic and mysterious death in a jet crash became fodder for morality tales and conspiracy theories in his home country, and, long after his demise, his life continues to provide grist for the Russian popular-culture mill. This is the story of a legend, both the official one and the one of myth, which reflected the fantasies, perversions, hopes and dreams of Gagarin's fellow Russians. With this rich, lively chronicle of Gagarin's life and times, Jenks recreates the elaborately secretive world of space-age Russia while providing insights into Soviet history that will captivate a range of readers.Trade ReviewThis book is an outstanding piece of scholarship. The author has drawn on the best of Soviet historiography to craft a multifaceted biography of a man whose obscure origins made him appear to be a malleable public personality and with an easily masked face. Dr. Jenks has done as much for the scholarship of Soviet-era biography as historian Nell Irvin Painter has done for uncovering the lives of slaves in the United States. * The Russian Review *This is an intelligent and balanced biography that combines well the cultural history of space technology with Soviet and Russian history. Highly recommended. Academic, professional, and general audiences, all levels. * Choice *

Read more less