Springer Praxis Books
2 total works
Solar sail technology is very close to becoming an engineering reality and it will soon be used in the exploration of the solar system and beyond. This fascinating book provides an accessible introduction to solar sails and details how they work and what they will be used for in the exploration of space. It also examines current plans for solar sails and how advanced technology, such as nanotechnology, might enhance their performance. Coverage shows how solar sail propulsion will make space exploration more affordable and demonstrates how access to destinations within (and beyond) the solar system will become within reach.
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.