Deep-Space Probes [electronic resource] : To the Outer Solar System and Beyond / by Gregory L. Matloff.

Motivations for deep-space travel -- The realms of space -- Tomorrows targets -- Space propulsion today -- The incredible shrinking spaceprobe -- The nuclear option -- 21st century starflight -- On the technological horizon -- Exotic possibilities -- Of stars, planets and life -- Life between the stars -- Conscious spacecraft -- Meeting ET -- Interstellar message plaques -- Appendix: Photon sail history, engineering and mission analysis.

The Space Age is nearly 50 years old but exploration of the outer planets and beyond has only just begun. Deep-Space Probes Second Edition draws on the latest research to explain why we should explore beyond the edge of the Solar System and how we can build highly sophisticated robot spacecraft to make the journey. Many technical problems remain to be solved, among them propulsion systems to permit far higher velocities, and technologies to build vehicles a fraction of the size of todays spacecraft. Beyond the range of effective radio control, robot vehicles for exploring deep space will need to be intelligent, thinking craft able to make vital decisions entirely on their own. Gregory Matloff also looks at the possibility for human travel into interstellar space, and some of the immense problems that such journeys would entail. This second edition includes an entirely new chapter on holographic message plaques for future interstellar probes a NASA-funded project.

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