Revolution In Space

A noted space expert explains the current revolution in spaceflight, where it leads, and why we need it. A new space race has begun. But the rivals in this case are not superpowers but competing entrepreneurs. These daring pioneers are creating a revolution in spaceflight that promises to transform the near future. Astronautical engineer Robert Zubrin spells out the potential of these new developments in an engrossing narrative that is visionary yet grounded by a deep understanding of the practical challenges. Fueled by the combined expertise of the old aerospace industry and the talents of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, spaceflight is becoming cheaper. The new generation of space explorers has already achieved a major breakthrough by creating reusable rockets. Zubrin foresees more rapid innovation, including global travel from any point on Earth to another in an hour or less; orbital hotels; moon bases with incredible space observatories; human settlements on Mars, the asteroids, and the moons of the outer planets; and then, breaking all limits, pushing onward to the stars. Zubrin shows how projects that sound like science fiction can actually become reality. But beyond the how, he makes an even more compelling case for why we need to do this--to increase our knowledge of the universe, to make unforeseen discoveries on new frontiers, to harness the natural resources of other planets, to safeguard Earth from stray asteroids, to ensure the future of humanity by expanding beyond its home base, and to protect us from being catastrophically set against each other by the false belief that there isn't enough for all.

“Not to be missed!” —Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles “An explosion of emotion, intrigue, romance, and revolution.” —Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval series In the tradition of The Lunar Chronicles, this sweeping reimagining of Les Misérables tells the story of three teens from very different backgrounds who are thrown together amidst the looming threat of revolution on the French planet of Laterre. A thief. An officer. A guardian. Three strangers, one shared destiny… When the Last Days came, the planet of Laterre promised hope. A new life for a wealthy French family and their descendants. But five hundred years later, it’s now a place where an extravagant elite class reigns supreme; where the clouds hide the stars and the poor starve in the streets; where a rebel group, long thought dead, is resurfacing. Whispers of revolution have begun—a revolution that hinges on three unlikely heroes… Chatine is a street-savvy thief who will do anything to escape the brutal Regime, including spy on Marcellus, the grandson of the most powerful man on the planet. Marcellus is an officer—and the son of an infamous traitor. In training to take command of the military, Marcellus begins to doubt the government he’s vowed to serve when his father dies and leaves behind a cryptic message that only one person can read: a girl named Alouette. Alouette is living in an underground refuge, where she guards and protects the last surviving library on the planet. But a shocking murder will bring Alouette to the surface for the first time in twelve years…and plunge Laterre into chaos. All three have a role to play in a dangerous game of revolution—and together they will shape the future of a planet.

This is an unconventional history of architecture during the French Revolution. It reveals how the French revolutionaries attempted to use architecture and urban planning to implant the ideals of the Revolution in the minds of the citizens of the new state. Their ultimate aim was to use the built environment to create a vast community across France in which citizens would be united by common symbols and shared rituals.

In 1957, as Americans obsessed over the launch of the Soviet Sputnik satellite, another less noticed space-based scientific revolution was taking off. That year, astrophysicists solved a centuries-old quest for the origins of the elements, from carbon to uranium. The answer they found wasn’t on Earth, but in the stars. Their research showed that we are literally stardust. The year also marked the first conference that considered the origin of life on Earth in an astrophysical context. It was the marriage of two of the seemingly strangest bedfellows—astronomy and biology—and a turning point that award-winning science author Jacob Berkowitz calls the Stardust Revolution. In this captivating story of an exciting, deeply personal, new scientific revolution, Berkowitz weaves together the latest research results to reveal a dramatically different view of the twinkling night sky—not as an alien frontier, but as our cosmic birthplace. Reporting from the frontlines of discovery, Berkowitz uniquely captures how stardust scientists are probing the universe’s physical structure, but rather its biological nature. Evolutionary theory is entering the space age. From the amazing discovery of cosmic clouds of life’s chemical building blocks to the dramatic quest for an alien Earth, Berkowitz expertly chronicles the most profound scientific search of our era: to know not just if we are alone, but how we are connected. Like opening a long-hidden box of old family letters and diaries, The Stardust Revolution offers us a new view of where we’ve come from and brings to light our journey from stardust to thinking beings.

