With the advent of large, ground-based telescopes and space telescopes, it is now possible to study in detail stars outside our galaxy - in neighbouring galaxies in the so-called Local Group. The VIII Canary Islands Winter School of Astrophysics gathered leading experts from around the world to review this exciting area of research - extragalactic stellar astrophysics. This volume presents eight specially written articles based on the meeting, reviewing how the study of stars in nearby galaxies can be used to understand stellar and galactic structure and evolution in general. This book covers all aspects of extragalactic stellar astrophysics: stellar physics, stellar winds, stellar evolution, the use of photometric and spectroscopic techniques for studying extragalactic stars, stellar populations, chemical evolution, star formation histories and the calibration of the extragalactic distance scale. This volume provides graduate students and researchers with an invaluable introduction to and reference on the new subject of extragalactic stellar astrophysics.

This book is for scientists and engineers involved in the definition and development of space science missions. The processes that such missions follow, from the proposal to a space agency, to a successful mission completion, are numerous. The rationale behind approval of a mission, its definition and the payload that it will include are topics that cannot be presented in undergraduate courses. This book contains contributions from experts who are involved in today's space missions at various levels. Chapters cover mission phases and implementation, launchers and cruise strategies, including gravity assist maneuvers and different thrust scenarios. The payload needed for remote sensing of the Universe at various wavelengths and for in-situ measurements is described in detail, and particular attention is paid to the most recent planetary landers. Whilst the book concentrates on the ESA program Cosmic Visions, its content is relevant to space science missions at all space agencies.

This book is for scientists and engineers involved in the definition and development of space science missions. The processes that such missions follow, from the proposal to a space agency, to a successful mission completion, are numerous. The rationale behind approval of a mission, its definition and the payload that it will include are topics that cannot be presented in undergraduate courses. This book contains contributions from experts who are involved in today's space missions at various levels. Chapters cover mission phases and implementation, launchers and cruise strategies, including gravity assist maneuvers and different thrust scenarios. The payload needed for remote sensing of the Universe at various wavelengths and for in-situ measurements is described in detail, and particular attention is paid to the most recent planetary landers. Whilst the book concentrates on the ESA program Cosmic Visions, its content is relevant to space science missions at all space agencies.

With the advent of large, ground-based telescopes and space telescopes, it is now possible to study in detail stars outside our galaxy - in neighbouring galaxies in the so-called Local Group. The VIII Canary Islands Winter School of Astrophysics gathered leading experts from around the world to review this exciting area of research - extragalactic stellar astrophysics. This volume presents eight specially written articles based on the meeting, reviewing how the study of stars in nearby galaxies can be used to understand stellar and galactic structure and evolution in general. This book covers all aspects of extragalactic stellar astrophysics: stellar physics, stellar winds, stellar evolution, the use of photometric and spectroscopic techniques for studying extragalactic stars, stellar populations, chemical evolution, star formation histories and the calibration of the extragalactic distance scale. This volume provides graduate students and researchers with an invaluable introduction to and reference on the new subject of extragalactic stellar astrophysics.