0
Your cart

Your cart is empty

Browse All Departments
Price
  • R50 - R100 (1)
  • R100 - R250 (131)
  • R250 - R500 (366)
  • R500+ (1,625)
  • -
Status
Format
Author / Contributor
Publisher

Books > Professional & Technical > Other technologies > Space science

Prepare for Launch - The Astronaut Training Process (Paperback, Edition.): Erik Seedhouse Prepare for Launch - The Astronaut Training Process (Paperback, Edition.)
Erik Seedhouse
R1,315 R1,093 Discovery Miles 10 930 Save R222 (17%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days

Today's astronauts require many different abilities. They must not only be expert in performing flight simulations but must also be proficient in such dissimilar subjects as photography, thermodynamics, electrical repairs, flight procedures, oceanography, public affairs, and geology. In Prepare for Launch, the author introduces the technologies and myriad activities that constitute or affect astronaut training, such as the part-task trainers, emergency procedures, the fixed-based and motion-based simulators, virtual environment training, and the demands of training in the Weightless Environment Training Facility. With plans to return to the Moon and future missions to Mars, the current selection criteria and training are very different from those used for short duration mission Space Shuttle crews. Dr. Erik Seedhouse in this book focuses on how astronaut candidates are taught to cope with different needs and environments (for example, hibernation, artificial gravity, and bioethics issues) and also includes brief discussions of the astronaut application and selection process.

Turning Dust to Gold - Building a Future on the Moon and Mars (Paperback, Edition.): Haym Benaroya Turning Dust to Gold - Building a Future on the Moon and Mars (Paperback, Edition.)
Haym Benaroya
R1,546 R1,273 Discovery Miles 12 730 Save R273 (18%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days

The expansion of our civilization to the Moon and beyond is now within our reach, technically, intellectually and financially. Apollo was not our last foray into the Solar System and already science fiction is finding it difficult to keep ahead of science and engineering fact. In 1807, few people anticipated the Wright Brothers' human flight a hundred years later. In 1869, only science fiction writers would have suggested landing people on the Moon in 1969. Similarly, other great inventions in mechanics and in electronics were not envisaged and therefore the technologies to which those inventions gave birth were only foreseen by a tiny group of visionaries.

The New Space Race: China vs. USA (Paperback, 2010 ed.): Erik Seedhouse The New Space Race: China vs. USA (Paperback, 2010 ed.)
Erik Seedhouse
R859 R747 Discovery Miles 7 470 Save R112 (13%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days

The world s most populous nation views space as an asset, not only from a technological and commercial perspective, but also from a political and militaristic one. The repercussions of this ideology already extend far beyond Washington. China vs. United States offers a glimpse of future Chinese aspirations in space and the politico-militaristic implications of a looming space race, and explains why an interplanetary spaceship called the Tsien Hsue Shen might one day travel to the outer planets.

Until China successfully launched taikonauts into orbit, China s space program had attracted little international attention. The book opens with an analysis of the short fifteen-year history of the China National Space Administration and its long list of accomplishments. Chapter 2 assesses Sino-U.S. technological and commercial interests in space and their implications in fuelling a potential space race. The national security objectives of the U.S. and China are examined, showing how their intentions are increasingly leading to the military integration of space technologies. Chapter 3 describes China s anxieties about U.S. space power, its obsession with national prestige, and how manned spaceflight is viewed as a crucial element to sustain the legitimacy of the Communist Party. China is currently focusing on similar goals to those of NASA s Constellation Program - lunar and Mars exploration. The following chapter examines the ambitious plans of both nations, and evaluates whether China s bold goal of landing taikonauts on the Moon by 2020 is matched by the necessary capability.

In Chapter 5 Dr Seedhouse describes the space hardware being developed by the U.S. and China and the strides taken by China in its attempt to match the technological capability of the U.S. The following chapter provides an overview of China s introductory manned spaceflights and shows how, despite a lack of experience, the Chinese may soon be in a position to challenge the U.S. in a race to the Moon. In Chapter 7, the author discusses how China s manned space program can boost the country s international prestige and also examines the notion of manned spaceflight as a risky way to boost national status and the potential implications of a disaster akin to Challenger and Columbia.

Chapter 8 addresses the questions of alliances and cooperation between NASA and ESA and China and Russia, or, alternatively, the U.S. and China pursuing their space ambitions alone. The implications of each way forward in the context of a looming competition in space are considered. Chapter 9 discusses the repercussions of a Chinese space program overtaking NASA and whether the U.S. has the political will to advance its own space program to prevent its position as sole space superpower being usurped. Given the mutual suspicions existing in both countries, it is perhaps inevitable that Washington and Beijing are on a collision course in space. The final chapter describes the implications of such a confrontation and discusses what, if anything, can be done to avert a new space race.

