I'm looking for books where characters are exploring the solar system using space ships that are technologically within (or somewhat close to) our capability to build today. Bonus points if those novels are character driven.
posted by Hoenikker
on Jun 14, 2013 -
21 answers
In any of the Alf media (the live action sitcom, the cartoon, or any supplementary materials), is it ever explained how cats have come to be on both Melmac and Earth?
Here, it says that it is unknown if Melmac cats and Earth cats are even the same species (presumably they coud be doing a kind of Allosaurus/T-Rex convergent-evolution thing), but perhaps someone out there with greater Alf knowledge can shed more light on this.
posted by Greg Nog
on Sep 21, 2012 -
7 answers
As I understand it, the idea behind "nuclear pulse propulsion" is that you have a spaceship where you explode nukes behind the ship, and then the ship sort-of "rides the shockwave", the nuclear explosions propelling the ship forward. But how can that possibly work in the vacuum of space? If there's no medium, like air, there's no shockwave, right? So what, exactly, would be propelling the ship forward?
posted by gkhan
on Aug 14, 2012 -
16 answers
Curiosity is making me curious. What would it feel like to stand on the surface of Mars? Let's say, first of all, it's without a space suit -- what would kill me first? The carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? The temperature? Then, if we found some way to breathe and function normally, what would it be like to be there? Would it be hot? Cold? Too windy to stand up? Paint a picture for me, if you can.
posted by fight or flight
on Aug 10, 2012 -
15 answers
Looking for a good motto, quote, or possibly a graphic related to space exploration/research, intended to be engraved on a gift pocketknife. I need ideas!
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posted by 2N2222
on Jun 20, 2012 -
21 answers
My 6-year old nephew is currently obsessed with space travel. Having nerdy parents & grandparents, he already owns two supersized model rockets, and a whole shelf of books about the Moon, planets, and space in general. With Christmas approaching, I'd like to give him something different-but-related. Ideas?
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posted by M.
on Nov 16, 2011 -
30 answers
Name-that-story-filter: Anthropologist mother with her daughter (and son?) on a planet separated from the rest of civilization by years of sub-light space travel. Mom maintains scientific detachment, but daughter is assimilated into peculiar local culture with taboos against social interaction, driving mother and daughter apart. Inspired by
this AskMe.
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posted by tigrrrlily
on Aug 9, 2011 -
7 answers
Can you help me identify this SF novel? Female protagonist is employed overseeing the construction of a transportation network into deep space. She has to deal with the ship's AI who is trying to turn her son (also a crew member) against her. They run into a very strange intelligent creature and try to figure out how to keep from destroying it with their gateway network, while also carefully monitoring the amount of time that she spends outside of suspended animation.
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posted by penduluum
on Apr 13, 2011 -
6 answers
AskingForANovelFilter: Which would be easier and more economic to grow in a domed colony on Titan or to import from Earth: coffee or tea?
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posted by daisyk
on May 1, 2010 -
9 answers
I'd like to watch a rocket launched into space (from the continental U.S.). I've researched it as best I can, but would like guidance from someone who knows more about it or has seen one before.
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posted by jjjjjjjijjjjjjj
on Oct 7, 2009 -
15 answers
Please recommend a good book about the history of the space travel. I'm particulary interested in NASA, but if it includes info about other countries, all the better.
posted by dpx.mfx
on Feb 1, 2007 -
14 answers
Assume space travel is currently safe, as fast as possible and comparatively (compared to now) inexpensive. How feasible would it be to start colonizing a planet in a new solar system in a self-sustaining way knowing what we know now? Is this being thought about?
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posted by vizsla
on Dec 10, 2006 -
15 answers
I'm looking for stories that deal with human relationships between people seperated by time dilation due to space travel, where the person on Earth ages the same as you and I, but the space traveler, in comparison, ages significantly slower.
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posted by defenestration
on Sep 18, 2005 -
47 answers
