Relativistic Flight Mechanics and Space Travel is about the fascinating prospect of future human space travel. Its purpose is to demonstrate that such ventures may not be as difficult as one might believe and are certainly not impossible. The foundations for relativistic flight mechanics are provided in a clear and instructive manner by using well established principles which are used to explore space flight possibilities within and beyond our galaxy. The main substance of the book begins with a background review of Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity as it pertains to relativistic flight mechanics and space travel. The book explores the dynamics and kinematics of relativistic space flight from the point of view of the astronauts in the spacecraft and compares these with those observed by earth's scientists and engineers-differences that are quite surprising. A quasi historical treatment leads quite naturally into the central subject areas of the book where attention is focused on various issues not ordinarily covered by such treatment. To accomplish this, numerous simple thought experiments are used to bring rather complicated subject matter down to a level easily understood by most readers with an engineering or science background. The primary subjects regarding photon rocketry and space travel are covered in some depth and include a flight plan together with numerous calculations represented in graphical form. A geometric treatment of relativistic effects by using Minkowski diagrams is included for completeness. The book concludes with brief discussions of other prospective, even exotic, transport systems for relativistic space travel. A glossary and simple end-of-chapter problems with answers enhance the learning process.

Autorentext

Richard F. Tinder's teaching interests have been highly variable during his tenure at Washington State University. They have included crystallography, thermodynamics of solids (both equilibrium and irreversible thermodynamics), tensor properties of crystals, dislocation theory, solid-state direct energy conversion (mainly solar cell theory, thermoelectric effects, and fuel cells), general materials science, advanced reaction kinetics in solids, electromagnetics, and analog and digital circuit theory. In recent years, he has taught logic design at the entry, intermediate, and advanced levels and has published a major text, Engineering Digital Design, on that subject. He has conducted research and published in the areas of tensor properties of solids, surface physics, shock dynamics of solids, milli-micro plastic flow in metallic single crystals, high-speed asynchronous (clock-independent) state machine design, and Boolean algebra (specifically XOR algebra and graphics). Most recently, Prof. Tinder has published an e-book, Relativistic Flight Mechanics and Space Travel (Morgan & Claypool Publishers, 2007). Prof. Tinder holds bachelor of science, master of science, and doctor of philosophy degrees, all from the University of California, Berkeley. He has spent one year as a visiting faculty member at the University of California, Davis, in what was then the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. Currently, he is professor emeritus of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Washington State University where he has been a major contributor to the computer engineering program there during a period of nearly two decades.