NASA's Moon Program - Paving the Way for Apollo 11 (Paperback, 2009 ed.): David M. Harland NASA's Moon Program - Paving the Way for Apollo 11 (Paperback, 2009 ed.)
David M. Harland
R1,163 R991 Discovery Miles 9 910 Save R172 (15%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days

David Harland proposes a series of books on the theme of NASAs Moon Program of the 1960s and early 1970s. Presented chronologically, NASAs Moon Program The Early Years will outline the Mercury and Gemini manned missions, the unmanned lunar probes and the Apollo missions leading up to Apollo 11, covering that mission only as a postscript. The First Men on the Moon The Story of Apollo 11 due for release in September 2006 is devoted solely to that mission. Apollo The Definitive Sourcebook published in 2006 covered all the missions, including the unmanned tests, in an encyclopaedic style which cited facts and figures in a stylised manner. Exploring the Moon The Apollo Expeditions was published in 1999, focusing on the final three Apollo missions, and covered only their activities on the lunar surface. A fully re-illustrated second edition with colour illustrations will be released in 2008. The individual mission books in this series will relate to the planning, flight and results, and be written in the same style as The First Men on the Moon The Story of Apollo 11; i.e. using dialogue from the in-flight transcripts (including some conversations never broadcast) to bring their stories to life. With the release of the book on Apollo 11 David Harland will then cover the other five missions that landed on the Moon, concluding by 2012 the 40th anniversary of the last Apollo mission. Each of the Apollo missions that reached the Moon deserves its own book-lenth account covering planning, the flight, and the scientific results. This series will become the definitive account of the Apollo era. It will give the Springer/Praxis list unrivalled coverage of the Apollo era of space explorationas the 40th anniversary approaches in 2009 and the world looks back with a sense of wonderment at the achievement. Plans are already in train for a return to the Moon by 2020 to create a Moonbase.

Martian Outpost - The Challenges of Establishing a Human Settlement on Mars (Paperback, 2009 ed.): Erik Seedhouse Martian Outpost - The Challenges of Establishing a Human Settlement on Mars (Paperback, 2009 ed.)
Erik Seedhouse
R1,010 R864 Discovery Miles 8 640 Save R146 (14%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days

Martian Outpost provides a detailed insight into the various technologies, mission architectures, medical requirements, and training needed to send humans to Mars. It focuses on mission objectives and benefits, and the risks and complexities that are compounded when linked to an overall planet exploration program involving several expeditions and setting up a permanent presence on the surface.

The first section provides the background to sending a human mission to Mars. Analogies are made with early polar exploration and the expeditions of Shackleton, Amundsen, and Mawson. The interplanetary plans of the European Space Agency, NASA, and Russia are examined, including the possibility of one or more nations joining forces to send humans to Mars. Current mission architectures, such as NASA s Constellation, ESA s Aurora, and Ross Tierney s DIRECT, are described and evaluated.

The next section looks at how humans will get to the Red Planet, beginning with the preparation of the crew. The author examines the various analogues to understand the problems Mars-bound astronauts will face. Additional chapters describe the transportation hardware necessary to launch 4-6 astronauts on an interplanetary trajectory to Mars, including the cutting edge engineering and design of life support systems required to protect crews for more than a year from the lethal radiation encountered in deep space. NASA s current plan is to use standard chemical propulsion technology, but eventually Mars crews will take advantage of advanced propulsion concepts, such as the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket, ion drives and nuclear propulsion.

The interplanetary options for reaching Mars, as well as the major propulsive maneuvers required and the trajectories and energy requirements for manned and unmanned payloads, are reviewed . Another chapter addresses the daunting medical problems and available countermeasures for humans embarking on a mission to Mars: the insidious effects of radiation on the human body and the deleterious consequences of bone and muscle deconditioning. Crew selection will be considered, bearing in mind the strong possibility that they may not be able to return to Earth. Still another chapter describes the guidance, navigation, and control system architecture, as well as the lander design requirements and crew tasks and responsibilities required to touch down on the Red Planet.

