Centauri Dreams: Imagining and Planning Interstellar Exploration [Hardcover]

Paul Gilster (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 038700436X | ISBN-13: 978-0387004365 | Publication Date: October 8, 2004 | Edition: 1

Why, today, would anyone undertake a plan to launch a spacecraft some 30 years in the future, and on a journey that would take some 40 years to complete? Paul Gilster investigates the science, and the spirit, of the NASA and JPL researchers who are actually at work on just such a project.

From the reviews:

"Gilster introduces the challenges of imagining and planning interstellar exploration by leading readers through the difficulties of reaching and exploring the nearest bright star, Alpha Centauri. Seeded by ideas and concepts of the late Robert Forward, the narrative is framed as a learning process undertaken simultaneously by writer and reader. Although Alpha Centauri is astronomically nearby, a postulated trip by robot spacecraft, followed by manned exploration, would take 50 to 1,000 years, depending on the type of spacecraft propulsion used. Various methods for interstellar travel are introduced and discussed, including solar sails that use the power of starlight, nuclear fusion, antimatter hybrid systems, and beamed laser propulsion. One challenge is to get there in a reasonable time so that funding support, public interest, and events on Earth will not divert attention from the mission. Another challenge is timing the mission relative to available technology, because with better technology it might be possible to send a later robot on the same mission in less time. The book has no figures, tables, or illustrations but does include 30 pages of notes and an adequate 14-page index. Though the concepts presented are often fanciful, this book will appeal to readers who wonder about the future of exploration beyond the solar system. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers; professionals." (W. E. Howard III, CHOICE, March 2005)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Science and SF writer Gilster's latest isn't only an enlightening tour of the propulsion and communication systems and the materials that might take us (in unmanned or even manned probes) to the Centauri triple-star system 4.3 light years away (nearby in interstellar terms). The book is also a plea to remember that the urge to explore the unknown is what makes us human and that the future may not be as far away as we think. What separates this work from many scientific explorations of topics typically relegated to science fiction is that none of the methods described require breakthroughs in physics: we need no faster-than-light travel, no warp drive, no hyperspace or wormholes. All today's scientists need is the time, funding and license to turn their thought experiments into engineering problems. Like a master kite flyer, Gilster slowly lets out the line and allows the magnificent dreams of interstellar flight to soar—describing the relevant technologies we already possess—then he reels readers back in by pointing out the lack of funding and the distance these theories still need to go before becoming reality. The technologies include sails that capture light instead of wind; a combination of fusion and antimatter reactions; and artificially intelligent computer systems that evolve over time. Metaphors and examples based on common experience put the science in perspective. This work is not only a clear, well-thought-out explanation of theoretical science and engineering but also food for the soul of anyone who has ever thought that space is a great adventure waiting to happen. (Jan.)
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Review

From the reviews:

"Science and SF writer Gilster’s latest isn’t only an enlightening tour of propulsion and communication systems and the materials that might take us (in unmanned or even manned probes) to Centauri triple-star system 4.3 light years away (nearby in interstellar terms). The book is also a plea to remember that the urge to explore the unknown is what makes us human and that the future may not be as far away as we think. What separates this work from many scientific explorations of topics typically relegated to science fiction is that none of the methods described require breakthroughs in physics: we need no faster-than-light travel, no warp drive, no hyperspace or wormholes. All today’s scientists need is the time, funding, and license to turn their thought experiments into engineering problems. Like a master kite flyer, Gilster slowly lets out the line and allows the magnificent dreams of interstellar flight to soar – describing the relevant technologies we already possess – then he reels readers back in by pointing out the lack of funding and distance these theories still need to go before becoming reality. The technologies include sails that capture light instead of wind; a combination of fusion and antimatter reactions; and artificially intelligent computer systems that evolve over time. Metaphors and examples based on common experience put the science in perspective. This work is not only a clear, well-thought-out explanation of theoretical science and engineering but also food for the soul of anyone who has ever thought that space is a great adventure waiting to happen." – Publishers Weekly, Jan. 10, 2005

"Paul Gilster is fascinated by interstellar space flight – not the Star Trek kind, but the real thing. He takes the reader on a tour of plans being developed quietly at NASA and other space agencies for sending an unmanned probe to Alpha Centauri, the nearest star. Extensive notes capably steer readers into the technical literature. Call this book science-fiction-for-real." – Astronomy, March 2005

