Space science Books

Book SynopsisSpacewalking is a physically exhausting, mentally rigorous endeavor. It is so difficult, only three Canadians have ever succeeded: Chris Hadfield, Steve MacLean, and Dave Williams. Hadfield completed the first Canadian spacewalk and installed the Canadarm 2 on the International Space Station, while Williams holds the record for the longest spacewalk by a Canadian. And Steve MacLean, former head of the Canadian Space Agency, was one of Canada’s original six astronauts.But what is it really like to leap out into space with only the thin fabric of your suit between you and the universe? In Canadian Spacewalkers, author Bob McDonald compiles each of the spacewalkers’ perspectives and presents an extensive, one-on-one interview with spacewalkers who tell tales of training underwater in the world’s largest swimming pool describe the moment when they first stepped outside. Science journalist McDonald also shares his own experiences with astronaut training: the almost-reality of simulators, the sensory deprivation of the spacesuit, and even a zero-g airplane ride.Lushly illustrated with stunning NASA photos, Canadian Spacewalkers inspires, astounds, and surprises. This is the gripping first-hand story of unique adventurers — in their own words.

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Book SynopsisIn the tradition of illustrated science bestsellers, like Thing Explainer and harkening back to the classic film The Powers of Ten, this unique, fully-illustrated, four-color book explores and visualizes the concept of scale in our universe.

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Book SynopsisA detailed look at the Saturn V's design and construction and all 32 of its Apollo missions.

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Book SynopsisUpdated with a new introduction by the author for the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, For All Mankind is both an extraordinary adventure story and an important historical document.Between December 1968 and December 1972, twenty-four men captured the imagination of the world as they voyaged to the moon. In For All Mankind, Harry Hurt presents a dramatic, engrossing and expansive account of those journeys. Based on extensive research and exclusive interviews with the Apollo astronauts, For All Mankind remains one of the most comprehensive and revealing firsthand accounts of space travel ever assembled. In their own words, the astronauts share the sights, sounds, thoughts, fears, hopes and dreams they experienced during their incredible voyages. In a compelling narrative structured as one trip to the moon, Harry Hurt recounts all the drama and danger of the lunar voyages, from the anxiety of the astronauts' prelaunch procedures through the euphoria of touchdown on the lunar surface.

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Book SynopsisIntroduces quaternions for scientists and engineers, and shows how they can be used in a variety of practical situations. This book is primarily an exposition of the quaternion, a 4-tuple, and its primary application in a rotation operator. It also presents the conventional and familiar 3 x 3 (9-element) matrix rotation operator.Trade Review"This book will appeal to anyone with an interest in three-dimensional geometry. It is a competent and comprehensive survey... This book is unique in that it is probably the only modern book to treat quaternions seriously... A valuable asset."--Aeronautical Journal "[A] splendid book ... everything one could wish for in a primer. It is also beautifully set out with an attractive layout, clear diagrams, and wide margins with explanatory notes where appropriate. It must be strongly recommended to all students of physics, engineering or computer science."--Peter Rowlands, Contemporary PhysicsTable of ContentsList of FiguresAbout This BookAcknowledgements1Historical Matters32Algebraic Preliminaries133Rotations in 3-space454Rotation Sequences in R[superscript 3]775Quaternion Algebra1036Quaternion Geometry1417Algorithm Summary1558Quaternion Factors1779More Quaternion Applications20510Spherical Trigonometry23511Quaternion Calculus for Kinematics and Dynamics25712Rotations in Phase Space27713A Quaternion Process30314Computer Graphics333Further Reading and References365Index367

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Book SynopsisThis work assembles chapters from contributors across our planet to document technologies, applications, missions, licensing requirements, and lessons learned by individuals and organizations that have participated in the nanosatellite revolution. This book is not intended as a ""how to"" or as a university reference to design, build, and fly nanosatellites but as a deeper-level reference on what has and hasn't worked in previous nanosatellite programs. Many chapters act as a historical reference for particular programs.

