Astronomical engineering
Encyclopedia
Engineering on an astronomical scale, or astronomical engineering, i.e., engineering
involving operations with whole astronomical objects (planet
s, star
s, etc.), is a known theme in science fiction, as well as a matter of recent scientific research and exploratory engineering
.
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
involving operations with whole astronomical objects (planet
Planet
A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
s, star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
s, etc.), is a known theme in science fiction, as well as a matter of recent scientific research and exploratory engineering
Exploratory engineering
Exploratory engineering is a term coined by K. Eric Drexler to describe the process of designing and analyzing detailed hypothetical models of systems that are not feasible with current technologies or methods, but do seem to be clearly within the bounds of what science considers to be possible...
.
See also
- Planetary engineeringPlanetary engineeringPlanetary engineering is the application of technology for the purpose of influencing the global properties of a planet. The goal of this theoretical task is usually to make other worlds habitable for life....
- TerraformingTerraformingTerraforming of a planet, moon, or other body is the hypothetical process of deliberately modifying its atmosphere, temperature, surface topography or ecology to be similar to those of Earth, in order to make it habitable by terrestrial organisms.The term is sometimes used more generally as a...
- AstroengineeringAstroengineeringAstroengineering is the construction of megastructures in space by technologically advanced beings. It is a form of megascale engineering. Typically proposed feats of astroengineering are on the scale to remake an entire stellar system....
- Stellar engineeringStellar engineeringStellar engineering is a type of engineering concerned with creating or modifying stars through artificial means....
Further reading
- " Astronomical Engineering Revisited: Planetary Orbit Modification Using Solar Radiation Pressure", Astrophysics and Space Science, Volume 282, Number 4, 765-772,