Deep Space Probes

There is currently tremendous interest in the search for extrasolar life and extraterrestrial intelligence, and this is expressed by financial backing from NASA for extrasolar exploration by space probes. This book will be an authoritative and comprehensive survey of the present-day state of the art in the field of extrasolar and interstellar space exploration, focusing on the most promising techniques. "Deep-Space Probes" will appeal to a wide audience, including non-technical readers as well as engineering/physics graduates. Drawing upon his experience as a Faculty Fellow at the NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center, the author has attempted to make the book as up to date as possible.

The Space Age is nearly 50 years old but exploration of the outer planets and beyond has only just begun. Deep-Space Probes Second Edition draws on the latest research to explain why we should explore beyond the edge of the Solar System and how we can build highly sophisticated robot spacecraft to make the journey. Many technical problems remain to be solved, among them propulsion systems to permit far higher velocities, and technologies to build vehicles a fraction of the size of today's spacecraft.

Beyond the range of effective radio control, robot vehicles for exploring deep space will need to be intelligent, 'thinking' craft able to make vital decisions entirely on their own. Gregory Matloff also looks at the possibility for human travel into interstellar space, and some of the immense problems that such journeys would entail.

This second edition includes an entirely new chapter on holographic message plaques for future interstellar probes a NASA-funded project.

Deep-Space Probes will appeal to a wide audience, including non-technical readers as well as engineering/physics graduates Drawing upon his experience as a Faculty Fellow at the NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center, the author has attempted to make the book as up to date as possible

Inhalt
Motivations for deep-space travel.- The realms of space.- Tomorrow's targets.- Space propulsion today.- The incredible shrinking spaceprobe.- The nuclear option.- 21st century starflight.- On the technological horizon.- Exotic possibilities.- Of stars, planets and life.- Life between the stars.- Conscious spacecraft.- Meeting ET.- Interstellar message plaques.- Appendix: Photon sail history, engineering and mission analysis.