0
Your cart

Your cart is empty

Browse All Departments
Price
  • R100 - R250 (122)
  • R250 - R500 (364)
  • R500+ (1,786)
  • -
Status
Format
Author / Contributor
Publisher

Books > Professional & Technical > Other technologies > Space science

Astrophysical Techniques (Paperback, 7th edition): C.R. Kitchin Astrophysical Techniques (Paperback, 7th edition)
C.R. Kitchin
R2,856 Discovery Miles 28 560 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Long used in undergraduate and introductory graduate courses, Astrophysical Techniques, Seventh Edition provides an accessible yet comprehensive account of the innovate instruments, detectors, and techniques employed in astronomy and astrophysics. Emphasizing the underlying unity of all astronomical observations, this popular textbook provides a coherent state-of-the-art account of the instruments and techniques used in current astronomy and astrophysics. Fully updated throughout, this seventh edition builds upon the sixth edition, covering improved techniques and cutting-edge methods in the field, as well as other exciting new developments in gravitational waves, dark matter and energy, the use of photonics, and astronomy education and outreach, in addition to further detailed discussions on the latest scientific instruments and individual detectors. The book is written in a very accessible manner, and most of the mathematics is accessible to those who have attended a mathematics course in their final years at school. Nevertheless, the treatment of the topics in general is at a sufficiently high level to be of use to those professionals seeking technical information in areas of astronomy with which they might not be completely familiar. Key Features: Details the instrumentation and theory of astronomical observations, including radio waves, gamma rays, cosmic rays, neutrinos, gravitational waves and dark matter and energy and more Presents the background theory and operating practice of state-of-the-art detectors and instruments Fully updated to contain the latest technology and research developments

Introduction to Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Ray Physics (Hardcover, 2nd edition): Pierre Sokolsky, Gordon Thomson Introduction to Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Ray Physics (Hardcover, 2nd edition)
Pierre Sokolsky, Gordon Thomson
R5,522 Discovery Miles 55 220 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

This revised edition provides an up-to-date summary of the field of ultra-high energy cosmic rays, dealing with their origin, propagation, and composition,. The authors reflect the enormous strides made since the first edition in the realm of experimental work, in particular the use of vastly improved, more sensitive and precise detectors. The level remains introductory and pedagogical, suitable for students and researchers interested in moving into this exciting field. Throughout the text, the authors focus on giving an introductory overview of the key physics issues, followed by a clear and concise description of experimental approaches and current results. Key Features: Updates the most coherent summary of the field available, with new text that provides the reader with clear historical context. Brand new discussion of contemporary space-based experiments and ideas for extending ground-based detectors. Completely new discussion of radio detection methods. Includes a new chapter on small to intermediate-scale anisotropy. Offers new sections on modern hadronic models and software packages to simulate showers.

Whistler and Alfven Mode Cyclotron Masers in Space (Hardcover, New): V. Y. Trakhtengerts, M.J. Rycroft Whistler and Alfven Mode Cyclotron Masers in Space (Hardcover, New)
V. Y. Trakhtengerts, M.J. Rycroft
R4,172 Discovery Miles 41 720 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

The subject of wave-particle interactions occurring in space plasmas has developed strongly, both observationally and theoretically, since the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts of charged particles trapped in the Earth s magnetosphere over forty years ago. These wave-particle interactions are recognized today as being a most important research topic in space plasma physics. This is the first book to provide a full and systematic description of the physical theory of whistler and Alfv n cyclotron masers acting in planetary magnetospheres, and in the Sun s outer atmosphere. It addresses current research topics by examining significant problems in the subject. It gives sufficient detail on the topic that readers use to apply the methods presented to new problems, helping them with their own research. This book is a valuable reference for researchers and graduate students working in space science, solar-terrestrial physics, plasma physics, and planetary sciences.