Section 3 looks at the surface mission architectures. Seedhouse describes such problems as radiation, extreme temperatures, and construction challenges that will be encountered by colonists. He examines proposed concepts for transporting cargo and astronauts long distances across the Martian surface using magnetic levitation systems, permanent rail systems, and flying vehicles. In the penultimate chapter of the book, the author explains an adaptable and mobile exploration architecture that will enable long-term human exploration of Mars, perhaps making it the next space-based tourist location.

The Astronaut's Cookbook - Tales, Recipes, and More (Paperback, 2010 ed.): Charles T. Bourland, Gregory L. Vogt The Astronaut's Cookbook - Tales, Recipes, and More (Paperback, 2010 ed.)
Charles T. Bourland, Gregory L. Vogt 1
R1,204 R1,007 Discovery Miles 10 070 Save R197 (16%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days

Astronauts, cosmonauts, and a very limited number of people have experienced eating space food due to the unique processing and packaging required for space travel. This book allows anyone with a normal kitchen to prepare space food. Since some of the processing such as freeze dehydration, and packaging cannot be accomplished in the normal kitchen, many of the recipes will not produce the food that would be launched in space, but will prepare food similar to what the astronauts would eat after they had added the water to the food in space. Many of the space foods are prepared to the point of ready to eat, and then frozen and freeze dried. Food preparation in this book stops at the point of ready to eat before the freezing and dehydrating takes place. Recipes in this book are extracted from the NASA food specifications and modified for preparation in a normal kitchen. The book will contain the following chapters: Introduction, Appetizers, Beverages, Bread and Tortillas, Cookies, Sandwiches, Desserts, Main Dishes, Soups and Salads, Vegetables, and Future Space Foods. Interesting tidbits of space food history will be spread throughout the book. Examples like; did NASA invent Tang?, who was the first person to eat in space?, the Gemini sandwich fiasco, why there is no alcohol in U.S. space food systems, astronauts favorite food, etc.

Lunar Outpost - The Challenges of Establishing a Human Settlement on the Moon (Paperback, 2008 ed.): Erik Seedhouse Lunar Outpost - The Challenges of Establishing a Human Settlement on the Moon (Paperback, 2008 ed.)
Erik Seedhouse
R1,012 R865 Discovery Miles 8 650 Save R147 (15%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days

Lunar Outpost provides a detailed account of the various technologies, mission architectures, medical requirements and training needed to return humans to the Moon within the next decade. It focuses on the means by which a lunar outpost will be constructed and also addresses major topics such as the cost of the enterprise and the roles played by private companies and individual countries. The return of humans to the surface of the Moon will be critical to the exploration of the solar system. The various missions are not only in pursuit of scientific knowledge, but also looking to extend human civilization, economic expansion, and public engagement beyond Earth. As well as NASA, Chinaa (TM)s Project 921, Japana (TM)s Aerospace Exploration Agency, Russia, and the European Space Agency are all planning manned missions to the Moon and, eventually, to Mars. The Ares-I and Ares-V are the biggest rockets since the Saturn V and there is much state-of-the-art technology incorporated into the design of Orion, the spacecraft that will carry a crew of four astronauts to the Moon. Lunar Outpost also describes the human factors, communications, exploration activities, and life support constraints of the missions.

Robotic Exploration of the Solar System - Part 2: Hiatus and Renewal, 1983-1996 (Paperback, 2009 ed.): Paolo Ulivi, David M.... Robotic Exploration of the Solar System - Part 2: Hiatus and Renewal, 1983-1996 (Paperback, 2009 ed.)
Paolo Ulivi, David M. Harland
R1,179 R1,007 Discovery Miles 10 070 Save R172 (15%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days

Paolo Ulivi and David Harland provide in "Robotic Exploration of the Solar System" a detailed history of unmanned missions of exploration of our Solar System As in their previous book Lunar Exploration, the subject will be treated wherever possible from an engineering and scientific standpoint. Technical descriptions of the spacecraft, of their mission designs and of instrumentations will be provided. Scientific results will be discussed in considerable depth, together with details of mission management.

The books will cover missions from the 1950s until the present day, and some of the latest missions and their results will appear in a popular science book for the first time. The authors will also cover many unflown projects, providing an indication of the ideas that proved to be unfulfilled at the time but which may still be proven and useful in the future.

Just like Lunar Exploration, these books will use sources only recently made available on the Soviet space program, in addition to some obscure and rarely used references on the European space program.

The project will deliver three volumes totaling over 1000 pages that will provide comprehensive coverage of the topic with thousands of references to the professional literature that should make it the 'first port of call' for people seeking information on the topic.