"Gilster takes readers on leaps of imagination beyond the probable, past the unlikely, skirting the unbelievable, through the land of supposed impossibility, into the future where, one way or another, humanity will be pursuing 'Centauri Dreams,' or, as the subtitle states, 'Imagining and Planning Interstellar Exploration.'" -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"Centauri Dreams is a look at the state of the art as-yet hypothetical technology needed to take us to Earth’s second-closest star. … Author Gilster examines the possibilities with a sure-handed humor liberally illustrated with interviews with real-life experts and examples from the great science-fiction stories of Anderson, Sterling, and Clarke." (Sci Fi, 2005)

"Paul Gilster is fascinated by interstellar space flight – not the Star Trek kind, but the real thing. He takes the reader on a tour of plans being developed quietly at NASA and other space agencies … . Extensive notes capably steer readers into the technical literature." (Astronomy, March, 2005)

"‘Centauri Dreams’ consists of a thorough analysis of the alternative propulsion technologies … . This analysis is tastefully interspersed with numerous references to science-fiction ideas and writers, reflecting Gilster’s wide ranging knowledge of real science and his passion for science fiction literature. … This book is very well researched, and was for me an enjoyable read, one that I’m sure will be well enjoyed by science-fiction aficionados and hard-nosed realists alike!" (Gerard Mc Mahon, Astronomy & Space, April, 2006)

"Centauri Dreams provides a … thorough and up-to-date review of the various interstellar-travel concepts to be found in the literature. … By and large the author does a good job describing complicated concepts … . I can recommend Centauri Dreams to anyone seeking a non-technical summary of interstellar-travel concepts as they stand at the beginning of the 21st century." (Ian Crawford, The Observatory, Vol. 125 (1188), 2005)

"Paul Gilster explains some of the ongoing research … that may one day lead to an unmanned, possibly even robotic or manned, space probe being sent to Alpha Centauri, the nearest bright star outside of our solar system. … Centauri Dreams … contains thirty pages of notes that enhance the reading. General audiences and professionals will find this book a fascinating read about the possibilities of future interstellar travel." (Alvin K. Benson, Salem Press, September, 2005)

"The fastest manmade vehicle is now Voyager 1, heading out of the solar system. It could cross the US in less than four minutes. Even at that speed it will take 70,000 years to reach the nearest star, Alpha Centauri. … Paul Gilster’s book explores the terrain at the frontiers of hard logic and hairy thinking. Interstellar travel is now part of imagination’s landscape. … The interstellar idea, says Gilster, in this exhilarating book, is taking shape." (Tim Radford, The Guardian, March, 2005)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 319 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (October 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038700436X
• ISBN-13: 978-0387004365
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #765,276 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just the stuff of dreams..., January 26, 2005

By 

Kermit Ellis (NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Centauri Dreams: Imagining and Planning Interstellar Exploration (Hardcover)

It will be surprising to many people that the initial planning of humanity's first voyages to the stars has already begun. Those of us who grew up in the early days of the American space program, and whose vision of the future assumed that by the end of the twentieth century space flight would be commonplace and relatively easy, and who assumed that manned missions to Mars and further would be the next step within several years after the Apollo moon landings, became impatient with the slow and methodical pace of space exploration carried out in the immediate vicinity of Earth and by robotic probes sent about the Solar System- even though these missions were usually brilliantly planned and executed.

This book brings the welcome news and consolation that, even though the first interstellar mission of any kind is probably still at least several decades away, imaginative and intelligent people are already working on the theoretical basis for such future voyages, and some of the engineering problems are being addressed. So at least we don't have to wait until the rest of the solar system has been explored to get an idea of how the next colossal task will be approached. Much of this work is being done by various research agencies associated with NASA, by the European Space Agency, and even by academics and assorted dreamers.

