There is a huge gulf between the real physics of space travel and the way it is commonly portrayed in movies and TV shows. That’s not because space physics is difficult or obscure – most of the details were understood by the end of the 18th century – but because it can often be bafflingly counter-intuitive for a general audience. The purpose of this book isn’t to criticize or debunk popular sci-fi depictions, which can be very entertaining, but to focus on how space physics really works. This is done with the aid of numerous practical illustrations taken from the works of serious science fiction authors – from Jules Verne and Arthur C. Clarke to Larry Niven and Andy Weir – who have taken positive pleasure in getting their scientific facts right.
Author(s): Andrew May
Series: Science and Fiction
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 155
Contents
1: Physics in Science Fiction
1.1 Celestial Mechanics
1.2 In the Footsteps of Jules Verne
1.3 Calculations in Space
1.4 The Laws of Physics
References
2: Gravity
2.1 Gravity on Other Worlds
2.2 Artificial Gravity
2.3 Orbits
2.4 The Three-Body Problem
2.5 Tidal Forces
2.6 A Few Words about Black Holes
References
3: Orbital Dynamics
3.1 Why Orbits?
3.2 Satellite Orbits
3.3 Orbital Manoeuvres
3.4 Interplanetary Trajectories
References
4: Rocket Science
4.1 Why Rockets?
4.2 Launch Rockets
4.3 Other Ways to Reach Space
4.4 Advanced Space Propulsion
4.5 Interstellar Travel
4.6 The Problem of Relativity
References
5: Living in a Vacuum
5.1 Outside the Atmosphere
5.2 Life Support
5.3 Vacuum Physics
5.4 Space Weather
5.5 Viewing the Universe
5.6 What Have we Learned?
References