The First Soviet Cosmonaut Team - Their Lives and Legacies (Paperback, 2009 ed.): Colin Burgess, Rex Hall The First Soviet Cosmonaut Team - Their Lives and Legacies (Paperback, 2009 ed.)
Colin Burgess, Rex Hall
R1,141 R969 Discovery Miles 9 690 Save R172 (15%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days

The First Soviet Cosmonaut Team will relate who these men were and offer far more extensive background stories, in addition to those of the more familiar names of early Soviet space explorers from that group. Many previously-unpublished photographs of these "missing" candidates will also be included for the first time in this book. It will be a detailed, but highly readable and balanced account of the history, training and experiences of the first group of twenty cosmonauts of the USSR. A covert recruitment and selection process was set in motion throughout the Soviet military in August 1959, just prior to the naming of America's Mercury astronauts. Those selected were ordered to report for training at a special camp outside of Moscow in the spring of 1960. Just a year later, Senior Lieutenant Yuri Gagarin of the Soviet Air Force (promoted in flight to the rank of major) was launched aboard a Vostok spacecraft and became the first person ever to achieve space flight and orbit the Earth.

The International Space Station - Building for the Future (Paperback, 2008 ed.): John E. Catchpole The International Space Station - Building for the Future (Paperback, 2008 ed.)
John E. Catchpole
R893 R782 Discovery Miles 7 820 Save R111 (12%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days

This book will cover in great detail the newest construction and uses of the International Space Station. The new volume will continue on from the end of Creating the International Space Station by David Harland and John Catchpole (published in January 2002 by Springer Praxis), providing flight by flight details and relevant political and "behind the scenes" activities as are necessary to explain why certain decisions, including flight re-scheduling and crew-reassignment, are made.

Part 1 will open with a chapter recounting the political history of the ISS, including how and why the program came into being. Chapter 2 will look at the four partners involved (USA, Russia, ESA, and Brazil), with a brief account of what each partner is bringing to the program. Chapter 3 will study the initial goals of the program, how they have changed and whether they have been met. Chapter 4 will summarize the program at the end of Creating the International Space Station.

Part 2 will look at the findings and recommendations of the International Space Station Management and Cost Evaluation Task Force. Part 3 will examine the original flight coverage, including the beginning of the construction of the Integrated Truss Structure, and will cover the stationa (TM)s occupation from the start of Expedition 4, through to the end of Expedition 6. Part 4 will start with the loss of STS-107 a" Columbia a" and explain its effect on both the International Space Station and the American space effort in general. It will cover the Expedition 7 occupation through to the beginning of Expedition 13, concentrating on the work of the two-person "Caretaker Crews."

Part 5 will study the recovery fromthe STS-107 tragedy and the re-commencement of the ISS construction, overcoming the grounding of the Space Shuttle fleet. It will cover the remainder of the Expedition 13 occupation, the return to three-person occupation, through to the end of Expedition 15 and the installation of Node-2, the final American module.

Part 6 will briefly look forward to the installation of the International Partnera (TM)s modules as well as the introduction of the European and Japanese robotic cargo vehicles. The book will end with a glance at plans for the Orion spacecraft and Ares-1 launch vehicle, and the delivery of Node-2, the final piece of American hardware.

Three Appendices will up-date those published in Creating the International Space Station: Appendix A will list ISS hardware descriptions, Appendix B will be a complete ISS Flight Log and Appendix C will be a full ISS Extravehicular Activity Log.

Space Enterprise - Living and Working Offworld in the 21st Century (Paperback, 2008 ed.): Phillip Harris Space Enterprise - Living and Working Offworld in the 21st Century (Paperback, 2008 ed.)
Phillip Harris
R1,111 R964 Discovery Miles 9 640 Save R147 (13%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days

In Space Enterprise - Living and Working Offworld, Dr Philip Harris provides the vision and rationale as to why humanity is leaving its cradle, Earth, to use space resources, as well as pursuing lunar industrialization and establishing offworld settlements. As a management/space psychologist, Dr. Harris presents a behavioral science perspective on space exploration and enterprise. In this his 45th book, Phil has completely revised and updated the two previous editions of this classic, placing new emphasis on the need for more synergy and participation by the private sector. He not only provides a critical review of what is happening in the global space community, but offers specific strategies for lunar economic development. The author analyzes the human factors in contemporary and future space developments, especially relative to the deployment of people aloft. This user-friendly volume offers numerous photographs, diagrams, exhibits, and case studies.