Paul Gilster does an excellent job of explaining the current state of the planning for adventures to the closest stars, providing lucid descriptions of the work even now being done on such amazing concepts as laser-powered sails and antimatter drives. I have read a fair number of the popular scientific works intended to introduce laymen to difficult subjects (string theory, hyperinflation, etc.), and this volume is at least as clear and readable as anything I have seen by Allan Guth or Brian Greene. Besides being a primer, however, Centauri Dreams is also a fine piece of investigative reporting, since the author discusses the people who are doing this imaginative work and places their endeavors within an institutional context to show some of the bureaucratic and political hurdles that must be overcome.

Mr. Gilster also relates interstellar planning to the development of notions of interstellar travel within science fiction, showing how fictional (and often very much misguided) thought has influenced scientific thought.

Centauri Dreams is an exciting and important read. Highly recommended.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The meek inherit the Earth, the rest of us go to the stars, December 21, 2004

By 

Jill Malter ([e-mail]) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Centauri Dreams: Imagining and Planning Interstellar Exploration (Hardcover)

This book is about sending a space mission to a nearby star. I know, it sounds more like science fiction than fact. We're talking about really long missions. Perhaps several hundred years or even a couple of thousand years. Even the one-way light time to our objective would be on the order of five or ten light years.

Gilster starts by mentioning some possible destinations: Alpha Centauri (closest, at 4.3 light years) and Epsilon Eridani (10.7 light years but may be more interesting biologically). Or possibly Barnard's star (5.9 light years) or even Tau Ceti (11.9 light years).

Yes, we could try to get a spacecraft to move much faster. But that's not easy. And there's a much, much higher chance for the spacecraft to be destroyed just by hitting a very small object. The author warns us that at such speeds, a grain of sand would look like a torpedo. Even if one of the speculative propulsion technologies the author then discusses could be made to work, the chance of the spacecraft surviving the trip might be rather small.

On the other hand, the author also tells us about space telescopes that will be looking for terrestrial planets in the next few years. What if one of them finds a planet that looks like it harbors life? Would we then start taking a mission to that planet seriously?

Still, how does one get there? Gilster explains that chemical rockets are unlikely to be the right answer. Even nuclear propulsion is too weak. The first alternative he suggests is antimatter. With all due respect, I find this idea preposterous. The next idea is a Laser Accelerated Plasma Propulsion System (LAPPS). While this idea might work in theory, present technology is several orders of magnitude short of being usable.

Next we get a technology that come a little closer: solar sails. The author discusses a 249 x 249 foot sail that is being built by L'Garde, a California corporation, that can take a 3-kilogram payload out of the solar system. It would take this sail 100,000 years to get to Alpha Centauri, which shows that with today's technology, we are about two orders of magnitude short of what we need for such a mission to make any sense. The author explains that with expected improvements in technology, we're likely to get one of those factor-of-ten improvements. But the next one will not be so easy. Nevertheless, this is the least speculative of the ideas presented in the book.

Gilster also tells of another (but more speculative) idea that might give us a similar speed, namely Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion (M2P2), which is advocated by Robert Winglee at the University of Washington. This involves creating a "magnetic sail" kilometers in diameter which would hitch a ride on the solar wind. This idea needs much more work than a normal solar sail, but I think it is worth pursuing.

After this, we see a technology that would supply enough speed to our spacecraft if it worked: a laser-beam driven sail. All we need is 65 trillion watts of power on the ground! Plus the technology to deliver it to the spacecraft sail. And then get the craft to survive the flight. I guess all this is worth investigating, but this technology is nowhere near where it needs to be so far. At best it seems impossibly expensive.

The final portion of the book deals with some obvious problems: how do we communicate with the spacecraft when it is so far away? How will spacecraft navigation work? Or power? And best of all, how will the spacecraft maintain itself? What sorts of AI algorithms will need to be developed?

I found this book very interesting, but it does appear that it will be a long while before we have a successful mission to another star.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Big dreams, December 20, 2009

By 

M. Shepherd "Midwest" - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Centauri Dreams: Imagining and Planning Interstellar Exploration (Hardcover)

A well researched book that takes a realistic look at how we might one day explore the nearest stars. And this is a very big
dream indeed. The problems with making such a mission work are daunting. But the book doesn`t dive into science fiction, at
least not much.
The book takes a realistic look at not only the possible systems that could send a probe on an interstellar mission, but at the
massive problems that must be solved. The truely mind boggling distance to the nearest star is only the most obvious of these
problems.