The Mystery of the Seven Spheres : How Homo Sapiens Will Conquer Space

In this book, Giovanni Bignami, the outstanding Italian scientist and astronomer, takes the reader on a journey through the ℓ́ℓseven spheresℓ́ℓ, from our own planet to neighboring stars. The author offers a gripping account of the evolution of Homo Sapiens to the stage where our species is developing capabilities, in the form of new energy propulsion systems, that will enable us to conquer space. The reader will learn how we first expanded our activities to reach beyond our planet, to the Moon, and how nuclear energy, nuclear fusion, and matterℓ́ℓantimatter annihilation will enable us to extend our exploration. After Mars and Jupiter we shall finally reach the nearest stars, which we now know are surrounded by numerous planets, some of which are bound to be habitable. The book includes enticing descriptions of such newly discovered planets and also brings alive key historical characters in our story, such as Jules Verne and Werner von Braun In this book, Giovanni Bignami, the outstanding Italian scientist and astronomer, takes the reader on a journey through the ĺlseven spheresĺl, from our own planet to neighboring stars. The author offers a gripping account of the evolution of Homo Sapiens to the stage where our species is developing capabilities, in the form of new energy propulsion systems, that will enable us to conquer space. The reader will learn how we first expanded our activities to reach beyond our planet, to the Moon, and how nuclear energy, nuclear fusion, and matterĺlantimatter annihilation will enable us to extend our exploration. After Mars and Jupiter we shall finally reach the nearest stars, which we now know are surrounded by numerous planets, some of which are bound to be habitable. The book includes enticing descriptions of such newly discovered planets and also brings alive key historical characters in our story, such as Jules Verne and Werner von Braun Front Matter....Pages i-v Introduction....Pages 1-5 Front Matter....Pages 7-9 Sphere 0 (or the Earth)....Pages 11-21 Sphere −1 (or of the Oceans)....Pages 23-32 Sphere −2 (or of the Nether World)....Pages 33-39 Sphere +1 (or of the Sky)....Pages 41-52 Sphere +2 (or the Moon)....Pages 53-63 Front Matter....Pages 65-67 Sphere +3 Inner (or of the Mars)....Pages 69-84 Sphere +3 Outer (or the Solar System)....Pages 85-98 The Sphere +4 (or the Fixed Stars)....Pages 99-111 Back Matter....Pages 113-118