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Book SynopsisIn May 1961, President Kennedy announced that the United States would attempt to land a man on the moon and return him safely to the earth before the end of that decade. Yet NASA did not have a specific plan for how to accomplish that goal. Over the next fourteen months, NASA vigorously debated several options. At first the consensus was to send one big rocket with several astronauts to the moon, land and explore, and then take off and return the astronauts to earth in the same vehicle. Another idea involved launching several smaller Saturn V rockets into the earth orbit, where a lander would be assembled and fueled before sending the crew to the moon. But it was a small group of engineers led by John C. Houbolt who came up with the plan that propelled human beings to the moon and back—not only safely, but faster, cheaper, and more reliably. Houbolt and his colleagues called it "lunar orbit rendezvous," or "LOR." At first the LOR idea was ignored, then it was criticized, and then finally dismissed by many senior NASA officials. Nevertheless, the group, under Houbolt's leadership, continued to press the LOR idea, arguing that it was the only way to get men to the moon and back by President Kennedy's deadline. Houbolt persisted, risking his career in the face of overwhelming opposition. This is the story of how John Houbolt convinced NASA to adopt the plan that made history.Table of Contents Abbreviations Author's Note Prologue PART I: Beginnings CHAPTER 1: A Young Engineer CHAPTER 2: Evolution of an Agency CHAPTER 3: The Space Task Group CHAPTER 4: Predicting the Future PART II: Ideas CHAPTER 5: From the Earth to the Moon CHAPTER 6: More Committees, Groups, and Panels CHAPTER 7: Parking Orbit CHAPTER 8: Mode Discussions CHAPTER 9: A National Commitment PART III: Debate CHAPTER 10: The "Admiral's Page" and a Letter CHAPTER 11: More Committees, New Issues CHAPTER 12: "All That Nonsense" CHAPTER 13: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back CHAPTER 14: A New Way of Doing Things CHAPTER 15: The Lunar Crasher CHAPTER 16: A Letter From a Crank CHAPTER 17: A Fifth Engine and a New Spacecraft CHAPTER 18: Time for Serious Comparisons CHAPTER 19: Almost There CHAPTER 20: Charlie Frick's Road Show CHAPTER 21: Scratching Backs PART IV: Decision CHAPTER 22: A Surprise Announcement CHAPTER 23: Not There Yet CHAPTER 24: "An Act of Faith and Vision" Epilogue Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisWhat happens to you when you can’t walk for a year? When you can’t have sex? Or smell flowers? What happens if you vomit in your helmet during a space walk? Is it possible to survive a bailout at 17,000 miles an hour? Space is a world devoid of the things we need to live and thrive: air, gravity, hot showers, fresh veg, privacy, beer. To answer these questions, space agencies set up all manner of quizzical and startlingly bizarre space simulations, and as Mary Roach discovers, it’s possible to preview space without ever leaving Earth. Packing for Mars takes us on a surreally entertaining voyage into the science of life in space and space on Earth.Trade Review"Such grippingly scatological titbits grace almost every page ... Even readers with a long-term interest in manned exploration should find some new information within ... if you like your space science served with emotion, anecdotes, and excreta, this is for you." ***** * BBC Sky at Night *“Behind the witty mouth is a smart mind that finds out how rocket scientists organise their hardware around irritating organic human needs.” * Saga Magazine *“Roach boldly goes where no author has gone before to bring us puke, zero-gravity, faecal popcorn and flash-frozen rats... Packing for Mars is delightful, one of those rare beasts; a successful humorous science book. It is also one that throws fascinating light on some of the more obscure corners of space travel. Never mind packing it for Mars; pack it for your next long-haul flight and see if you can manage to freak your air-sick neighbour with one of the many amusing chapters on vomiting.” * Fortean Times *“The author of Stiff unravels the scientific hoo-haa and ultimate hubris of the whole enterprise. We all prefer our feet of clay, it seems.” * Belfast Telegraph *Praise for Mary Roach “Terrifically witty…On almost every page she tells you something to make you gasp aloud or snort with laughter.” * Telegraph *Praise for Mary Roach “When Mary Roach is seized by a subject, there is no stopping her: she is full-on, hands-on, and her lab coat is unbuttoned.” * The Times *Praise for Mary Roach “Irresistible…cheerfully scatological,cheekily sceptical.” * Observer Review *Praise for Mary Roach “A bold, tenacious, and insatiable reporter, Roach…could make an earthworm evisceration riveting and a hemispherectomy seem downright jolly.” * Scotsman *“Well-tuned to humour and absurdity…A delightful, illuminating grab bag of space-fl ight curiosities.” * Kirkus Reviews *Praise for Mary Roach “Roach is an original who can enliven any subject with wit, keen reporting, and a sly intelligence.” * Publishers Weekly *Praise for Mary Roach “Roach marries enthusiasm and curiosity with unflagging humour.” * Independent on Sunday *Praise for Mary Roach “Even if there were thousands of science-humour writers,[Roach] would be the sidesplitting favourite.” * Booklist *Praise for Mary Roach “A wonderfully vivid writer…. A celebration of the wide, occasionally crazy spectrum of human pursuit.” * New York Times Book Review *Praise for Mary Roach “One of the funniest and most madcap of science writers" * Kirkus Reviews *Praise for Mary Roach “Roach certainly gets full marks for unflinching commitment to the job in hand.” * The Guardian *Praise for Mary Roach “Bonkers, but brilliant.” * Easy Living *Praise for Mary Roach “Funny, inquisitive, and uncowed by experts, [Roach is] the general reader’s ideal emissary to the arcana of serious science.” * Newsweek *Praise for Mary Roach “One of those rare writers who can tackle the most obscure unpleasantness and distil the data into a hilarious and informative package. I would devour every page…I would laugh out loud…I would be able to dazzle and surprise friends with a newfound knowledge.” * San Francisco Chronicle *Praise for March Roach “She has a huge heart, a strong sense of empathy for the oddball, and she’s willing to go to great lengths to find and report stories from the hinterlands of understanding.” * Chicago Tribune *Praise for Mary Roach “Mary Roach is one of an endangered species: a science writer with a sense of humour.” * Denver Post *Praise for Mary Roach “A joy to read.…wonderful stuff.” * San Franciso Bay Guardian *Praise for Mary Roach “Roach is authoritative, endlessly curious and drolly funny. Her research is scrupulous and winningly presented.” * The Seattle Times *Praise for Mary Roach “A keen eye for observation of unique and ironic details.” * Express-News, San Antonio *“An often hilarious, sometimes queasy-making catalog of the strange stuff devised to permit people to survive in an environment for which their bodies are stupendously unsuited… Wonderfully slapstick.” * New York Times Book Review *"[A] truly funny look at the majestic aspects of the space program... Supremely accessible." * Entertainment Weekly *"Smart, smirky stuff." * San Francisco Chronicle *“[Roach’s] fluffily lightweight style is at its most substantial – and most hilarious – in the zero-gravity realm that Packing for Mars explores… As startling as it is funny.” * The New York Times *"An accomplished journalist with boundless curiosity, Roach complements her historical research with an equally eccentric investigation of space travel… As funny as Roach can be, she brings serious insight to her subject." * New Scientist *"Like a sassier - ie. ruder - version of Bill Bryson…” * Daily Mail *"She has a knack for translating the dry and arcane stuff of science in a way that is eminently readable, informative, and eye-openingly hilarious." ***** * Time Out *"Roach's book details the gritty biological reality of astronaut life." * Reader's Digest *"It achieves the double whammy of being both entertaining and educational, and though it starts off good, it gets even better as it goes along." * Bookbag - www.bookbag.com *"If you don't already know Mary Roach, famously the author of Bonk and Stiff, don't miss this third outing into space where no one can hear you scream with laughter... As a science writer Roach is seriously funny. She asks the right questions and provides answers like the best deadpan stand-up comic." * The Times *"In this often extremely funny book she reveals just what it’s like to be crammed in a space ship with your fellow man or woman - and their various bodily functions." * Lovereading.co.uk *"As Roach has shown in earlier books she is completely embarrassment-proof. There is no biological situation she will not visualise, no anatomical question she will not ask. So Packing for Mars is as startling as it is funny, even if its strategic aim is to tell you more than you need to know." * Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisThis book presents a theory of spacepower and considers the implications of space technology on strategy and international relations.