Life in Space - Astrobiology for Everyone (Hardcover): Lucas John Mix Life in Space - Astrobiology for Everyone (Hardcover)
Lucas John Mix
R1,243 Discovery Miles 12 430 Ships in 18 - 22 working days

Life is a property of the universe. We may not know how it began or where else it exists, but we have come to know a great deal about how it relates to stars, planets, and the larger cosmos. In clear and compelling terms, this book shows how the emerging field of astrobiology investigates the nature of life in space. How did life begin? How common is it? Where do we fit in? These are the important questions that astrobiology seeks to answer.

A truly interdisciplinary endeavor, astrobiology looks at the evidence of astronomy, biology, physics, chemistry, and a host of other fields. A grand narrative emerges, beginning from the smallest, most common particles yet producing amazing complexity and order. Lucas Mix is a congenial guide through the depths of astrobiology, exploring how the presence of planets around other stars affects our knowledge of our own; how water, carbon, and electrons interact to form life as we know it; and how the processes of evolution and entropy act upon every living thing.

This book also reveals that our understanding and our context are deeply intertwined. It shows how much astrobiology can tell us about who we are as a planet, as a species, and as individuals.

Energiya-Buran - The Soviet Space Shuttle (Paperback, 2007 ed.): Bart Hendrickx, Bert Vis Energiya-Buran - The Soviet Space Shuttle (Paperback, 2007 ed.)
Bart Hendrickx, Bert Vis
R2,570 R2,051 Discovery Miles 20 510 Save R519 (20%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days

This absorbing book describes the long development of the Soviet space shuttle system, its infrastructure and the space agency's plans to follow up the first historic unmanned mission. The book includes comparisons with the American shuttle system and offers accounts of the Soviet test pilots chosen for training to fly the system, and the operational, political and engineering problems that finally sealed the fate of Buran and ultimately of NASA's Shuttle fleet.

NASA's Scientist-Astronauts (Paperback, 2007 ed.): Shayler David, Colin Burgess NASA's Scientist-Astronauts (Paperback, 2007 ed.)
Shayler David, Colin Burgess
R1,187 R1,016 Discovery Miles 10 160 Save R171 (14%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days

Mounting pressure in the early 1960s from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to study ways of expanding the role of astronauts to conduct science on future space missions led to NASA's conclusion that flying scientifically trained crewmembers would generate greater returns from each mission.

Space as a Strategic Asset (Hardcover): Joan Johnson-Freese Space as a Strategic Asset (Hardcover)
Joan Johnson-Freese
R2,079 Discovery Miles 20 790 Ships in 18 - 22 working days

Joan Johnson-Freese argues that the race for space weapons and the U.S. quest for exclusive or at least dominant ownership of strategic space assets have alienated the very allies that the United States needs in order to maintain its leading role in space exploration. Taking a balanced look at the issues that have contributed to the decline of America's manned space program, such as lack of political support and funding, Johnson-Freese offers not only a critique but also a plan for enhancing U.S. space security through cooperation rather than competition.

She begins with a brief overview of the history of international space development through four eras: before "Sputnik," the space race, after Apollo, and globalization. Then she focuses on how policy changes of the mid-1990s have changed the nation, examining why the United States has grown obsessed with the development of space technology not just as a tool for globalization but as a route toward expanding an already dominant arsenal of weapons. Johnson-Freese claims that these policy choices have greatly affected the attitudes and actions of other countries, and in the fight to achieve security, the United States has instead put itself at greater peril.

Johnson-Freese explains complex technical issues in clear, accessible terms and suggests a way forward that is comprehensive rather than partisan. America is not the only country with space ambitions, but it is unique in viewing space as a battlefield and the technological advancements of other nations as a dire threat. Urgent and persuasive, "Space as a Strategic Asset" underscores the danger of allowing our space program to languish and the crucial role of cooperation in protecting the security of our country and the world.

How Apollo Flew to the Moon (Paperback, 2nd ed. 2011): W. David Woods How Apollo Flew to the Moon (Paperback, 2nd ed. 2011)
W. David Woods
R1,585 R1,313 Discovery Miles 13 130 Save R272 (17%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days

