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In this book, Giovanni Bignami, the outstanding Italian scientist and astronomer, takes the reader on a journey through the "seven spheres", from our own planet to neighboring stars. The author offers a gripping account of the evolution of Homo Sapiens to the stage where our species is developing capabilities, in the form of new energy propulsion systems, that will enable us to conquer space. The reader will learn how we first expanded our activities to reach beyond our planet, to the Moon, and how nuclear energy, nuclear fusion, and matter-antimatter annihilation will enable us to extend our exploration. After Mars and Jupiter we shall finally reach the nearest stars, which we now know are surrounded by numerous planets, some of which are bound to be habitable. The book includes enticing descriptions of such newly discovered planets and also brings alive key historical characters in our story, such as Jules Verne and Werner von Braun.
List of contents
Introduction.- Our Earth, our Oceans, the Sky, the Moon.- Mars, Planets, Stars.- Coda.
About the author
Giovanni Fabrizio Bignami, Mitglied der renommierten Accademia dei Lincei und der Académie Française, gehört zu den weltweit führenden Wissenschaftlern auf dem Gebiet der Astrophysik und der Weltraumforschung. Er hat den Neutronenstern Geminga entdeckt und internationale Projekte und Forschungsinstitute u.a. in Italien und Frankreich geleitet. Seit 2009 ist Bignami als Berater der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft tätig und seit 2010 steht er an der Spitze des internationalen Committee on Space Research (COSPAR). Der ehemalige Vorsitzende des wissenschaftlichen Beirats der europäischen Weltraumorganisation ESA und Leiter der italienischen Raumfahrtbehörde ASI ist Autor, Publizist und ein gefragter Gast in Fernsehsendungen, etwa beim National Geographic Channel.
Summary
In this book, Giovanni Bignami, the outstanding Italian scientist and astronomer, takes the reader on a journey through the “seven spheres”, from our own planet to neighboring stars. The author offers a gripping account of the evolution of Homo Sapiens to the stage where our species is developing capabilities, in the form of new energy propulsion systems, that will enable us to conquer space. The reader will learn how we first expanded our activities to reach beyond our planet, to the Moon, and how nuclear energy, nuclear fusion, and matter–antimatter annihilation will enable us to extend our exploration. After Mars and Jupiter we shall finally reach the nearest stars, which we now know are surrounded by numerous planets, some of which are bound to be habitable. The book includes enticing descriptions of such newly discovered planets and also brings alive key historical characters in our story, such as Jules Verne and Werner von Braun.
