Islands in the Sky: Bold New Ideas for Colonizing Space
Encyclopedia
Islands in the Sky: Bold New Ideas for Colonizing Space (Stanley Schmidt and Robert Zubrin
, eds., Wiley, 1996, ISBN 0-471-13561-5) is a book composed of a collection of factual articles on space colonization
, several from recognized experts in the field.
The articles range from colloquial to fairly technical, occasionally deriving results after a series of calculus
equations. Their subject matter ranges from colonization of the inner solar system to the outer solar system and interstellar colonization, and from novel application of well-understood engineering
principles, to speculative physics
theories. It includes five articles authored or co-authored by Zubrin; other notable authors include Robert L. Forward, Martyn J. Fogg
, and Christopher McKay
. The book is also notable for including a publication of Robert Zubrin
's Mars Direct
mission architecture (first formulated in 1990), which was soon expanded into a book of its own, The Case For Mars: The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must
, and which provided the impetus for the founding of the Mars Society
.
Robert Zubrin
Robert Zubrin is an American aerospace engineer and author, best known for his advocacy of the manned exploration of Mars. He was the driving force behind Mars Direct—a proposal intended to produce significant reductions in the cost and complexity of such a mission...
, eds., Wiley, 1996, ISBN 0-471-13561-5) is a book composed of a collection of factual articles on space colonization
Space colonization
Space colonization is the concept of permanent human habitation outside of Earth. Although hypothetical at the present time, there are many proposals and speculations about the first space colony...
, several from recognized experts in the field.
The articles range from colloquial to fairly technical, occasionally deriving results after a series of calculus
Calculus
Calculus is a branch of mathematics focused on limits, functions, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series. This subject constitutes a major part of modern mathematics education. It has two major branches, differential calculus and integral calculus, which are related by the fundamental theorem...
equations. Their subject matter ranges from colonization of the inner solar system to the outer solar system and interstellar colonization, and from novel application of well-understood 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...
principles, to speculative physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
theories. It includes five articles authored or co-authored by Zubrin; other notable authors include Robert L. Forward, Martyn J. Fogg
Martyn J. Fogg
-Biography:After becoming a dental surgeon, Fogg earned a degree in physics and geology and a master's degree in astrophysics, and is working on a Ph.D. in planetary science. Fogg lives in London.-Contributions to Planetary Engineering:...
, and Christopher McKay
Christopher McKay
Christopher P. McKay is a planetary scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, studying planetary atmospheres, astrobiology, and terraforming. McKay received his PhD in astrogeophysics from the University of Colorado in 1982 and his bachelor's degree from Florida Atlantic University.-Overview:McKay...
. The book is also notable for including a publication of Robert Zubrin
Robert Zubrin
Robert Zubrin is an American aerospace engineer and author, best known for his advocacy of the manned exploration of Mars. He was the driving force behind Mars Direct—a proposal intended to produce significant reductions in the cost and complexity of such a mission...
's Mars Direct
Mars Direct
Mars Direct is a proposal for a manned mission to Mars. Proponents of the scheme have claimed it to be both cost-effective and that it can be conducted with current technology. It was originally detailed in a research paper by NASA engineers Robert Zubrin and David Baker in 1990, and later expanded...
mission architecture (first formulated in 1990), which was soon expanded into a book of its own, The Case For Mars: The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must
The Case For Mars
The Case for Mars: The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must is a nonfiction science book by Robert Zubrin, first published in 1996....
, and which provided the impetus for the founding of the Mars Society
Mars Society
The Mars Society is an international space advocacy non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the human exploration and settlement of the planet Mars. It was founded by Robert Zubrin and others in 1998 and attracted the support of notable science fiction writers and filmmakers, including Kim...
.
Contents
- Introduction, Stanley SchmidtStanley SchmidtStanley Albert Schmidt is an American science fiction author. Since 1978 he has been the editor of the SF magazine Analog Science Fiction and Fact.-Biography:...
- Part One: Breaking the Bonds of the Earth
- "Comes the Revolution...", G. Harry StineG. Harry StineGeorge Harry Stine was one of the founding figures of model rocketry, a science and technology writer, and a science fiction author.-Education and early career:...
- "The Hypersonic Skyhook", Robert ZubrinRobert ZubrinRobert Zubrin is an American aerospace engineer and author, best known for his advocacy of the manned exploration of Mars. He was the driving force behind Mars Direct—a proposal intended to produce significant reductions in the cost and complexity of such a mission...
- "Comes the Revolution...", G. Harry Stine
- Part Two: Stepping Into the Solar SystemSolar SystemThe Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
- "Mars Direct: A Proposal for the Rapid Exploration and Colonization of the Red Planet", Robert ZubrinRobert ZubrinRobert Zubrin is an American aerospace engineer and author, best known for his advocacy of the manned exploration of Mars. He was the driving force behind Mars Direct—a proposal intended to produce significant reductions in the cost and complexity of such a mission...
and David A. Baker - "Inward Ho!", Stephen L. Gillett
- "Colonizing the Outer Solar System", Robert ZubrinRobert ZubrinRobert Zubrin is an American aerospace engineer and author, best known for his advocacy of the manned exploration of Mars. He was the driving force behind Mars Direct—a proposal intended to produce significant reductions in the cost and complexity of such a mission...
- "Islands in the Sky: Human Exploration and Settlement of the Oort CloudOort cloudThe Oort cloud , or the Öpik–Oort cloud , is a hypothesized spherical cloud of comets which may lie roughly 50,000 AU, or nearly a light-year, from the Sun. This places the cloud at nearly a quarter of the distance to Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to the Sun...
", Richard P. Terra - "Alien Life Between Here and the Stars", Robert L. Forward
- "Mars Direct: A Proposal for the Rapid Exploration and Colonization of the Red Planet", Robert Zubrin
- Part Three: Creating New Worlds
- "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...
Mars", Robert Zubrin and Christopher P. McKayChristopher McKayChristopher P. McKay is a planetary scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, studying planetary atmospheres, astrobiology, and terraforming. McKay received his PhD in astrogeophysics from the University of Colorado in 1982 and his bachelor's degree from Florida Atlantic University.-Overview:McKay... - "A Planet Dweller's Dreams", Martyn J. FoggMartyn J. Fogg-Biography:After becoming a dental surgeon, Fogg earned a degree in physics and geology and a master's degree in astrophysics, and is working on a Ph.D. in planetary science. Fogg lives in London.-Contributions to Planetary Engineering:...
- "Atrophysical Engineering and the Fate of the Earth", Martyn J. Fogg
- "Terraforming
- Part Four: Advanced Drives and Interstellar TravelInterstellar travelInterstellar space travel is manned or unmanned travel between stars. The concept of interstellar travel in starships is a staple of science fiction. Interstellar travel is much more difficult than interplanetary travel. Intergalactic travel, or travel between different galaxies, is even more...
- "To the Stars!", Gordon R. Woodcock
- "The Magnetic Sail", Robert ZubrinRobert ZubrinRobert Zubrin is an American aerospace engineer and author, best known for his advocacy of the manned exploration of Mars. He was the driving force behind Mars Direct—a proposal intended to produce significant reductions in the cost and complexity of such a mission...
- "The Tachyon Drive: Infinite Exhaust Velocity at Zero Energy Cost", John G. CramerJohn G. CramerJohn G. Cramer is a professor of physics at the University of Washington in Seattle, the United States. When not teaching, he works with the STAR detector at the new Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory, and the particle accelerator at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland...
- "The Negative Matter Space Drive", Robert L. Forward
- "The Economics of Interstellar Commerce", Warren Salomon