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Book SynopsisThe #1 New York Times Bestseller: The essential universe, from a celebrated and beloved astrophysicist.Trade Review"The style is vintage Tyson – engaging, chatty and littered with historical and linguistic anecdotes..." -- Times Higher Education"Certainly, if anyone can turn the public on to the subject [of astrophysics], it is Neil deGrasse Tyson... In an increasingly insular world, it is a welcome window onto a much bigger picture." -- The Sunday Times"Tyson has told the story of our Universe magnificently in these 12 short chapters... This may have been written for people in a hurry, but I urge you to take your time. It will all be over far too soon." -- BBC Sky at Night"Written in a conversational style, this [Astrophysics for People in a Hurry] provides an accessible and fascinating introduction to a mindbending subject." -- Summer's Hottest Reads 2017 - The Daily Mail"Tyson is an entertaining writer with a startling imagination..." -- BBC Sky at Night"Degrasse Tyson has a talent for making very complicated concepts seem simple, and the amount of content squeezed into one short volume is impressive. He certainly knows his stuff. It takes no time at all to romp through a chapter as the book is written with humour and his descriptions verge on the poetic." -- Chemistry World"... this introductory guide to the mysteries of the cosmos is genuinely accessible." -- Summer Reading 2017 - The Sunday Times"... [Astrophysics for People in a Hurry] is not quite astrophysics for dummies; while it is simplified, it is not simple. It is more a collection of the best and most thrilling moments; astrophysics’ greatest hits." -- The Guardian"At just over 200 pages, the book doesn't have all that much space to cover such an intensely complex topic, but DeGrasse Tyson manages it with aplomb. In fact, this collection of essays... toes the line between entertainment and interest brilliantly, never getting too bogged down in fine detail." -- How It Works"Tyson is... the world’s best science communicator." -- Times Literary Supplement"All in all, this is a book I can heartily recommend to anyone, regardless of how much or how little they know about physics." -- Popular Science"Finished @NeilTyson's mellifluous reading of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry. Lovely book. Last chapter worthy of Carl Sagan himself. " -- Richard Dawkins"In Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, he [Neil deGrasse Tyson] shares his awe, encapsulating everything known about the universe in 12 brief chapters, and giving a memorable spin to standard facts." -- New Scientist"This book topped the nonfiction charts in America: not only a measure of Tyson’s standing as the popular face of space science in the US but also testimony to an admirably digestible introduction to a Big Subject." -- Books of the Year 2017: Science - The Times"... he [deGrasse Tyson] somehow reveals a path through complex thought and theory in astrophysics for the reader, depositing enough detail to ponder upon, imploring us to consider possible answers to these confounding questions for ourselves." -- The 12 Books of Christmas 2017 - Sky at Night"Another good pop science that’s similar in tone is Astrophysics For People In A Hurry by long-time Stephen Hawking admirer, Neil Degrasse Tyson. It’s a lot of fun to read and potentially even less complicated than An Briefer History Of Time. Still, the two books actually complement one another quite nicely." -- A Brief History of Books by Stephen Hawking and What You Should Read Next - Verdict"... in this thorough book of almost 600 pages (150 of which are extensive notes and bibliography) the authors present an elaborate exposé of the myriad of ways astrophysics intertwines with military R&D." -- On Our Bookshelf - Nature