Space Exploration on Film (Paperback): Paul Meehan Space Exploration on Film (Paperback)
Paul Meehan
R1,127 Discovery Miles 11 270 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Over the course of several decades, scientific fact has overtaken science fiction as humankind's understanding of the universe has expanded. Mirroring this development, the cinematic depictions of space exploration over the last century have evolved from whimsical sci-fi fantasies to more fact-based portrayals. This book chronologically examines 75 films that depict voyages into outer space and offers the historical, cultural, and scientific context of each. These films range from Georges Melies' fantastical A Trip to the Moon to speculative science fiction works such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Solaris, and Contact, and fact-based accounts of actual space missions as depicted in The Right Stuff, Apollo 13, Salyut 7 and First Man. Each film is analyzed not only in terms of its direction, screenplay, and other cinematic aspects but also its scientific and historical accuracy. The works of acclaimed directors, including Fritz Lang, George Pal, Stanley Kubrick, Andrei Tarkovsky, Robert Wise, Ron Howard, Robert Zemeckis, Ridley Scott, and Christopher Nolan, are accorded special attention for their memorable contributions to this vital and evolving subgenre of science fiction film.

Privatizing Peace - How Commerce Can Reduce Conflict in Space (Hardcover): Wendy N. Whitman Cobb Privatizing Peace - How Commerce Can Reduce Conflict in Space (Hardcover)
Wendy N. Whitman Cobb
R4,462 Discovery Miles 44 620 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

This book explores the privatization of space and its global impact on the future of commerce, peace and conflict. As space becomes more congested, contested, and competitive in the government and the private arenas, the talk around space research moves past NASA's monopoly on academic and cultural imaginations to discuss how Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is making space "cool" again. This volume addresses the new rhetoric of space race and weaponization, with a focus on how the costs of potential conflict in space would discourage open conflict and enable global cooperation. It highlights the increasing dependence of the global economy on space research, its democratization, plunging costs of access, and growing economic potential of space-based assets. Thoughtful, nuanced, well-documented, this book is a must read for scholars and researchers of science and technology studies, space studies, political studies, sociology, environmental studies, and political economy. It will also be of much interest to policymakers, bureaucrats, think tanks, as well as the interested general reader looking for fresh perspectives on the future of space.

Predictability of Chaotic Dynamics - A Finite-time Lyapunov Exponents Approach (Hardcover, 2nd ed. 2019): Juan C. Vallejo,... Predictability of Chaotic Dynamics - A Finite-time Lyapunov Exponents Approach (Hardcover, 2nd ed. 2019)
Juan C. Vallejo, Miguel A.F. Sanjuan
R1,529 Discovery Miles 15 290 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

This book is primarily concerned with the computational aspects of predictability of dynamical systems - in particular those where observations, modeling and computation are strongly interdependent. Unlike with physical systems under control in laboratories, in astronomy it is uncommon to have the possibility of altering the key parameters of the studied objects. Therefore, the numerical simulations offer an essential tool for analysing these systems, and their reliability is of ever-increasing interest and importance. In this interdisciplinary scenario, the underlying physics provide the simulated models, nonlinear dynamics provides their chaoticity and instability properties, and the computer sciences provide the actual numerical implementation. This book introduces and explores precisely this link between the models and their predictability characterization based on concepts derived from the field of nonlinear dynamics, with a focus on the strong sensitivity to initial conditions and the use of Lyapunov exponents to characterize this sensitivity. This method is illustrated using several well-known continuous dynamical systems, such as the Contopoulos, Henon-Heiles and Roessler systems. This second edition revises and significantly enlarges the material of the first edition by providing new entry points for discussing new predictability issues on a variety of areas such as machine decision-making, partial differential equations or the analysis of attractors and basins. Finally, the parts of the book devoted to the application of these ideas to astronomy have been greatly enlarged, by first presenting some basics aspects of predictability in astronomy and then by expanding these ideas to a detailed analysis of a galactic potential.

Under Alien Skies - A Sightseer's Guide to the Universe (Hardcover): Philip Plait Under Alien Skies - A Sightseer's Guide to the Universe (Hardcover)
Philip Plait
R843 R741 Discovery Miles 7 410 Save R102 (12%) Ships in 12 - 19 working days

How would Saturn’s rings look from a spaceship sailing just above them? If you were falling into a black hole, what’s the last thing you’d see before your spaghettification? What would it be like to visit the faraway places we currently experience only through high-powered telescopes and robotic emissaries? Faster-than-light travel may never be invented, but we can still take the scenic route through the universe with renowned astronomer and science communicator Philip Plait. On this lively, immersive adventure through the cosmos, Plait draws ingeniously on the latest scientific research to transport readers to ten spectacular sites, from our own familiar Moon to the outer reaches of our solar system and far beyond. Whether strolling through a dust storm under Mars’ butterscotch sky, witnessing the birth of a star or getting dizzy in a technicolour nebula, Plait is an illuminating, entertaining guide to the most otherworldly views in our universe.

