A detailed introduction is presented to the problems of interstellar space travel. The general topics discussed include: basics of travel in space, advanced propulsion methods; relativity and interstellar travel; relativistic drives and problems; starships as systems; missions; astrogation, observation, and communication; technological requirements and hazards; biological requirements; personal, social, and political considerations; interstellar life and civilizations; long-term prospects.

Exploration is a human trait. For as long as humans have walked the Earth they have been inspired to achieve more and search further. For those interested in spaceflight, the greatest adventure of them all is to journey through interstellar space. This book discusses five prominent interstellar propulsion systems and analyses their feasibility. It also discusses a relevant interstellar travel case study method.

This book shows the problem of interstellar travel to be more than just the most complex technical problem ever conceived by humans, but also a problem of astronomy, biology, psychology, sociology, politics, economics, philosophy & education - in short, it bears on almost all fields of human interest & opens profound questions about the existence of other beings & mutual searches for them & their possible travel. The book reviews most of the serious published literature on interstellar travel & is a source book for professional & amateur scientists & engineers, educators & students seeking to study a problem that integrates many fields. The book also advances the literature with new ideas & findings & provides novel tools for understanding the scope of the problem. The main text is non-mathematical, introduces all relevant principles, & is accessible to anyone wanting a contemplative journey through modern hard & soft sciences as well as a mental journey to the stars. The appendices have mathematical & physical tools, including computer programs needed for technical study of interstellar travel & related subjects. Extensive bibliography. Index.

This book develops a credible scenario for interstellar exploration and colonization. In so doing, it examines: • the present situation and prospects for interstellar exploration technologies; • where to go: the search for habitable planets; • the motivations for space travel and colonization; • the financial mechanisms required to fund such enterprises. The final section of the book analyzes the uncertainties surrounding the presented scenario. The purpose of building a scenario is not only to pinpoint future events but also to highlight the uncertainties that may propel the future in different directions. Interstellar travel and colonization requires a civilization in which human beings see themselves as inhabitants of a single planet and in which global governance of these processes is conducted on a cooperative basis. The key question is, then, whether our present civilization is ready for such an endeavor, reflecting the fact that the critical uncertainties are political and cultural in nature. It is written in such a way as to allow the non-professional reader to become part of the debate on the future of space programs.

Hypothetical Spacecraft and Interstellar Travel collects information about the latest and greatest hypothetical spacecraft.

Interstellar Travel: Purpose and Motivations is a comprehensive, technical look at the necessary considerations for interstellar travel addressed by leading experts in the field, from scientists studying possible destinations (exoplanets) and the vast distances between, to those concerned with building institutions and capabilities in society that could sustain such endeavors. In addition to the technical, medical, and anthropological aspects of deep space travel, the ethics and morality of spreading Earth-based life to other worlds is also examined. In the first book of a three-book compilation, Interstellar Travel: Purpose and Motivations offers in-depth, up-to-date and realistic technical and scientific considerations in the pursuit of interstellar travel and is an integral reference for scientists, engineers, researchers and academics working on, or interested in, space development and space technologies. With a renewed interest in space exploration and development evidenced by the rise of the commercial space sector and various governments now planning to send humans back to the moon and to Mars, so also is interest in taking the next steps beyond the Solar System and to the ultimate destination – planets circling other stars. Features detailed overviews with quantification of the technical challenges and potential benefits of interstellar missions Comprehensively covers the considerations for interstellar travel by the world's recognized leading experts in the field Features referenceable data and analysis for both new and experienced researchers in the interstellar and exoplanets fields