The Century of Space Science

by Bleeker, J. A. M.; Geiss, Johannes; Huber, Martin

• ISBN13: 9780792371960
• ISBN10: 0792371968
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-11-01
• Publisher: Kluwer Academic Pub

Summary

The 20th century can truly be called the 'Century of Space Science', for it was in the 20th century that the multidisciplinary study of space science (as opposed to astronomy) was conceived. Today, as we start a new century of discovery, we are able to cast our perspective back in order to chronicle how the field began, review how it developed, and discuss how it reached its current levels. We are able to overview the historical development and to put early discoveries in context, to document our current understanding and to look forward to the coming century with some degree of optimism. One of the most attractive features of this young discipline is that many of the original pioneers and key players involved are still available to describe their field. Hence, at this point in history we are in a unique position to gain first-hand insight into the field and its development. To this end, The Century of Space Science , a scholarly, authoritative, reference book presents a chapter-by-chapter retrospective of space science as studied in the 20th century. The level is academic and focuses on key discoveries, how these were arrived at, their scientific consequences and how these discoveries advanced the thoughts of the key players involved. With over 90 world-class contributors, such as James Van Allen, Cornelis de Jager, Eugene Parker, Reimar L??st, and Ernst Stuhlinger, and with a Foreword by Lodewijk Woltjer (past ESO Director General), this book will be immensely useful to readers in the fields of space science, astronomy, and the history of science. Both academic institutions and researchers will find that this major reference work makes an invaluable addition to their collection. The work is published in two large-format volumes and contains colour images throughout. It includes several appendices (for example a basic chronology of the field and a complete list of every space science mission ever launched) and is extensively and comprehensively indexed. The scientific editorial team consists of Johan A.M. Bleeker (of SRON, The Netherlands), Johannes Geiss (of the International Space Science Institute, Berne) and Martin Huber (of ESA) and history consultant Arturo Russo (of the University of Palermo, Italy).

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

The Century of Space Science

The Beginnings

The Space Age and the Origin of Space Research

Enabling Technology for Space Transportation

The Early Epoch of Space Science

The Cosmic Radiation

Magnetospheric Physics

Barium Cloud Experiments in the Upper Atmosphere

Alkali Metal Cloud Experiments in the Upper Atmosphere

Early Solar Space Research

A History of the Solar Wind Concept

The Terrestrial Planets at the Dawn of the Space Age

The Moon before Apollo

From the Ionosphere to High Energy Astronomy: A Personal Experience

Early Ultraviolet Spectroscopy from Space

The Early Days of Infrared Space Astronomy

Fundamental Science in Space. Cosmology and Gravitational Physics

Verification of General Relativity: Tests in the Solar System

Verification of General Relativity: Strong Fields and Gravitational Waves

The Cosmological Constants

COBE, Dark Matter and Large-Scale Structure in the Universe

The Origin of the Light Elements in the Early Universe

Gravitational Lensing

Extragalactic Astronomy

Clusters of Galaxies

Gamma-Ray Bursts

Quasars

Blazars

X-ray and Infrared Properties of Normal Galaxies

The Milky Way

The Hot Part of the Interstellar Medium

Space-Borne Observations of the Lifecycle of Interstellar Gas and Dust

The Interstellar Medium of Our Galaxy

Galactic Cosmic Rays

Stellar Populations and Dynamics in the Milky Way Galaxy

Pulsars and Isolated Neutron Stars

Evolutionary Concepts of Binaries with Compact Objects

White Dwarf Binaries

Low Mass X-Ray Binaries

High-mass X-ray Binaries

Black-hole Binaries

The Formation of Stars and Protoplanetary Disks

High-energy Radiation from Outer Stellar Atmospheres

Mass Loss from Stars

Planetary Nebulae

Supernovae and Supernovae Remnants

Acceleration Processes of Heliospheric Particle Populations

Reconnection

The Solar Interior

The Solar Atmosphere

The Active Sun

The Solar Wind

The Heliosphere

The Dusty Heliosphere

The Interaction of the Heliosphere with the Interstellar Medium

Comets; Coma and Beyond

The Morphology of Cometary Nuclei

The Constituents of Cometary Nuclei

The Moon and the Terrestrial Planets: Geology and Geophysics

Radiometric Chronology of the Moon and Mars

Chemical Evolution of the Moon and the Terrestrial Planets

Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Jupiter

The Planets Beyond Jupiter

The Satellites of the Outer Planets

Planetary and Lunar Magnetism

The Earth and its Plasma Environment

The Magnetosphere as a Plasma Laboratory

Earth''s Magnetosphere

Earth''s Ionosphere

Oceanography

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