Smaller Satellites: Bigger Business? - Concepts, Applications and Markets for Micro/Nanosatellites in a New Information World... Smaller Satellites: Bigger Business? - Concepts, Applications and Markets for Micro/Nanosatellites in a New Information World (Hardcover, 2002 ed.)
Michael J. Rycroft, Norma Crosby
R5,881 Discovery Miles 58 810 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Y. Fujimori, Symposium Programme Committee Chair, and Faculty Member, International Space University e-mail: [email protected] M.Rycroft, Faculty Member, International Space University e-mail: [email protected] N. Crosby, International Space University e-mail: [email protected] For the sixth annual ISU Symposium the theme was "Smaller Satellites: Bigger Business? Concepts, Applications and Markets for Micro/Nanosatellites in a New Information World." Thus, the Symposium addressed the crucial question: are small satellites the saviour of space programmes around the world It did this from the unique perspective of the International Space today? University - the interdisciplinary, international and intercultural perspective. This Symposium brought together a variety of people working on small satellites - engineers, scientists, planners, providers, operators, policy makers and business executives, together with representatives from regulatory bodies, from national and international organizations, and from the finance sector, and also entrepreneurs. Discussion and debate were encouraged, based on the papers presented and those published here.

Privatizing Peace - How Commerce Can Reduce Conflict in Space (Paperback): Wendy N. Whitman Cobb Privatizing Peace - How Commerce Can Reduce Conflict in Space (Paperback)
Wendy N. Whitman Cobb
R1,301 Discovery Miles 13 010 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

This book explores the privatization of space and its global impact on the future of commerce, peace and conflict. As space becomes more congested, contested, and competitive in the government and the private arenas, the talk around space research moves past NASA's monopoly on academic and cultural imaginations to discuss how Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is making space "cool" again. This volume addresses the new rhetoric of space race and weaponization, with a focus on how the costs of potential conflict in space would discourage open conflict and enable global cooperation. It highlights the increasing dependence of the global economy on space research, its democratization, plunging costs of access, and growing economic potential of space-based assets. Thoughtful, nuanced, well-documented, this book is a must read for scholars and researchers of science and technology studies, space studies, political studies, sociology, environmental studies, and political economy. It will also be of much interest to policymakers, bureaucrats, think tanks, as well as the interested general reader looking for fresh perspectives on the future of space.

Space Politics and Policy - An Evolutionary Perspective (Paperback, 2004 ed.): E. Sadeh Space Politics and Policy - An Evolutionary Perspective (Paperback, 2004 ed.)
E. Sadeh
R8,730 Discovery Miles 87 300 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

This book is the first comprehensive source for the Space Politics and Policies of the United States Civil, Military, Intelligence, and Commercial Space Programs.

Space Politics and Policy: An Evolutionary Perspective provides a comprehensive survey of Space Policy. This book is organized around two themes. Space Policy is evolutionary in that it has responded to dramatic political events, such as the launching of Sputnik and the Cold War, and has undergone dynamic and evolutionary policy changes over the course of the space age. Space Policy is an integral part of and interacts with public policy processes in the United States and abroad.

The book analyzes Space Policy at several levels including historical context, political actors and institutions, political processes and policy outcomes. It examines the symbiotic relationships between policy, technology, and science; provides a review and synthesis of the existing body of knowledge in Space Policy; and identifies Space Policy trends and developments from the beginnings of the space age through the current era of the twenty-first century.

The book is intended for those interested in Space Policy, especially Space Policy decision-makers, program and project managers, as well as students and lecturers of Space Policy.