Stung by the pioneering space successes of the Soviet Union - in particular, Gagarin being the first man in space, the United States gathered the best of its engineers and set itself the goal of reaching the Moon within a decade. In an expanding 2nd edition of How Apollo Flew to the Moon, David Woods tells the exciting story of how the resulting Apollo flights were conducted by following a virtual flight to the Moon and its exploration of the surface. From launch to splashdown, he hitches a ride in the incredible spaceships that took men to another world, exploring each step of the journey and detailing the enormous range of disciplines, techniques, and procedures the Apollo crews had to master. While describing the tremendous technological accomplishment involved, he adds the human dimension by calling on the testimony of the people who were there at the time. He provides a wealth of fascinating and accessible material: the role of the powerful Saturn V, the reasoning behind trajectories, the day-to-day concerns of human and spacecraft health between two worlds, the exploration of the lunar surface and the sheer daring involved in traveling to the Moon and the mid-twentieth century. Given the tremendous success of the original edition of How Apollo Flew to the Moon, the second edition will have a new chapter on surface activities, inspired by reader's comment on Amazon.com. There will also be additional detail in the existing chapters to incorporate all the feedback from the original edition, and will include larger illustrations.

Mars Direct (Paperback): Robert Zubrin Mars Direct (Paperback)
Robert Zubrin; Cover design or artwork by Carie Fay
R207 Discovery Miles 2 070 Ships in 18 - 22 working days
Laika's Window - The Legacy of a Soviet Space Dog (Paperback): Kurt Caswell Laika's Window - The Legacy of a Soviet Space Dog (Paperback)
Kurt Caswell
R485 R409 Discovery Miles 4 090 Save R76 (16%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Laika began her life as a stray dog on the streets of Moscow and died in 1957 aboard the Soviet satellite Sputnik II. Initially the USSR reported that Laika, the first animal to orbit the earth, had survived in space for seven days, providing valuable data that would make future manned space flight possible. People believed that Laika died a painless death as her oxygen ran out. Only in recent decades has the real story become public: Laika died after only a few hours in orbit when her capsule overheated. Laika's Window positions Laika as a long overdue hero for leading the way to human space exploration. Kurt Caswell examines Laika's life and death and the speculation surrounding both. Profiling the scientists behind Sputnik II, he studies the political climate driven by the Cold War and the Space Race that expedited the satellite's development. Through this intimate portrait of Laika, we begin to understand what the dog experienced in the days and hours before the launch, what she likely experienced during her last moments, and what her flight means to history and to humanity. While a few of the other space dog flights rival Laika's in endurance and technological advancements, Caswell argues that Laika's flight serves as a tipping point in space exploration "beyond which the dream of exploring nearby and distant planets opened into a kind of fever from which humanity has never recovered." Examining the depth of human empathy-what we are willing to risk and sacrifice in the name of scientific achievement and our exploration of the cosmos, and how politics and marketing can influence it-Laika's Windowis also about our search to overcome loneliness and the role animals play in our drive to look far beyond the earth for answers.

Testing Aircraft, Exploring Space - An Illustrated History of NACA and NASA (Hardcover): Roger E. Bilstein Testing Aircraft, Exploring Space - An Illustrated History of NACA and NASA (Hardcover)
Roger E. Bilstein
R1,193 Discovery Miles 11 930 Ships in 9 - 17 working days

The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics--forerunner of today's NASA--emerged in 1915, when airplanes were curiosities made of wood and canvas and held together with yards of baling wire. At the time an unusual example of government intrusion (and foresight, given the importance of aviation to national military concerns), the committee oversaw the development of wind tunnels, metal fabrication, propeller design, and powerful new high-speed aircraft during the 1920s and '30s. In this richly illustrated account, acclaimed historian of aviation Roger E. Bilstein combines the story of NACA and NASA to provide a fresh look at the agencies, the problems they faced, and the hard work as well as inventive genius of the men and women who found the solutions.

NACA research during World War II led to critical advances in U.S. fighter and bomber design and, Bilstein explains, contributed to engineering standards for helicopters. After 1945 the agency's test pilots experimented with jet-powered aircraft, testing both human and technical limits in trying to break the so-called "sound barrier." In October 1958, when the launch of the Soviet "Sputnik" signaled the beginning of the space race, NACA formed the nucleus of the new National Aeronautics and Space Agency. The new agency's efforts to meet President Kennedy's challenge--safely landing a man on the Moon and returning him to Earth before the end of the 1960s--is one of the great adventure stories of all time. Bilstein 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.

