curtis press apr 2019 (2 Ergebnisse)

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - In terms of the scale of the galaxy, both in space and time, we humans are new comers. Though we are newly on the scene, we are already thinking about how to create large structures in space. Recently, analysis of data from one of the stars in the Kepler data set has led to speculation regarding huge artificial structures (called Stapledon/Dyson Spheres) constructed by advanced extraterrestrial civilizations. The NASA Kepler space observatory has been observing light curves of about 100,000 stars in the constellations of Cygnus and Lyre. This star, popularly dubbed 'Tabby's Star' after the first name of the astronomer leading one of the data reduction teams, shows intriguing periodic dips in its luminosity. Stellar Engineering starts by considering terrestrial organisms, and early humans, who have constructed, on their scale, 'megastructures,' and continues with a history of the development of the stellar engineering concept. Kepler data on the subject star is reviewed as is observational data on other possible Stapledon/Dyson Sphere candidates. Possible applications of such enormous constructs are discussed, as well as the intriguing speculation that we might live in a Stapledon/Dyson swarm of alien space habitats within our Solar System's Kuiper Belt. The chapter frontispiece art illuminates the ideas presented.

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - This is a book about the business of space. It is indeed the first such book which explores the creation of the whole new field of commercial space exploration, previously considered to be an oxymoron. Starting with the transformation of the original governmental and military space programs into the successful satellite communications businesses, it then builds the case for moving forward to full commercial space exploration, with space tourism and therefore commercial space transportation being the key to this paradigm shift. The author has been involved in all these phases of development as a business insider, and is currently one of the international judges of The Google Lunar XPRIZE which is using prizes to kickstart the lunar commerce business. He brings us unprecedented insights, including accounts and details of multi-million dollar satellite and launch vehicle negotiations. Webber's data-packed narrative is supported with a fascinating selection of illustrations, many being published for the first time.