Space exploration

Author: Jiao Weixin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: Space Exploration is a project under the Beijing Higher Education Excellent Teaching Material Program. The book is divided into four parts, totaling twelve chapters. Part I provides an overview of space, explaining the composition and basic characteristics of Earth's space, the geospace, the heliosphere, and the universe according to the four levels of space. Part II focuses on exploring space, describing methods, technologies, and approaches for probing Earth's space, exploring the solar system, and searching for extraterrestrial civilizations. Part III discusses the development and utilization of space resources, introducing special resources in the space environment, valuable mineral resources on some planets and their moons in the solar system, as well as asteroids, along with the current status and prospects of their development and utilization. Part IV covers space disasters and prevention, outlining the potential hazards of space weather and meteoroids to human society and technology, and systematically analyzing the possibility of near-Earth small celestial bodies impacting the Earth. Each part is followed by references and discussion questions. The book integrates the essence of multiple disciplines, including space science and technology, astrophysics, planetary science, and astronautics, and incorporates current human concerns into a systematic framework from a new perspective. The book provides an in-depth yet accessible discussion of space, making it suitable not only as a textbook for elective courses but also as a valuable reference for scientists, science popularizers, and young people.