Best of
Space

1991

Starship Troopers / The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress / Time Enough For Love


Robert A. Heinlein - 1991
    

The Production of Space


Henri Lefebvre - 1991
    His work spans some sixty years and includes original work on a diverse range of subjects, from dialectical materialism to architecture, urbanism and the experience of everyday life. The Production of Space is his major philosophical work and its translation has been long awaited by scholars in many different fields. The book is a search for a reconciliation between mental space (the space of the philosophers) and real space (the physical and social spheres in which we all live). In the course of his exploration, Henri Lefebvre moves from metaphysical and ideological considerations of the meaning of space to its experience in the everyday life of home and city. He seeks, in other words, to bridge the gap between the realms of theory and practice, between the mental and the social, and between philosophy and reality. In doing so, he ranges through art, literature, architecture and economics, and further provides a powerful antidote to the sterile and obfuscatory methods and theories characteristic of much recent continental philosophy. This is a work of great vision and incisiveness. It is also characterized by its author's wit and by anecdote, as well as by a deftness of style which Donald Nicholson-Smith's sensitive translation precisely captures.

Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos: The Story of the Scientific Quest for the Secret of the Universe


Dennis Overbye - 1991
    Their quest would eventually engulf all of physics and astronomy, leading not only to the discovery of quasars, black holes, and shadow matter but also to fame, controversy, and Nobel Prizes. Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos tells the story of the men and women who have taken eternity on their shoulders and stormed nature in search of answers to the deepest questions we know to ask."Written with such wit and verve that it is hard not to zip through in one sitting." —Washington Post

The Dark Beyond the Stars


Frank M. Robinson - 1991
    Now, just as the ship is falling apart, the only direction left to explore is across the Dark, a one-hundred-generation journey through empty space.The ship's captain--immortal, obsessed--refuses to abandon the quest. He will cross the Dark, or destroy the ship trying.Only Sparrow, a young crewman uncertain of his own past, can stand against the captain, and against the lure and challenge of the dark beyond the stars...

Astronomical Algorithms


Jean Meeus - 1991
    When he brought out his astronomical Formulae for Calculators in 1979, it was practically the only book of its genre. It quickly became the "source among sources," even for other writers in the field. Many of them have warmly acknowledged their debt (or should have), citing the unparalleled clarity of his instructions and the rigor of his methods. and now this Belgian astronomer has outdone himself yet again! Virtually every previous handbook on celestial calculations (including his own earlier work) was forced to rely on formulae for the Sun, Moon, and planets that were developed in the last century-or at least before 1920. The past 10 years, however, have seen a stunning revolution in how the world's major observatories produce their almanacs. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California and the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., have perfected powerful new machine methods for modeling the motions and interactions of bodies within the solar system. at the same time in Paris, the Bureau des Longitudes has been a beehive of activity aimed at describing these motions analytically, in the form of explicit equations. Yet until now the fruits of this exciting work have remained mostly out of reach of ordinary people. The details have existed mainly on reels of magnetic tape in a form comprehensible only to the largest brains, human or electronic. But astronomical algorithms changes all that With his special knack for computations of all sorts, the author has made the essentials of thesemodern techniques available to us all.

The Cambridge Star Atlas


Wil Tirion - 1991
    Northern and southern latitudes are included in a series of monthly sky charts and an atlas of the whole sky. Each of the 20 overlapping full color charts shows stars down to magnitude 6.5, together with about 900 nonstellar objects, such as clusters and galaxies, which can be seen with binoculars or a small telescope. This new edition features 52 color maps, improved versions of all the charts, and a thorough revision of the text and star data based on the latest information. In addition, there is a comprehensive double page map of the Moon's surface, which shows craters and other named features. Clear, authoritative, and easy-to-use, The Cambridge Star Atlas is an ideal reference for sky watchers everywhere, throughout the year. Wil Tirion began his first star atlas as a hobby, mapping the whole sky on five maps. It was published in the Encyclopedia of Astronomy and soon after was released as a separate set of maps by the British Astronomical Association. In 1983, Tirion began working as a full-time uranographer, or sky cartographer. Since then, he has contributed to many books and magazines on astronomy. He lives in the Netherlands.

International Reference Guide to Space Launch Systems


Steven J. Isakowitz - 1991
    Organized alphabetically by system it reflects the international cooperation in vehicle development, marketing and operation.

The Natural History of the Universe


Colin A. Ronan - 1991
    

Mars


Elaine Landau - 1991
    Here is a source of basic information about the "red plant" with its interesting features and the findings of various space probes.

Spacecraft Systems Engineering


Peter Fortescue - 1991
    With emphasis on recent developments in space activities, this new edition has been completely revised. Every chapter has been updated and rewritten by an expert engineer in the field, with emphasis on the bus rather than the payload. Encompassing the fundamentals of spacecraft engineering, the book begins with front-end system-level issues, such as environment, mission analysis and system engineering, and progresses to a detailed examination of subsystem elements which represent the core of spacecraft design - mechanical, electrical, propulsion, thermal, control etc. This quantitative treatment is supplemented by an appreciation of the interactions between the elements, which deeply influence the process of spacecraft systems design. In particular the revised text includes * A new chapter on small satellites engineering and applications which has been contributed by two internationally-recognised experts, with insights into small satellite systems engineering. * Additions to the mission analysis chapter, treating issues of aero-manouevring, constellation design and small body missions. In summary, this is an outstanding textbook for aerospace engineering and design students, and offers essential reading for spacecraft engineers, designers and research scientists. The comprehensive approach provides an invaluable resource to spacecraft manufacturers and agencies across the world.

Astrophysical Techniques


Christopher R. Kitchin - 1991
    The fifth edition of this well-respected text includes many new instruments and techniques while removing some that have long been unused by both professional and amateur astronomers. New to the Fifth EditionBrief discussion on the invention and development of the telescope New section that describes the attempts to detect dark matter and dark energy Extended and updated discussions on computer, Internet, and spacecraft-based observations and research By covering the instruments, techniques, theory, and data processing of astrophysics in sufficient depth, this text forms a thorough grounding for beginners and is a handy reference for more advanced students and professionals.

Neptune


Elaine Landau - 1991
    An inviting format, lively text, and interesting illustrations make these books especially popular with young readers. Each book is indexed and, where appropriate, includes a glossary, maps, further reading, and bibliography.

Saturn


Elaine Landau - 1991
    An inviting format, lively text, and interesting illustrations make these books especially popular with young readers. Each book is indexed and, where appropriate, includes a glossary, maps, further reading, and bibliography.

Lunar Sourcebook: A User's Guide to the Moon


Grant H. Heiken - 1991
    It provides a thorough introduction to lunar studies and a summary of current information about the nature of the lunar environment. It explores the formation and evolution of the Moon's surface, the chemical and mineralogical nature of lunar rocks and soils, and the current state of scientific knowledge about the nature, origin, and history of the Moon. The book is written and edited by scientists from academia, industry, and government active in every field of lunar research and all veterans of the Apollo program. Engineers, mission planners, planetary scientists, educators, and students interested in scientific study and exploration of the Moon will find this a unique and essential reference.