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Book SynopsisThe long-awaited memoir of a trailblazer and role model who is telling her story for the first time. Eileen Collins was an aviation pioneer her entire career, from her crowning achievements as the first woman to command an American space mission as well as the first to pilot the space shuttle to her early years as one of the Air Force’s first female pilots. She was in the first class of women to earn pilot’s wings at Vance Air Force Base and was their first female instructor pilot. She was only the second woman admitted to the Air Force’s elite Test Pilot Program at Edwards Air Force Base. NASA had such confidence in her skills as a leader and pilot that she was entrusted to command the first shuttle mission after the Columbia disaster, returning the US to spaceflight after a two-year hiatus. Since retiring from the Air Force and NASA, she has served on numerous corporate boards and is an inspirational speaker about space exploration and leadership. Eileen Collins is among the most recognized and admired women in the world, yet this is the first time she has told her story in a book. It is a story not only of achievement and overcoming obstacles but of profound personal transformation. The shy, quiet child of an alcoholic father and struggling single mother, who grew up in modest circumstances and was an unremarkable student, she had few prospects when she graduated from high school, but she changed her life to pursue her secret dream of becoming an astronaut. She shares her leadership and life lessons throughout the book with the aim of inspiring and passing on her legacy to a new generation.Trade Review"This is one of the essential astronaut autobiographies."—National Space Society“Well worth waiting for . . . She became famous for breaking the glass ceilings of the book’s title by being the first woman to be a shuttle pilot and a commander, but her accounts of the missions themselves are fascinating as well.”—Space Review “Given the chance, I would long ponder trading places with Eileen Collins. Her book with Jonathan Ward is a grand collection of simple, yet sensational moments she experienced—in Outer Space!—and in much that led to her getting there. What a read!"—Tom Hanks “I wrote the song ‘Beyond the Sky’ and sang it at Cape Canaveral for Eileen Collins’s maiden command voyage: ‘Once there was a girl with a dream in her heart, wild as the wind was her hope.’ This woman with the dream has turned into a serious heroine of the centuries who has taken her place among other men and women in the startling adventure of circling the Earth and leaving it behind. You will love her book: it is exciting, personal, detailed, a good thriller, suspenseful as a Stephen King mystery, and full of hope—that rare quality we all search for. Yeehaw, Commander Collins! What a life you have led and what a tale you have told! Brava!”—Judy Collins, singer, songwriter, author"Eileen Collins is a living legend and an inspiration to young people all over the world. We both began our journeys in Elmira, NY, with dreams of doing something extraordinary. Nurturing a dream is rarely ever easy, and Eileen certainly didn’t have a clear path to pursuing hers. Despite being met with challenges at every step, she was tenacious in chasing her ambition of becoming an astronaut—one who would go on to make history as the first female pilot and commander of an American space shuttle. When you come across a story of such determination, it is a reminder that once you set your mind to something, even the sky is not the limit.”—Tommy Hilfiger“I hope that a young explorer who reads Eileen’s book will be inspired to become the first human on Mars. Eileen proves that there is no limit to what we can do if we stay true to our goals and keep moving forward.”—Buzz Aldrin “Eileen is living proof to youngsters and young ladies that you can do anything you want to do with your life.”—Wally Funk, Mercury 13 pilot “Eileen Collins and I trained for the shuttle together, flew jets together, and waited together for that first chance to rocket into space. In Through the Glass Ceiling, Eileen tells the inspiring story of how she rose through hard work and determination to become a rare exemplar of the ‘right stuff,’ leading her crews to success in orbit and commanding the first shuttle launch after the Columbia disaster. Read, be amazed, then get this book into the hands of young explorers.”—Thomas D. Jones, astronaut and author of Skywalking“Reading Eileen’s story will not only help you get to know this extraordinary woman (mother, wife, survivor, USAF colonel, mathematician, professor, astronaut), but I bet it will help you think about facing life’s challenges with a greater sense of strength and determination. She is an inspiration.”—Gwynne Shotwell, president and COO, SpaceX “This book is endlessly inspiring!Eileen Collins is a trailblazer not only of space but of life. Her story of overcoming adversity to achieve her dream of flying in space will make your spirit soar.”—Andrew Chaikin, author of A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts “In the dark days in the aftermath of the Columbia tragedy, we looked no further than Eileen Collins to lead us down the long road with the Return to Flight crew to help NASA and the nation believe in ourselves again and resume the human quest to explore. This new book, with the help of master storyteller Jonathan Ward, captures Eileen’s thoughtful reflections and compelling story, which serves to inspire us all to reach our greatest potential.” —Sean O’Keefe, NASA Administrator, 2001–2005“As the commander of first space shuttle flight after the loss of Columbia, Eileen Collins lived, worked, and led her crew through a critical phase of history. How she got there is a story as interesting as the events themselves, one that is as inspirational as any in the pantheon of American aerospace heroes. This book takes you inside the life and times of one of NASA’s—America’s—best.”—Michael Griffin, NASA Administrator, 2005–2009“Exciting, motivating, and inspirational are only a few words to describe this story of Eileen Collins and her incredible journey to space. Her tenacity, resilience and persistence come through with each chapter.”—Charlie Bolden, Major General, USMC, Retired, former astronaut, former NASA Administrator, 2009–2017 “Eileen Collins has finally written the book people have been asking for. Growing up on welfare in a fractured family, Eileen's chance to live her own life took form in her long-held love of airplanes; her deep love of flying comes across on every page. Despite numerous obstacles in her path, she turned setbacks into advantages. We're with her in the pilot’s seat from page one. This inspiring book takes you into the challenges, the risks, the rewards—the heart of what it took to be first.”—Francis French, space historian; former Director of Events, Sally Ride Science "Eileen Collins is an unsung American hero. Her memoir should be ‘must reading’ for all young girls and boys in school, and indeed for every aspiring student at all levels. She has been a pioneer in everything she tried. The fact that NASA named Eileen as pilot on her first space shuttle flight tells you everything about the trust and confidence she inspires. I have had the honor of working with Eileen in her post-astronaut activities on several boards as well as the White House’s National Space Council. That same trust and confidence, combined with just being a natural leader who cares for people, are evident everywhere.”—General Lester L. Lyles, United States Air Force, retired, former Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, and Chairman NASA Advisory Council "“[This book] is both an inspiring tale of the career of Col. Eileen Collins and an acknowledgment of the proud contributions of female Airmen who have performed valiantly in service to America.”—General C. Q. Brown, Jr., Air Force Chief of Staff.