Calling Taikong: A Strategy Report and Study of China's Future Space Science Missions (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2017): Ji Wu Calling Taikong: A Strategy Report and Study of China's Future Space Science Missions (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2017)
Ji Wu
R2,873 Discovery Miles 28 730 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

This book describes the status quo of space science in China, details the scientific questions to be addressed by the Chinese space science community in 2016-2030, and proposes key strategic goals, space science programs and missions, the roadmap and implementation approaches. Further, it explores the supporting technologies needed and provides an outlook of space science beyond the year 2030. "Taikong" means "outer space" in Chinese, and space science is one of the most important areas China plans to develop in the near future. This book is authored by Ji Wu, a leader of China's space science program, together with National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, a leading institute responsible for planning and managing most of China's space science missions. It also embodies the viewpoints shared by many space scientists and experts on future space science development. Through this book, general readers and researchers alike will gain essential insights into the current developments and future prospects of space science in China. Government decision-makers will also find the book a useful reference for strategies and planning in the field of space science.

Essential Aerodynamics and Its Applications (Hardcover): Russell Mikel Essential Aerodynamics and Its Applications (Hardcover)
Russell Mikel
R2,047 R1,918 Discovery Miles 19 180 Save R129 (6%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days
Building the Apollo Capsules - An Engineer's Memoir of the Moonshot Program and Its Debt to Hispanic Team Members... Building the Apollo Capsules - An Engineer's Memoir of the Moonshot Program and Its Debt to Hispanic Team Members (Paperback)
Jim De La Rosa
R932 Discovery Miles 9 320 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

This firsthand account of the development of the Apollo 11 mission gives a behind-the-scenes look at the 1969 moon landing mission from an engineer's perspective. The technical problems and solutions of designing a capsule to carry three astronauts­--Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins--safely to the moon and back are covered in detail from the author's point of view. The contributions of Latino personnel in the Apollo program are described.

The Little Book of Cosmology (Hardcover): Lyman Page The Little Book of Cosmology (Hardcover)
Lyman Page
R498 R466 Discovery Miles 4 660 Save R32 (6%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

The cutting-edge science that is taking the measure of the universe The Little Book of Cosmology provides a breathtaking look at our universe on the grandest scales imaginable. Written by one of the world's leading experimental cosmologists, this short but deeply insightful book describes what scientists are revealing through precise measurements of the faint thermal afterglow of the Big Bang-known as the cosmic microwave background, or CMB-and how their findings are transforming our view of the cosmos. Blending the latest findings in cosmology with essential concepts from physics, Lyman Page first helps readers to grasp the sheer enormity of the universe, explaining how to understand the history of its formation and evolution in space and time. Then he sheds light on how spatial variations in the CMB formed, how they reveal the age, size, and geometry of the universe, and how they offer a blueprint for the formation of cosmic structure. Not only does Page explain current observations and measurements, he describes how they can be woven together into a unified picture to form the Standard Model of Cosmology. Yet much remains unknown, and this incisive book also describes the search for ever deeper knowledge at the field's frontiers-from quests to understand the nature of neutrinos and dark energy to investigations into the physics of the very early universe.

Introduction to Space Systems - Design and Synthesis (Hardcover, 2013 ed.): Miguel A. Aguirre Introduction to Space Systems - Design and Synthesis (Hardcover, 2013 ed.)
Miguel A. Aguirre
R4,613 Discovery Miles 46 130 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

The definition of all space systems starts with the establishment of its fundamental parameters: requirements to be fulfilled, overall system and satellite design, analysis and design of the critical elements, developmental approach, cost, and schedule. There are only a few texts covering early design of space systems and none of them has been specifically dedicated to it. Furthermore all existing space engineering books concentrate on analysis. None of them deal with space system synthesis - with the interrelations between all the elements of the space system. Introduction to Space Systems concentrates on understanding the interaction between all the forces, both technical and non-technical, which influence the definition of a space system. This book refers to the entire system: space and ground segments, mission objectives as well as to cost, risk, and mission success probabilities. Introduction to Space Systems is divided into two parts. The first part analyzes the process of space system design in an abstract way. The second part of the book focuses on concrete aspects of the space system design process. It concentrates on interactions between design decisions and uses past design examples to illustrate these interactions. The idea is for the reader to acquire a good insight in what is a good design by analyzing these past designs.