An account of the Copernican Revolution, focusing on the significance of the plurality of the revolution which encompassed not only mathematical astronomy, but also conceptual changes in cosmology, physics, philosophy, and religion.

In recent years, small satellites have taken the space industry by storm. Their short development times, low cost, significant miniaturisation, standardisation and commercial availability have truly revolutionised the space industry. They make space accessible to non-professionals and on an individual level. This book is the first to explore the status of small satellites vis-à-vis international space law, examining which provisions are applicable and what kind of legal issues the traditional definitions pose when considering novel small satellites activities. The author sheds clear light on current regulatory challenges raised by the commercial and research activities of small satellites as well as by governmental and military applications. She covers the legal implications in such aspects of the small satellites revolution as the following: liability for damage caused or suffered by small satellites; State responsibility for non-governmental space activities employing small satellites; registration of space objects; launch practices; online availability of components and launch slots; the connection between small satellites and space debris; the role of space insurance; and legal challenges posed by large constellations of small satellites. In the course of the description and analysis, the author provides case studies showing how these challenges can be dealt with, offers deeply informed insights on emerging trends and future developments and indicates which jurisdictions may be most favourable to small satellite activities. The small satellites market is booming, and both States and industry are in need of guidance relating to the regulatory situation. Accordingly, this book will help stakeholders in the industry – universities, business entities and individuals, as well as non-commercial entities engaged in small satellites operations – understand what kind of regulatory challenges exist and what should be done in order to solve these challenges in the future.

A revolution in spaceflight is likely soon with the prospect of everyday access to orbit within fifteen years. Costly launch vehicles based on ballistic missiles will be replaced by ‘spaceplanes’, using technology that exists today. In five years' time, a prototype could be built, and with a further ten years of detailed development, the design could approach airliner maturity, reducing the cost of sending people into space some one thousand times to around US$20,000. Spaceplane development has, in effect, been suppressed by entrenched thinking and short-term vested interests. But the present monopoly of large government space agencies is becoming unsupportable, and the market that understands the very real opportunities for space travel will be reaching critical mass in the near future. This book examines these issues and shows why space tourism will one day become the single largest business in space, and how astronomy and environmental science will be transformed by low-cost access making possible instruments vastly larger than those of today. Contents: Past, Present, Predicted Future:Spaceplane HistoryRecent DevelopmentsWay AheadSpaceplane Potential:Spaceplane Low-Cost PotentialOrbital InfrastructureThe Spaceplane Space AgeTime Scale:Technical FeasibilitySafetyMaturityMarketDevelopment CostDesign LogicBreaking the MouldBenefitsConclusions Readership: Professionals and members of the public interested in the way ahead for space including students, academics, industrialists and managers involved in the space, aircraft and travel industries. Reviews:“… a fascinating and very readable account … This fine book will appeal to the technically minded and the romantic at heart alike.”Philip Bridle BBC Broadcaster — Astronomy and Space “In this fascinating book the author, founder of Bristol Spaceplanes argues the case clearly and very effectively … will help to dislodge entrenched thinking where it matters. Recommended, indeed essential, reading.”Spaceflight “This readable but no-frills book details how a private sector return to the 'aircraft approach' will cut launch costs enabling space tourism at a ‘reasonable’ cost. It serves as a good summary of a dynamic market that repays close watching.”Astronomy Now

Some 400 years after the first known patent application for a telescope by Hans Lipperhey, The Astronomy Revolution: 400 Years of Exploring the Cosmos surveys the effects of this instrument and explores the questions that have arisen out of scientific research in astronomy and cosmology. Inspired by the international New Vision 400 conference held