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the rise of great power competition in space, including the relevant and practical space strategies for China, Russia, the United States, and other countries.The work discusses the concepts and writings of past strategists, such as Thucydides, Sun Tzu, and Clausewitz, in relation to warfare initiated in or extending into space. This analysis underscores why polities initiate war based upon an assessment of fear, honor, and interest, and explains why this will also be true of war in space. Based upon the timeless strategic writings of the past, the book uncovers the strategy of space warfare, along with the concepts of deterrence, dissuasion, and the inherent right of self-defense, and outlines strategies for great, medium, and emerging space powers. Additionally, it highlights changes needed to space strategy based upon the Law of Armed Conflict, norms of behavior, and Rules of Engagement. The work also examines advancements and emerging trends in the commercial space sector, as well as what these changes mean for the implementation of a practical space strategy. Given the rise of great power competition in space, this work presents a space strategy based upon historical experience. This book will be of much interest to students of space policy, strategic studies, and International Relations.Table of Contents1. Space as a Warfighting Domain 2. Space Strategy 3. Technology and Space Warfare 4. Space Deterrence and the Law of War 5. Space Strategy for Great Powers 6. Space Strategy for Medium Powers 7. Space Strategy for Emerging Powers 8. Space as a Business Domain 9. Looking Up and Forward

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Book SynopsisThis textbook equips Masters' students studying Physics and Astronomy with the necessary mathematical tools to understand the basics of General Relativity and its applications. It begins by reviewing classical mechanics with a more geometrically oriented language, continues with Special Relativity and, then onto a discussion on the pseudo-Riemannian space-times. Applications span from the inner and outer Schwarzschild solutions to gravitational wave, black holes, spherical relativistic hydrodynamics, and Cosmology. The goal is to limit the abstract formalization of the problems, to favor a hands-on approach with a number of exercises, without renouncing to a pedagogical derivation of the main mathematical tools and findings. Features Provides a self-contained introduction to General Relativity and to its standar applications. Presents readers with all the tools necessary for further learning and research in the field. Accessible to readeTable of Contents1. Space and Time: The Classical View. 2. From Space and Time to Space-Time. 3. From Inertial to Non-Inertial Reference Frames. 4. Pseudo-Riemannian Spaces. 5. The Riemann-Christoffel Curvature Tensor. 6. From Non-Inertial Frames to Gravity: the Equivalence Principle. 7. Observational Test of the Equivalence Principle. 8. Field Equations in the "Vacuum": the Isotropic Solution. 9. Test-particles in the Schwarzschild Space-Time. 10. The Classical Tests of General Relativity. 11. Gravitational Waves in the "Vacuum". 12. Schwarzschild Black Holes. 13. Field Equations in Non-Empty Space-Times. 14. Further Applications of Some Field Equations. 15. Theoretical Cosmology. 16. The Hot Big-Bang. Appendix A. References. Index.