The International Politics of Space (Paperback, New Ed): Michael Sheehan The International Politics of Space (Paperback, New Ed)
Michael Sheehan
R1,529 Discovery Miles 15 290 Ships in 9 - 17 working days

The year 2007 will see the 50th anniversary of the Space Age, which began with the launching of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in October 1957. Since that time, the development of space technology has revolutionised many aspects of life on Earth, from satellite television to mobile phones, the internet and micro-electronics. It has also helped to bring about a revolution in the use of military force by the most powerful states.

Space is crucial to the politics of the postmodern world. It has seen competition and cooperation in the past fifty years, and is in danger of becoming a battlefield in the next fifty. The International Politics of Space is the first book to bring these crucial themes together and provide a clear and vital picture of how politically important space has become, and what its exploitation might mean for all our futures.

Michael Sheehan analyses the space programmes of the United States, Russia, China, India and the European Space Agency, and explains how central space has become to issues of war and peace, international law, justice and international development, and cooperation between the worlds leading states. It highlights the significance of China and India's commitment to space, and explains how the theories and concepts we use to describe and explain space are fundamental to the possibility of avoiding conflict in space in the future.

This ground-breaking book will be of great interest to students of international relations, space politics and security studies.

Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars - The Story of the First American Woman to Command a Space Mission (Hardcover): Eileen... Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars - The Story of the First American Woman to Command a Space Mission (Hardcover)
Eileen M. Collins, Jonathan H. Ward
R729 R656 Discovery Miles 6 560 Save R73 (10%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

The 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.

Apollo Moon Missions - The Unsung Heroes (Hardcover): Billy W Watkins Apollo Moon Missions - The Unsung Heroes (Hardcover)
Billy W Watkins
R1,683 Discovery Miles 16 830 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy issued a challenge: the United States would land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth before the end of the decade. It seemed like an impossible task and one that the Russians--who had launched the first satellite and put the first man into Earth orbit--would surely perform before us. The ingenuity, passion, and sacrifice of thousands of ordinary men and women, from all walks of life, enabled the space program to meet this extraordinary goal. In all, six crews would land on the moon before Congress withdrew financial backing for the program. This is the story of those men and women who worked behind the scenes, without fanfare or recognition, to make these missions a success. Thirty years later, they still speak of Apollo with pride, sometimes even awe. After Apollo moonwalker John Young told journalist Billy Watkins in a 1999 interview that "nobody knows anything about the people who helped make those flights so successful," Watkins made it his mission to identify the unsung heroes and learn their stories. His subjects include: BLJulian Scheer (NASA publicist): Argued for and won the inclusion of a television camera on Apollo 11, enabling Armstrong's walk on the moon to be broadcast and recorded for posterity. BLSonny Morea, lead designer of the Lunar Rover. BLHugh Brown, one of the few African Americans who worked on the Apollo program, helped monitor for Russian submarines trying to jam NASA communication during launches, and later went on to become head of the Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta. BLJoAnn Morgan, launch control: One of the few women involved in the space program, Morgan was designated the "lightning specialist." Herknowledge was crucial when the Apollo 12 spacecraft was struck by lightning only seconds after liftoff, nearly causing an abort. She was one of the few specialists allowed in the "firing room" during liftoff. BLJoan Roosa, widow of Apollo 14 astronaut Stuart Roosa, talks about the sacrifices of the families and their devotion to "The Program." BLJoe Schmitt, veteran suit technician was responsible for making sure the suits were leak-proof and hooked up correctly--knowing any mistake would mean instant death in space. BLJoseph Laitin, who came up with the idea for the Apollo 8 astronauts to read the first ten verses of Genesis during their Christmas Eve television broadcast from the moon. BLClancy Hatelberg, the Navy diver, who plucked the first humans to walk on the moon from the Pacific Ocean after the Apollo 11 landing.

