Serves as a practical guide to spaceflight
Full of anecdotes and tips for those planning their own space adventure
Brings loads of new knowledge on what spacefarers encounter in weightlessness
Features the latest scientific findings on humans in space and space technology
Written for the general space enthusiast, but will also give science fiction readers & writers a better foundation in space flight
Now is the time to fly to space! New technological developments, commercialisation of spaceflight and advances in space medicine have made human space travel more attainable than ever before. This entertaining but nevertheless authoritative book gives a practical introduction to space travel from a number of viewpoints: How spacecraft are built, how to steer and navigate them, instructions for a comfortable everyday life in space and a guide to remain healthy and strong in weightlessness. The Spacefarer's Handbook is full of advice, tips and anecdotes to prepare the reader for their own trip to space. At the same time, it does not lose the scientific perspective on spaceflight. The authors, a physicist and a space medicine specialist, explain the underlying concepts rigorously and include recent research findings. From the operating principles of rocket engines, via bone loss in weightlessness to the methane lakes of Titan, this book contains everything aspiring spacefarers need to know! It also serves as a very good resource, beyond general space enthusiasts, for science fiction readers & writers who are looking for a better foundation in space flight.
"Highly recommended for everyone who wants to fly to space and all passengers of our mothership Earth!"
Hans Schlegel, ESA Astronaut
Author(s): Bergita Ganse; Urs Ganse
Series: Springer-Praxis books in Space Exploration
Edition: 1
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Year: 2020
Language: English
Pages: 295
City: Berlin, Germany
Tags: Space Exploration
Preface
Acknowledgements
Contents
About the Authors
1 How to Become a Spacefarer
1.1 Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained
1.2 Open Challenges and the Story So Far
1.3 Space Tourism
1.4 Astronaut Selection
1.5 Checklist Before the Flight
Reference
2 Building Spacecraft
2.1 Spacecraft Classes
2.2 A Spacecraft's Hull
Radiation, Heat and Meteoroids
Atmospheric Reentry Heat Shields
Landing
Typical Shapes and Constructions
2.3 Engines, Thrusters and Rockets
Big Rocket Engines for Launch
Ignition
Roll Control
Small Engines for Space Usage
Ion Propulsion and Plasma Jets
Nuclear Propulsion
Solar Sails, Elevators, Warp Drives and the Future
Attitude and Position Determination
2.4 Power Supply and Temperature Regulation
How to Produce Energy
Temperature Control and Radiators
2.5 Life Support Systems
Breathing Air
Water
The Bathroom
Redundant Systems
2.6 Communication, Computers and Data Management
Radio Connections
Data Transfers
Computers and Storage Media
2.7 Further Equipment and Considerations
Sitting, Standing and Eating: Furniture in Space
Waste Removal and Space Debris
2.8 The Launch Site
References
3 How to Fly a Spacecraft
3.1 Preparation, Countdown and Launch
Countdown
Dramatic Effects Around Liftoff
Liftoff
Stage Separation
3.2 Steering in Space
Joysticks, Control Handles and Thrusters
When to Use the Main Propulsion System
3.3 Orbital Navigation
The Orbit
Orbital Hohmann Transfer
Tilting the Orbital Plane
Rendezvous and Docking
3.4 Flying to the Moon
3.5 Travelling Towards Other Planets
The Swing-by Manoeuvre
Lagrangian Points
The MEGA Manoeuvre
Overall Mission Planning
References
4 Daily Life in Space
4.1 Orientation Without Up and Down
Order and Mess
Thermoregulation and Airflow
The Microbiome on Board
4.2 Day and Night
Circadian Rhythms
Sleep in Weightlessness
4.3 Eating and Drinking
Sense of Taste Upside Down
Packing and Preparing Dishes
4.4 Clothing
4.5 Spacewalks
Details of Spacesuits for EVAs
How to Perform a Spacewalk
4.6 Research
4.7 Emergencies on Board
4.8 Social Life in Isolation
How to Deal with Each Other
Psychological Stability
Leisure Time
4.9 Robots
References
5 Space Medicine
5.1 History of Space Medicine
5.2 Heart and Circulation
Fluid Shift, Bird Legs and Puffy Face-Bird Legs Syndrome
Why People Need to be Carried After Landing
Reduced Endurance and Shrinking Hearts
Central Venous Pressure
Arterial Blood Pressure
G-measles
Irregular Heartbeats
5.3 The Musculoskeletal System
Bone
Muscle
Space Adaptation Back Pain and Growing in Space
Interview with Story Musgrave
5.4 Physical Exercise in Spaceflight
5.5 Air and Pressure
5.6 Further Medical Phenomena
Space Motion Sickness
The Eye
Infections and the Immune System
Poisonous Substances
Injuries
Medical Incidents in Space
5.7 Radiation
Sources of Radiation
Effects of Radiation on the Human Body
Acute Radiation Sickness
Concepts for Radiation Protection in Spaceflight
5.8 Medical Treatment on Board
Crew with Medical Education
Medical Care on the ISS
Surgery in Spaceflight
Medications
Substance Abuse in Spaceflight
Telemedicine
5.9 Medical Research in Spaceflight
Bedrest Studies
Parabolic Flights
Human Centrifugation
Isolation Studies
References
6 Exploration and Colonisation
6.1 Travel Destinations
6.2 Exploration
6.3 Volcanism, Glaciers and Permafrost
6.4 Human Colonies
6.5 Plants and Terraforming
6.6 Resources and Mining
6.7 Space Law
6.8 Astrobiology and Extraterrestrial Life
References
Conclusion
Index