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Book SynopsisThis volume identifies and evaluates the relationship between outer-space geography and geographic position (astrogeography), and the evolution of current and future military space strategy. In doing so, it explores five primary propositions.Table of Contentsintellectually grounded in the best tradition of geopolitics, has something genuinely new to say, and makes vital contributions to the dialogue between the interrelationships between space and national security ... A stunning intellectual achievement and the first book that can legitimately claim to present a comprehensive theory of space power -- Air and Space Power Journal" ... groundbreaking and will definitely command attention ... a daring and forward-looking book ... one of the most daring and exciting books to be written on this subject"- Comparative StrategyMr B. Haggman, Centre for Research on Geopolitics"presents one of the most important contributions, also one of the first, in the field"Defense Review"Outstanding literature relevant to policy on outer space is rare. More often than not, the policy maker dealing with space matters has to trawl through narrow and dry technical tomes, or fantastical speculation of no relevance whatsoever. As an excellent example of relevant writing on outer space policy, Everett Dolman"s Astropolitik is most welcome...highly recommended and rewarding read for anyone interested in current thinking on the direction of US military and civil space policy, and how such thinking might affect space policy in Britain."RUSI Journal"a timely cascade of grand-strategic thought""A timely text that examines the theoretical, political and policy structures of space. ...Required reading for serious space-power advocates, this book will dominate the field of space theory."- Aerospace Power Chronicles

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Book SynopsisThis is a practical guide to using a small astronomical telescope of a size that corresponds to most âœfirstâ telescopes â around 75-150 mm, i.e. 3-6 inches, in diameter.Visual Astronomy with a Small Telescope is for people who are sufficiently interested in astronomy to have purchased a small telescope or received one as a gift, but who are still developing experience of using one. They may have looked at the Moon and major planets and be wondering, âœWhat's next?â There are many books catering for casual star-gazing and many more advanced books dealing with astrophotography and astrophysics, but this is for someone who has acquired their first telescope or soon will and wants to make the most of it.It explains how the optics of the telescope function, so the reader understands what their telescope can do and how eyepieces should be selected and used depending on the type of object being observed. It details different types of astronomical objects, th

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Book SynopsisWith a focus on China, the United States, and India, this book examines the economic ambitions of the second space race. The authors argue that space ambitions are informed by a combination of factors, including available resources, capability, elite preferences, and talent pool. The authors demonstrate how these influences affect the development of national space programs as well as policy and law. Trade ReviewGoswami and Garretson are directly involved in space policy research, and it shows. Addressing a perceived emerging great-power competition in outer space, they target the policymaker audience. Exploring five cases—the US, China, India, Luxembourg, and the UAE—they trace the roles of myth, history, and strategic culture in shaping epistemic communities, space resource ambitions, and policies pursued within each state. Working from textual sources and interviews, they propose multiple scenarios for the emerging struggle, and spell out the ideological and strategic approach expected from each state. Hypotheticals run from the China-dominant to the India-dominant ("Space Raj") and include the US-dominant ("Protector of the Realm") scenario, as well as a number of bipolar and balancing options. The authors' expected configuration of world powers in 2060 is China (number one), US (two), and India (three), with a likely crisis before 2028 and a critical "fork in the road" circa 2047. The appendixes outline the authors' assumptions and theory for academic readers, discussing why they adopted their approach and how their work fits into a larger research project. The "scramble" for resources and key locations in space, they argue, will shape human politics for centuries. Required reading for students, faculty, and practitioners, this book may also attract a general readership. Highly recommended. * Choice *[T]he text is massively footnoted and there’s a huge bibliography that more casual readers will find a gold mine for further reading. And all but the most knowledgeable readers will find their own command of the subject matter increased, if they’re willing to put in the time this book requires. * National Space Society *Scramble for the Skies is the first great book of the Space Force Age and destined to become a watershed event in space strategy. Never again will pundits be able to dismiss the future Goswami and Garretson expertly present. Even better, it arms readers with the insight necessary to win that future. -- Brent D. Ziarnick, author of Developing National Power in SpaceA North Star vision for the Nation! Garretson and Goswami have given us a peek of the future in Scramble for the Skies. Furthermore, they have armed us with a solid roadmap for how to get there. Space will never be the same again! -- Joel B. Mozer, Chief Scientist, United States Space ForceThis is an important book about an important topic. Scramble for the Skies is by far the most thorough and politically insightful work on space resources and interstate competition. It is historically informed and theoretically sophisticated -- and extremely timely. The time when space resources could be largely ignored by governments, space policy makers and international theorists is drawing to a close. Scramble for the Skies is an important contribution to the emerging -- and vitally needed -- policy conversation on the governance of celestial resources. Everyone interested in space and international politics must read this book. -- Daniel Deudney, Johns Hopkins UniversityScramble for the Skies explains the highest stake race of all time, where the winners will own the next thousand years. Yet unlike the first space race, this time the world's most powerful nations have been joined by corporations, billionaires and a rising group of savvy entrepreneurs. As one of those who kicked off the 'scramble' for space resources, I can say this book provides a fact-based overview of how it began, what is happening now, and where it might lead if the right choices are made -- by people who "get it". -- Rick Tumlinson, Chairman - SpaceFund Inc.Scramble for the Skies is an excellent new work that looks at the emerging space race, paying particular attention to two new space powers, China and India, as well as the established dominant space power, the U.S. Peter Garretson and Namrata Goswami combine their own specialisations – Garretson bringing knowledge of space policy issues from his time in the US Air Force, while Goswami is a well-known scholar working on Asian security issues – to understand the space race in the context of today’s competitive geopolitics. The new space race has not gained the attention it deserves, which makes this book a must read for strategists, practitioners and the policy community. -- Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Observer Research FoundationScramble for the Skies is rich beyond belief in information. And it gives a sweeping geopolitical view of the importance of humankind's future in space. -- Howard Bloom, Founder and Chair, The Space Development Steering CommitteeI’ve spent two decades researching Space commercialization and China’s rise and this is the book that finally identifies the nexus of those two most critical issues of the 21st century. Scramble for the Skies is must-read for every aerospace executive, policymakers on the National Space Council and NASA and US Space Force leadership. This extremely timely and well documented book lays out the contours of the cislunar economy and is imperatives. For those used to thinking of space in the old paradigm, this book will shock you. -- Greg Autry, National Space SocietyHands down, the most comprehensive and compelling argument for the implications of immense untapped space resources on the likelihood of war in space. The authors constructed a valuable framework for thinking about the future of space warfare beyond a supporting function for terrestrial combat. Must read for all space policymakers, intelligence analysts, future military concept developers, and futurists. Be forewarned, cislunar operations and interplanetary colonization are the next frontiers, and the nation that gets there first could dominate for centuries. -- Mark Cunningham, United States Marine Corp ReserveTable of ContentsChapter 1: Introducing the Concept of Great Power Competition for Space ResourcesChapter 2: The Role of Myths, History, and Strategic Culture on Space Based ResourcesChapter 3 (Part I): The Epistemic Community and the Foundations of Discourse in the United StatesChapter 4 (Part II): The United States Strategy and Space Resource AmbitionsChapter 5: China’s Strategy and Space Resource AmbitionsChapter 6: India’s Strategy and Space Resource AmbitionsChapter 7: Middle Power Strategy and Ambitions for Space Resources: Luxembourg and the UAEChapter 8: Are We Observing the Beginning of a Race or Scramble for Space Resources?Scenarios and Concluding ThoughtsAfterword: Theorizing Space Resources within International Relations Concepts and Positioning of the Authors

