Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Part of: Synthesis digital library of engineering and computer science.

Series from website.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 111-112) and index.

Introduction -- Scope and philosophy of this book -- Is interstellar space travel possible -- Why travel to distant stars, planetary systems, and galaxies -- General requirements for interstellar space travel -- Background -- The nature of light and its velocity -- Michelson-Morley experiment and the null result -- Postulates of Einstein's special theory of relativity -- Principle of simultaneity and synchronicity -- Relativistic time dilation and the clock paradox -- Relativistic distance contraction -- Relativistic transformation of coordinates and addition of velocities -- Relativistic momentum and mass -- The Relativistic mass-energy relation -- Problems -- Relativistic rocket mechanics -- Relativistic (proper) measurements and calculations of the astronauts -- Introduction to rocket mechanics; the rocket equation -- The photon rocket -- Relativity of velocity, time, acceleration, and distance -- Energy requirements for relativistic flight -- Concluding remarks regarding relativistic flight -- Problems -- Space travel and the photon rocket -- Summary of important equations -- The flight plan and simplifying assumptions -- Comparative distances, flight times and rocket mass ratios to various star/planet systems, galaxies and beyond, calculation plan -- Consequences of particulate efflux velocities, varying speeds of light, and acceleration -- "Give me WARP three, Scotty"; practical considerations -- Problems -- Minkowski diagrams, K-calculus, and relativistic effects -- Minkowski diagrams -- K-calculus and relativistic effects and measurements -- Problems -- Other prospective transport systems for relativistic space travel -- Nuclear particle propulsion -- Matter/antimatter propulsion -- Laser sail propulsion -- Fusion ramjet propulsion -- Exotic space transport and propulsion systems -- Fundamental constants and useful data -- Units of conversion -- Metric (SI) multipliers -- Mathematical definitions and identities -- Hyperbolic functions -- Logarithm identities (Base b) -- Derivation of the rocket equations -- The photon rocket equation -- The effect of efficiency -- The classical rocket equation.

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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.

Also available in print.

Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on October 14, 2008).