Life in the Universe - From the Miller Experiment to the Search for Life on other Worlds (Paperback, Softcover reprint of the... Life in the Universe - From the Miller Experiment to the Search for Life on other Worlds (Paperback, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2004)
Joseph Seckbach, Julian Chela-Flores, Tobias Owen, Francois Raulin
R4,163 Discovery Miles 41 630 Ships in 18 - 22 working days

H. BALTSCHEFFSKYChairman Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Arrhenius Laboratories, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden. Professor Stanley Miller, Professor K. R. Srinivasan, Organizers and Sponsors of this Conference, Ladies and Gentlemen; WearegettingreadyfortheAbdusSalamLecture, honoringtwomostdistinguishedsci- tists. Bothhaveverysigni?cantlycontributedtotherapidgrowthofthesphereoffun- mentalknowledgeinthesecondhalfofthetwentiethcentury. Abdus Salam, theoreticalphysicist, NobelPrizewinner, creatorandlongtimeleader of The Abdus Salam Center of Theoretical Physics. With his active interest in the origin oflifeheplayedaleadingroleininstigatingtheseconferencesonChemicalEvolutionand theOriginofLifehereinTrieste, whichstillareofsuchprimaryimportanceinthis?eld. Heleftthisworldin1996. And Stanley Miller, whomostgenerously, astheAbdusSalamLecturer, isgoingto giveushis"Recollectionsofthebeginningofchemicalevolutionexperiments" DearStanley, itisagreatprivilege, andindeedapleasuretointroduceyou. Thisisina wayaquiteeasytask, becauseweallalreadyknowthat"theMillerexperiment,"whichis mostappropriatelyplacedinthetitleofthisconference, in1953, exactly50yearsago, was amajorbreakthrough, openingupanewresearch?eldwith, andfor, rationalandadvanced chemicalexperimentationonthemolecularoriginoflife. Itwouldtaketoomuchtimetotrytodescribehereyourscienti?ccarrier, yourprices, yourPresidencyofISSOLandyourmanyothersuccesses. SoIratherwillendthisint- ductionwithacoupleofpersonalrecollections. First I would like to combine something of Abdus Salam and Stanley Miller. Abdus Salamgavethevery?rstinvitedlectureoftheUniversityofStockholmInternationalL- turesonHuman, GlobalandUniversalProblems, in1975. And10yearslater, atLidingo ] closetoStockholm, StanleyMillergavetheopeninglectureofaconferenceontheMol- ularEvolutionofLife. OnapictureItook, asaco-arrangeroftheseevents, Stanleyisseen approachinginhisusual, modestway, morefocussedonscienti?cdiscussionthanonthe camera. Last but not least, I shall tell you the true story about when we learned that Stanley isanenthusiasticenvironmentalist, inthebestsenseoftheword. About25yearsago, in Stockholm, Stanley, my wife and I strolled in the King's Garden. Its elmtrees were full 7 J. Seckbach et al. (eds. ), Life in the Universe,7-8. C 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands. 8 of young people who, some even spending nights in the trees, prevented the authorities from removing the elmtrees, by ax and saw. Also Stanley signed a petition to save the elmtrees-andtheyweresaved Stanley, I believe that your greatness as a scientist and as a friend must be linked to the many facets of your wonderful personality. We much look forward to your lecture. THE BEGINNING OF CHEMICAL EVOLUTION EXPERIMENTS Recollections and Perspectives 1 2 3 S. L. MILLER, J. L. BADA, and A."

Hunt For Zero Point (Paperback, New Ed): Nick Cook Hunt For Zero Point (Paperback, New Ed)
Nick Cook 2
R322 R294 Discovery Miles 2 940 Save R28 (9%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days

In 1966 a group of highly respected aerospace engineers revealed that US scientists were perfecting ways to control gravity. They predicted a breakthrough would come by the end of the decade, ushering in an era of limitless, clean propulsion for a new breed of fuelless transport systems - and weapons beyond our imagination. Of course it never happened. Or did it? Forty years on a chance encounter with one of the engineers who made that prediction forces a highly sceptical aerospace and defence journalist, Nick Cook, to consider the possibility that America did indeed crack the gravity code - and has covered up ever since. His investigations moved from the corridors of NASA to the dark heartland of America's classified weapons establishment, where it became clear that a half century ago, in the dying days of the Third Reich, Nazi scientists were racing to perfect a Pandora's Box of high technology that would deliver Germany from defeat.

History says that they failed. But the trail that takes Cook deep into the once-impenetrable empire of SS General Hans Kammler - the man charged by Adolf Hitler with perfecting German secret weapons technology - says otherwise. In his pursuit of Kammler, Cook finally establishes the truth: America is determined to hang onto its secrets, but the stakes are enormous and others are now in the race to acquire a suppressed technology.