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Book SynopsisLong before the space race captured the world's attention, K.E. Tsiolkovskii first conceived of multi-stage rockets that would later be adapted as the basis of both the U.S. and Soviet rocket programs. Often called the grandfather of Russian rocketry, this provincial scientist was even sanctioned by Stalin to give a speech from Red Square on May Day 1935, lauding the Soviet technological future while also dreaming and expounding on his own visions of conquering the cosmos. Later, the Khrushchev regime used him as a 'poster boy' for Soviet excellence during its Cold War competition with the United States. Ironically, some revisionists have since pointed to such blatant promotion by the Communist Party in an attempt to downplay Tsiolkovskii's scientific contributions. James T. Andrews explores the complexities of this man to show that Tsiolkovskii was much more than either a rocket inventor or a propaganda tool. He was a science popularizer, novelist, technical inventor, and visionary, whose science fiction writings included futuristic drawings of space stations long before they appeared on any engineer's drawing board. Mining a myriad of Russian archives, Andrews produces not only a biographical account but also a study of Soviet technological propaganda, local science education, public culture in the 1920s and 1930s, and the cultural ramifications of space flight.

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Book SynopsisThe space surrounding our planet is full of opportunities and resources. Ranging from a hundred to a few thousand kilometers around Earth, our space-neighborhood offers an excellent vantage point to the universe, and a great opportunity to push the frontiers of science and knowledge. Manned missions advance research on human biology, health, and life in microgravity conditions. Satellite technologies gather essential data to better understand and manage our home planet by monitoring Earth’s environmental changes. Extraordinary developments in telecommunications and navigation are now indispensable to everyday life, and we cannot underestimate the emerging industry of space-tourism or the boom in projects to explore more distant planets such as Mars. But space also means risk. What is the real threat of meteorites? How much debris — from old rocket stages to mere flakes of paint — has been left there since space exploration began? How serious is this problem today? What is the risk of solar flares and particle bursts? How does our own Sun influence our climate? And what about the danger of cosmic radiation for humans and devices stationed beyond our atmosphere? By tackling a wide range of topics, this book aims to give a comprehensive overview of the opportunities and hazards in our immediate space environment. It also exposes the challenges that governments, space agencies, private companies, and human communities have to face in order to manage space together to create long-term and safe access to it, while protecting life on Earth.Table of ContentsIntroduction. Setting the scene. Characteristics of our space environment (Near-vacuum - Zero-g or microgravity - Other features of the Earth gravity environment - Radiation balance - Radiation and particle flux from the Sun and the Galaxy - The Earth’s magnetosphere). Utilization of our space environment for practical purposes, science and exploration. Rewards and Power of Space. Unweiling the mysteries of cosmic lights (Incredible Solar System - What has space taught us? The mysteries of darkness - Plurality of worlds and universality of life). Observing Earth’s skeleton and skin, surveying its health, monitoring its aging (Observing tools - Forecasting, facing, and managing Earth - First steps toward a global space governance for Earth monitoring). Influence of outer space on the Earth. The Sun (Living 8 light-minutes away from a cosmic nuclear furnace - The magnetic active star - Sun’s influence on Earth: the Carrington even - Space Weather)- 3.2 Weather and Climate (The four step dance of planet Earth - Sunlight influence on climatic modulations - The Sun and the atmosphere: a vital interaction - The influence of volcanic and solar activities- Future natural climate influence). Asteroids and Comets, (The Near Earth Object Impact Hazard - Observation, Detection, and Impact Prediction- Preventing an Impact - Way forward?). Impact of human activity on the near space environment. Space Debris (What is space debris? - What do we know, how much space debris is there? - Why is space debris a problem? - What are the immediate countermeasures? - Where does the data come from? - Protecting the space environment – an international endeavor - Predicting the future - Long-term sustainability of outer space activities - International policies and requirements). Opportunities and limits for actors. Introduction. Responsibilities of space faring nations (Antarctic treaty – precursor to space activities "governance" - The supranational framework - Role of ESA regarding national endeavors - Switzerland’s response). Political stakes (Rationale for public investment- Role of space in mountainous regions - Space transportation and satellite data for growth). Opportunities through cooperation (Interdependence: an investment - Example of China: more than a rising power - Earth monitoring: new opportunity for cooperation?). Increasing role of private actors. The future of space. Space techniques and innovation. Will today’s utopia become tomorrow’s reality? (Risks and limits of space exploration - Mining and using space resources). Managing space station Earth.

