The Spacefarer's Handbook: Science and Life Beyond Earth (Springer Praxis Books)

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 Preface 5 Acknowledgements 7 Contents 8 About the Authors 10 1 How to Become a Spacefarer 12 1.1 Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained 12 1.2 Open Challenges and the Story So Far 13 1.3 Space Tourism 16 1.4 Astronaut Selection 18 1.5 Checklist Before the Flight 22 Reference 23 2 Building Spacecraft 24 2.1 Spacecraft Classes 24 2.2 A Spacecraft's Hull 25 Radiation, Heat and Meteoroids 28 Atmospheric Reentry Heat Shields 33 Landing 39 Typical Shapes and Constructions 43 2.3 Engines, Thrusters and Rockets 44 Big Rocket Engines for Launch 47 Ignition 56 Roll Control 57 Small Engines for Space Usage 58 Ion Propulsion and Plasma Jets 60 Nuclear Propulsion 62 Solar Sails, Elevators, Warp Drives and the Future 63 Attitude and Position Determination 66 2.4 Power Supply and Temperature Regulation 70 How to Produce Energy 70 Temperature Control and Radiators 74 2.5 Life Support Systems 76 Breathing Air 76 Water 80 The Bathroom 82 Redundant Systems 84 2.6 Communication, Computers and Data Management 85 Radio Connections 85 Data Transfers 86 Computers and Storage Media 88 2.7 Further Equipment and Considerations 91 Sitting, Standing and Eating: Furniture in Space 91 Waste Removal and Space Debris 93 2.8 The Launch Site 95 References 97 3 How to Fly a Spacecraft 98 3.1 Preparation, Countdown and Launch 98 Countdown 99 Dramatic Effects Around Liftoff 102 Liftoff 102 Stage Separation 105 3.2 Steering in Space 107 Joysticks, Control Handles and Thrusters 108 When to Use the Main Propulsion System 111 3.3 Orbital Navigation 111 The Orbit 111 Orbital Hohmann Transfer 117 Tilting the Orbital Plane 119 Rendezvous and Docking 121 3.4 Flying to the Moon 126 3.5 Travelling Towards Other Planets 128 The Swing-by Manoeuvre 131 Lagrangian Points 134 The MEGA Manoeuvre 137 Overall Mission Planning 138 References 139 4 Daily Life in Space 140 4.1 Orientation Without Up and Down 140 Order and Mess 144 Thermoregulation and Airflow 144 The Microbiome on Board 145 4.2 Day and Night 147 Circadian Rhythms 147 Sleep in Weightlessness 148 4.3 Eating and Drinking 150 Sense of Taste Upside Down 153 Packing and Preparing Dishes 154 4.4 Clothing 155 4.5 Spacewalks 157 Details of Spacesuits for EVAs 158 How to Perform a Spacewalk 160 4.6 Research 164 4.7 Emergencies on Board 166 4.8 Social Life in Isolation 169 How to Deal with Each Other 170 Psychological Stability 172 Leisure Time 173 4.9 Robots 174 References 178 5 Space Medicine 179 5.1 History of Space Medicine 181 5.2 Heart and Circulation 191 Fluid Shift, Bird Legs and Puffy Face-Bird Legs Syndrome 191 Why People Need to be Carried After Landing 192 Reduced Endurance and Shrinking Hearts 196 Central Venous Pressure 198 Arterial Blood Pressure 199 G-measles 199 Irregular Heartbeats 200 5.3 The Musculoskeletal System 202 Bone 202 Muscle 205 Space Adaptation Back Pain and Growing in Space 206 Interview with Story Musgrave 207 5.4 Physical Exercise in Spaceflight 210 5.5 Air and Pressure 214 5.6 Further Medical Phenomena 219 Space Motion Sickness 219 The Eye 220 Infections and the Immune System 221 Poisonous Substances 222 Injuries 223 Medical Incidents in Space 224 5.7 Radiation 225 Sources of Radiation 226 Effects of Radiation on the Human Body 229 Acute Radiation Sickness 230 Concepts for Radiation Protection in Spaceflight 231 5.8 Medical Treatment on Board 231 Crew with Medical Education 233 Medical Care on the ISS 234 Surgery in Spaceflight 234 Medications 236 Substance Abuse in Spaceflight 237 Telemedicine 237 5.9 Medical Research in Spaceflight 238 Bedrest Studies 239 Parabolic Flights 244 Human Centrifugation 245 Isolation Studies 247 References 252 6 Exploration and Colonisation 253 6.1 Travel Destinations 254 6.2 Exploration 264 6.3 Volcanism, Glaciers and Permafrost 268 6.4 Human Colonies 270 6.5 Plants and Terraforming 274 6.6 Resources and Mining 278 6.7 Space Law 279 6.8 Astrobiology and Extraterrestrial Life 280 References 292 Conclusion 293 Index 294