Relativistic Flight Mechanics And Space Travel

Explores the fascinating prospect of future human space travel. This volume demonstrates that such ventures may not be as difficult as one might believe and are certainly not impossible. The foundations for relativistic flight mechanics are provided in a clear and instructive manner by using well established principles which are used to explore space flight possibilities within and beyond our galaxy.

Relativistic Flight Mechanics and Space Travel is about the fascinating prospect of future human space travel. Its purpose is to demonstrate that such ventures may not be as difficult as one might believe and are certainly not impossible. The foundations for relativistic flight mechanics are provided in a clear and instructive manner by using well established principles which are used to explore space flight possibilities within and beyond our galaxy. The main substance of the book begins with a background review of Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity as it pertains to relativistic flight mechanics and space travel. The book explores the dynamics and kinematics of relativistic space flight from the point of view of the astronauts in the spacecraft and compares these with those observed by earth's scientists and engineers-differences that are quite surprising. A quasi historical treatment leads quite naturally into the central subject areas of the book where attention is focused on various issues not ordinarily covered by such treatment. To accomplish this, numerous simple thought experiments are used to bring rather complicated subject matter down to a level easily understood by most readers with an engineering or science background. The primary subjects regarding photon rocketry and space travel are covered in some depth and include a flight plan together with numerous calculations represented in graphical form. A geometric treatment of relativistic effects by using Minkowski diagrams is included for completeness. The book concludes with brief discussions of other prospective, even exotic, transport systems for relativistic space travel. A glossary and simple end-of-chapter problems with answers enhance the learning process.

As a crewmember of the D-2 shuttle mission and a full professor of astronautics at the Technical University in Munich, Ulrich Walter is an acknowledged expert in the field. He is also the author of a number of popular science books on space flight. The second edition of this textbook is based on extensive teaching and his work with students, backed by numerous examples drawn from his own experience. With its end-of-chapter examples and problems, this work is suitable for graduate level or even undergraduate courses in space flight, as well as for professionals working in the space industry.

Cosmic Horizons provides a fascinating tour of extreme relativistic rocket concepts. The book provides a delightfully whimsical presentation of interesting methods for enabling interstellar and intergalactic travel. For future space travelers, relativistic rockets can enable effective spacecraft travel at extraordinarily large multiples of the speed of light and commensurately deep future time travel. Cosmic Horizons presents a moderately advanced mathematical treatment of numerous scenarios for attaining velocities almost equal to the speed of light. In theory, relativistic rocket flight can be accomplished within the framework of well-established principles of physics. Included within this book are fascinating applications of Special Relativity for rocket propulsion methods. Classical electromagnetic theory is applied in the context of Special Relativity to explore future possibilities of unbounded space travel. The presentation also includes some interesting applications of basic principles of sub-atomic physics. Numerous computed examples of spacecraft velocity and time dilation are presented. Included are detailed step-wise descriptions of computations involving mathematical formulations followed by tabulated and graphed data sets for mass-ratio, gamma, and spacecraft velocity. A treatment of life-support and maintenance is also provided which includes a summary of space medicine issues and possible remedies for medical problems that can result from zero gravity. A description of closed system maintenance is provided including content on agriculture, waste management, and air re-oxygenation. Also covered are scenarios for artificial gravity generation. Also included is a description of possible shielding methods such as would be required for extremely relativistic spacecraft. We hope you'll enjoy the read!

For introductory course in space flight dynamics. A self-contained, integrated introduction to the performance aspects of flight -- how to get into space, how to get around in space, and how to return to Earth or land on another planet (as opposed to specialized areas of life support, guidance and control, or communications).