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Book SynopsisUnidentified phenomena in space, in the Earth's atmosphere, and in waters are too important to leave their exploration to the military and scientific laypersons. Their proper scientific study is important for a variety of reasons; in particular, scientists and the public at large need to know the basic facts, to be informed about the way evidence is recorded, and to understand the difference been reliable evidence and fiction, as well as between plausible explanations and fantasy.With this objective, the book surveys the history of UFO observations, the variety of recorded phenomena, and recounts the efforts of investigative commissions and their published findings.Although wild rumors are demystified in the process, this is not an exercise in rumor-bashing. An open and at the same time critical mindset is the key. Many narratives and hypothesis appear implausible relative to our present state of knowledge; but this alone should not lead to their outright exclusion. Thus the author also pays attention to UFO sightings that have so far eluded explanation in terms of known physics or meteorology. Here the reader will encounter some of the more speculative but scientifically tenable proposals, for example, relating to sudden zigzag motion without apparent inertia or recognizable propulsion, yet always with a clear guide to their plausibility. Last but not least, the book outlines plans and suggestions for future research capable of revealing the existence and intentions of extraterrestrial intelligences, outer-space engineers, or technologies so far known only from science fiction.Table of ContentsEarly UFO Sagas and Legends Prior to Trinity (July 1945).- UFO Sagas and Legends from Trinity (July 1945) Until the Robertson Panel (January 1953).- UFO Sagas and Legends After the Robertson Panel Until 2003.- UFO Sagas and Legends After 2003.- Some Visual Photos of Objects that have not (yet?) been Identified.- UFO Perception in the USA and Elsewhere.- Some Flight Characteristics.- Abductions and Experiences.- Crash Retreivals and UFO Materials.

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Book SynopsisPart I. Space Optical Instruments and Application.- Part II. Geoinformatics for Sustainable Ecosystems and Society.- Part III. Principles and Applications of Nighttime Light Remote Sensing.- Part IV. Application of Remote Sensing Technology in High Quality and Sustainable Development of Agriculture.- Part V. Applications of Oceanic Remote Sensing.

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Book SynopsisLa ciencia lleva intentando responder una pregunta durante siglos: hay vida más allá de nuestro planeta? Si las primeras células aparecieron en la Tierra bajo condiciones químicas y ambientales particulares. ocurrió lo mismo en otros lugares? Se han desarrollado numerosas teorías al respecto, una de ellas, la panspermia, sugiere que microorganismos viajan entre planetas, sembrando vida por el cosmos mediante meteoritos y otros vehículos naturales.Miguel Ángel Sabadell nos revela los numerosos esfuerzos realizados a lo largo de la historia para resolver este enigma. Desde científicos divagantes que plantearon nuevas y disparatadas teorías hasta enormes antenas que rastrean señales artificiales procedentes de sistemas estelares. Incluso se han analizado datos astronómicos en busca de tecnofirmas ?anomalías que solo una civilización tecnológica produciría? y se han estudiado avistamientos de fenómenos aéreos inexplicables bajo metodología científica para obtener pruebas verificables más allá de testimonios aislados.En busca de vida fuera de la Tierra aborda los retos a los que se han enfrentado algunas de las mentes más distinguidas como la creación de mensajes entendibles para mentes no humanas, repensando nuestros conceptos básicos de lenguaje y cognición, o el envío de sondas a Marte para realizar pruebas químicas en rocas y suelo en busca de moléculas orgánicas y trazas microbianas.Cómo son los extraterrestres? Cómo reaccionaríamos los humanos a su aparición? Nos habrán visitado ya? Será nuestra búsqueda de vida infinita?

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