Description
Interstellar Travel: Purpose and Motivations is a comprehensive, technical look at the necessary considerations for interstellar travel addressed by leading experts in the field, from scientists studying possible destinations (exoplanets) and the vast distances between, to those concerned with building institutions and capabilities in society that could sustain such endeavors. In addition to the technical, medical, and anthropological aspects of deep space travel, the ethics and morality of spreading Earth-based life to other worlds is also examined.In the first book of a three-book compilation, Interstellar Travel: Purpose and Motivations offers in-depth, up-to-date and realistic technical and scientific considerations in the pursuit of interstellar travel and is an integral reference for scientists, engineers, researchers and academics working on, or interested in, space development and space technologies. With a renewed interest in space exploration and development evidenced by the rise of the commercial space sector and various governments now planning to send humans back to the moon and to Mars, so also is interest in taking the next steps beyond the Solar System and to the ultimate destination – planets circling other stars.- Features detailed overviews with quantification of the technical challenges and potential benefits of interstellar missions- Comprehensively covers the considerations for interstellar travel by the world's recognized leading experts in the field- Features referenceable data and analysis for both new and experienced researchers in the interstellar and exoplanets fields
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1 Propulsion optionsCHAPTER 2 Power optionsCHAPTER 3 Crew health—Psychological, biological, and medical issues and the need for a systems approachCHAPTER 4 Interstellar life supportCHAPTER 5 Timing relationships and resulting communications challenges in relativistic travelCHAPTER 6 Prospects for human hibernationCHAPTER 7 Ship culture and governanceCHAPTER 8 Spare parts and additive manufacturingCHAPTER 9 Outline: Optimal crew size at both departure and arrivalCHAPTER 10 Artificial intelligence: Useful crewman, terrible master, benign leader, or the actual payload, and do we et to choose?CHAPTER 11 Maintaining communication with Earth during an interstellar flyby missionAppendix A NomenclatureAppendix B Photon efficiency bounds and bandwidth
