Animals in Space

From Research Rockets to the Space Shuttle
2007. Auflage 2007
ISBN: 978-0-387-36053-9
Verlag: Springer

Buch, Englisch, 406 Seiten, Format (B × H): 172 mm x 244 mm, Gewicht: 1600 g

Reihe: Space Exploration

Many readers will doubtless be astonished to learn that animals were being fired aloft in U.S. and Soviet research rockets in the late 1940s. In fact most people not only believe that the Russian space dog Laika was the first canine to be launched into space, but also that the high-profile, precursory Mercury flights of chimps Ham and Enos were the only primate flights conducted by the United States. In fact, both countries had sent literally dozens of animals aloft for many years prior to these events and continued to do so for many years after. Other latter-day space nations, such as France and China, would also begin to use animals in their own space research.

Animals in Space will explain why dogs, primates, mice and other rodents were chosen and tested, at a time when dedicated scientists from both space nations were determined to establish the survivability of human subjects on both ballistic and orbital space flights. It will also recount the way this happened; the secrecy involved and the methods employed, and offer an objective analysis of how the role of animals as spaceflight test subjects not only evolved, but subsequently changed over the years in response to a public outcry led by animal activists. It will explore the ways in which animal high-altitude and space flight research impacted on space flight biomedicine and technology, and how the results - both successful and disappointing - allowed human beings to then undertake that same hazardous journey with far greater understanding and confidence.

This book is intended as a detailed yet highly readable and balanced account of the history of animal space flights, and the resultant application of hard-won research to space technology and astrobiology. It will undoubtedly become the ultimate authority on animal space flights.

Zielgruppe

Popular/general

Autoren/Hrsg.

Burgess, Colin

Dubbs, Chris

Fachgebiete

• Technische Wissenschaften Verkehrstechnik | Transportgewerbe Fahrzeugtechnik
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Allgemeines Populärwissenschaftliche Werke
• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Veterinärmedizin Veterinärmedizin: Labortiere, Tierversuche
• Naturwissenschaften Physik Physik Allgemein Geschichte der Physik
• Mathematik | Informatik Mathematik Mathematik Allgemein Populäre Darstellungen der Mathematik
• Technische Wissenschaften Sonstige Technologien | Angewandte Technik Weltraumforschung
• Technische Wissenschaften Verkehrstechnik | Transportgewerbe Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik, Luftverkehr
• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Medizin | Public Health | Pharmazie | Zahnmedizin Medizinische Fachgebiete Umweltmedizin, Arbeitsmedizin, Tropenmedizin, Sportmedizin Arbeitsmedizin
• Naturwissenschaften Astronomie Astronomie: Allgemeines
• Naturwissenschaften Astronomie Raumfahrt
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Wirtschaftssektoren & Branchen Fertigungsindustrie Luftfahrtindustrie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Taming the rockets: From wrath to research.- Holloman and the Albert Hall of Fame.- Pioneers of destiny: The suborbital dog flights.- High-altitude research.- Able and Baker lead the way.- The most famous dog in history.- Prelude to manned space flight.- Pioneers in a weightless world.- Biting the hand.- Cosmos/Bion: The age of the biosatellites.- End of an era.- Shuttling into space.- Epilogue.

Über Autor(innen)

Colin Burgess is a recognised historian in the field of space literature and has carried out extensive research on the history of animal space flights over many years. Chris Dubbs also carried out comprehensive research on Soviet animal flights. He was selected by the New Mexico Museum of Space History to serve as Guest Curator for their upcoming exhibit on the Soviet space dogs.