Resilient Space Systems Design - An Introduction (Hardcover): Ron Burch Resilient Space Systems Design - An Introduction (Hardcover)
Ron Burch
R3,570 Discovery Miles 35 700 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Recognized as a "Recommended" title by Choice for their November 2020 issue. Choice is a publishing unit at the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACR&L), a division of the American Library Association. Choice has been the acknowledged leader in the provision of objective, high-quality evaluations of nonfiction academic writing. Presenting a fundamental definition of resilience, the book examines the concept of resilience as it relates to space system design. The book establishes the required definitions, relates its place to existing state-of-the-art systems engineering practices, and explains the process and mathematical tools used to achieve a resilient design. It discusses a variety of potential threats and their impact upon a space system. By providing multiple, real-world examples to illustrate the application of the design methodology, the book covers the necessary techniques and tools, while guiding the reader through the entirety of the process. The book begins with space systems basics to ensure the reader is versed in the functions and components of the system prior to diving into the details of resilience. However, the text does not assume that the reader has an extensive background in the subject matter of resilience. This book is aimed at engineers and architects in the areas of aerospace, space systems, and space communications.

Space Debris - Hazard Evaluation and Debris (Paperback): N.N. Smirnov Space Debris - Hazard Evaluation and Debris (Paperback)
N.N. Smirnov
R2,097 Discovery Miles 20 970 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

When the first sputnik was launched and the space era began, few gave thought to the possible negative impact of putting satellites into orbit. In fact, man's space activity has led to the formation of a new media named "space debris," i.e. man-made objects and their fragments launched into space, currently inactive and no longer serving any useful purpose. Space Debris: Hazard Evaluation and Mitigation will appeal to readers unfamiliar with the issues, as well as experts and designers. It introduces concepts behind the problems of space ecology. The volume features actual data on the space debris environment; new mathematical models for space debris evolution, production and self-production; description of the existing software and concepts for shield design. The author also reviews methods of collision risk assessment, including the attitudes and inclinations of orbits, collision hazard evaluation and suggestions for preventative measures.

Centauri Dreams - Imagining and Planning Interstellar Exploration (Hardcover, 2004 ed.): Paul Gilster Centauri Dreams - Imagining and Planning Interstellar Exploration (Hardcover, 2004 ed.)
Paul Gilster
R1,366 R1,173 Discovery Miles 11 730 Save R193 (14%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Why, today, would anyone undertake a plan to launch a spacecraft some 30 years in the future, and on a journey that would take some 40 years to complete? Paul Gilster investigates the science, and the spirit, of the NASA and JPL researchers who are actually at work on just such a project.

From the reviews:

"Gilster introduces the challenges of imagining and planning interstellar exploration by leading readers through the difficulties of reaching and exploring the nearest bright star, Alpha Centauri. Seeded by ideas and concepts of the late Robert Forward, the narrative is framed as a learning process undertaken simultaneously by writer and reader. Although Alpha Centauri is astronomically nearby, a postulated trip by robot spacecraft, followed by manned exploration, would take 50 to 1,000 years, depending on the type of spacecraft propulsion used. Various methods for interstellar travel are introduced and discussed, including solar sails that use the power of starlight, nuclear fusion, antimatter hybrid systems, and beamed laser propulsion. One challenge is to get there in a reasonable time so that funding support, public interest, and events on Earth will not divert attention from the mission. Another challenge is timing the mission relative to available technology, because with better technology it might be possible to send a later robot on the same mission in less time. The book has no figures, tables, or illustrations but does include 30 pages of notes and an adequate 14-page index. Though the concepts presented are often fanciful, this book will appeal to readers who wonder about the future of exploration beyond the solar system. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Generalreaders; professionals." (W. E. Howard III, CHOICE, March 2005)

Exoplanets - Hidden Worlds and the Quest for Extraterrestrial Life (Hardcover): Donald Goldsmith Exoplanets - Hidden Worlds and the Quest for Extraterrestrial Life (Hardcover)
Donald Goldsmith
R707 R601 Discovery Miles 6 010 Save R106 (15%) Ships in 12 - 19 working days