3rd Grade Science - Earth and Space Science Textbook Edition (Paperback): Baby Professor 3rd Grade Science - Earth and Space Science Textbook Edition (Paperback)
Baby Professor
R319 R293 Discovery Miles 2 930 Save R26 (8%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days
Europe's Space Programme - To Ariane and Beyond (Paperback, 2003 ed.): Brian Harvey Europe's Space Programme - To Ariane and Beyond (Paperback, 2003 ed.)
Brian Harvey
R1,339 R1,142 Discovery Miles 11 420 Save R197 (15%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days

In Europe's Space Programme - to Ariane and Beyond, author Brian Harvey begins with the fledgling European rocket effort of the 1930s and the key pioneers of the period, examining the significance of the V-2 and the technological advances represented by its development. He shows how the Russians and Americans put their captured V-2s to work, but the European countries were slower to respond. Both Britain and France developed national space programmes in the 1950s and 1960s and the early attempts at European co-operation for launcher development - ELDO and ESRO - are described. The formation of the European Space Agency and the origins of the successful Ariane launcher programme are discussed and Europe's subsequent success in the world launcher market, its cutting-edge role in space applications and European manned spaceflight, are all described in detail.

The Moon: A Beginner's Guide to Lunar Features and Photography (Hardcover): James Harrop The Moon: A Beginner's Guide to Lunar Features and Photography (Hardcover)
James Harrop
R746 R651 Discovery Miles 6 510 Save R95 (13%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days

A practical guide aimed at beginners interested in learning about the Moon and how to image our closest satellite neighbour. The book contains the complete photographic process including equipment, settings, capture techniques, stacking and image processing, each of which is vitally important to producing a good image. The information is laid out in a visual and easy-to-understand format so that even the dark art of image processing will not seem quite so daunting. There are many high-quality colour photos of the Moon to help you learn about different lunar features and a list of 100 lunar targets identified as a challenge for you to find. All the targets have been captured by the author who provides a brief description of each feature and where it is located on the lunar surface. You will be surprised to discover the fine level of lunar detail which you can see from your back garden and once you start imaging, you will realise there is more to the Moon than meets the eye.

Walking in Space (Paperback, 2004 ed.): David Shayler Walking in Space (Paperback, 2004 ed.)
David Shayler
R1,018 R871 Discovery Miles 8 710 Save R147 (14%) Ships in 18 - 22 working days

In Walking in Space: Development of Space Walking Techniques, David Shayler provides a comprehensive overview and analysis of EVA techniques, available for the first time in a readable form - other than NASA publications. The author draws on original documentation, personal interviews of astronauts with experience of EVAs, and accounts by those involved in suit design, EVA planning and operations. Moving on from the pioneering of EVA techniques during the Gemini programme, the author describes the basic requirements in terms of the equipment that every spacewalker needs, the development of training techniques - currently all completed on Earth - the surface explorations of the Moon by the Apollo astronauts and the numerous activities performed by Shuttle astronauts and those aboard the Salyut and Mir Space Stations, such as satellite servicing, equipment upgrading and repair missions. He also describes the development of techniques for ensuring crew safety during EVAs and looks ahead to future EVAs from the International Space Station and the development of new technology, including robotic assistance.

Free Delivery
Pinterest Twitter Facebook Google+
You may like...
Principles and Applications of…
Youhong Tang, Ben Zhong Tang Hardcover R4,782 Discovery Miles 47 820
Topological Insulators
Panagiotis Kotetes Paperback R761 Discovery Miles 7 610
Artificial Intelligence - 16th Russian…
Sergei O. Kuznetsov, Gennady S. Osipov, … Paperback R1,410 Discovery Miles 14 100
Escape Room 2 - Tournament Of Champions
Taylor Russell, Logan Miller DVD R210 Discovery Miles 2 100
Provenance in Data Science - From Data…
Leslie F Sikos, Oshani W. Seneviratne, … Hardcover R3,661 Discovery Miles 36 610
Hammer House Of Horror - The Complete…
Peter Cushing, Nicholas Ball, … DVD R339 Discovery Miles 3 390
Physical Models of Semiconductor Quantum…
Ying Fu Hardcover R2,723 Discovery Miles 27 230
Numerical Nonsmooth Optimization - State…
Adil M. Bagirov, Manlio Gaudioso, … Hardcover R4,831 Discovery Miles 48 310
Linked Data in Linguistics…
Christian Chiarcos, Sebastian Nordhoff, … Hardcover R1,419 Discovery Miles 14 190
Handbook of Mobility Data Mining, Volume…
Haoran Zhang Paperback R2,473 Discovery Miles 24 730

 

Partners