"How do alien, faraway worlds reveal their existence to Earthlings? Let Donald Goldsmith count the ways. As an experienced astronomer and a gifted storyteller, he is the perfect person to chronicle the ongoing hunt for planets of other stars." -Dava Sobel Astronomers have recently discovered thousands of planets that orbit stars throughout our Milky Way galaxy. With his characteristic wit and style, Donald Goldsmith presents the science of exoplanets and the search for extraterrestrial life in a way that Earthlings with little background in astronomy or astrophysics can understand and enjoy. Much of what has captured the imagination of planetary scientists and the public is the unexpected strangeness of these distant worlds, which bear little resemblance to the planets in our solar system. The sizes, masses, and orbits of exoplanets detected so far raise new questions about how planets form and evolve. Still more tantalizing are the efforts to determine which exoplanets might support life. Astronomers are steadily improving their means of examining these planets' atmospheres and surfaces, with the help of advanced spacecraft sent into orbits a million miles from Earth. These instruments will provide better observations of planetary systems in orbit around the dim red stars that throng the Milky Way. Previously spurned as too faint to support life, these cool stars turn out to possess myriad planets nestled close enough to maintain Earthlike temperatures. The quest to find other worlds brims with possibility. Exoplanets shows how astronomers have broadened our planetary horizons, and suggests what may come next, including the ultimate discovery: life beyond our home planet.

For All Mankind (Paperback, Main): Harry Hurt For All Mankind (Paperback, Main)
Harry Hurt 1
R350 R319 Discovery Miles 3 190 Save R31 (9%) Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Updated 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.

Small Satellite Missions for Earth Observation - New Developments and Trends (Hardcover): Rainer Sandau, Hans-Peter Roeser,... Small Satellite Missions for Earth Observation - New Developments and Trends (Hardcover)
Rainer Sandau, Hans-Peter Roeser, Arnoldo Valenzuela
R5,872 Discovery Miles 58 720 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

This book was compiled from contributions given at the 7th IAA Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth Observation, May 4-8, 2009, Berlin (IAA - International Academy of Astronautics). From the 15 sessions for oral presentations and two poster sessions, 52 contributions were selected which are representative for the new developments and trends in the area of small satellites for Earth observation. They re ect the potentials of a diversity of missions and related technologies. This may be based on national projects or international co-operations, single satellites of constellations, pico-, nano-, micro- or mini-satellites, developed by companies, research institutions or agencies. The main focus is on new missions to monitor our Earth's resources (Part I), and the environment in which our Earth is emb- ded (Part II). Part III deals with distributed space systems, a unique feature of small satellites and in most cases impractical to do with large satellites. Here we concentrate on constellations of satellites with focus on future missions relying on co-operating satellites. For all the new developments and projects we need well e- cated specialists coming from the universities. Many universities included already the development and implementation of small satellites in their curriculum. The u- versity satellites chapter (Part IV) shows the high quality which is already reached by some of the universities worldwide.

Understanding Space Strategy - The Art of War in Space (Hardcover): John J Klein Understanding Space Strategy - The Art of War in Space (Hardcover)
John J Klein
R4,483 Discovery Miles 44 830 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

This 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.

Free Delivery
Pinterest Twitter Facebook Google+
You may like...
Jacobians Of Matrix Transformation And…
Arak M. Mathai Hardcover R2,689 Discovery Miles 26 890
Microelectronic Systems - Circuits…
Albert Heuberger, Gunter Elst, … Hardcover R2,931 Discovery Miles 29 310
Computational Intelligence for Machine…
Rajshree Srivastava, Pradeep Kumar Mallick, … Hardcover R4,117 Discovery Miles 41 170
A Generalized Framework of Linear…
Liansheng Tan Paperback R2,474 R2,339 Discovery Miles 23 390
Fundamentals of Data Analytics - With a…
Rudolf Mathar, Gholamreza Alirezaei, … Hardcover R2,628 Discovery Miles 26 280
Differential Games Of Pursuit
Leon A. Petrosyan Hardcover R4,328 Discovery Miles 43 280
Language, Sex and Social Structure…
J. Clark Hardcover R1,500 Discovery Miles 15 000
Grouping Genetic Algorithms - Advances…
Michael Mutingi, Charles Mbohwa Hardcover R4,597 Discovery Miles 45 970
Discontinuous Groups of Isometries in…
Werner Fenchel, Jakob Nielsen Hardcover R4,500 Discovery Miles 45 000
Fifty Years of Fuzzy Logic and its…
Dan E Tamir, Naphtali D. Rishe, … Hardcover R4,491 Discovery Miles 44 910

 

Partners