The first edition won the International Academy of Astronautics 1999 Engineering Sciences Book Award

In this book Dr. Maccone explains how the Sun can serve as an enormous gravitational lens for amplifying signals emitted by distant stars, planets, and civilizations. He proposes various space missions over the next several decades for utilizing the phenomenon. The book provides semitechnical details adequate for scientists and engineers to evaluate, plan, and begin the technical design for such space missions.

What others say about the book:

"Scientists and engineers of the world have the moral duty, and must face the challenge to use the most gigantic magnifying lens of their solar system: the one which Einstein predicted to be produced by the Sun's bending of space. Claudio Maccone, with his profound scientific and technical knowledge, his active drive in organizing international meetings dedicated to this fascinating and farsighted enterprise, is the best and most internationally recognized creative specialist whom we thank for giving us such an illuminating book on opening our astronomically-sized eye on our cosmos. We are not bound to stay bound!"

-- Jean Heidmann, Paris Observatory
Executive Secretary of the SETI Committee
International Academy of Astronautics

"In this remarkably interesting and informative book an internationally acknowledged expert gives a comprehensive account of our present knowledge of the Sun as a gravitational lens and of its possible application as a giant telescope. This detailed and up-to-date analysis - which is partly based on the author's experience as organizer of a series of scientific topical conferences since 1992 in Turin, Italy - is a major contribution to a topic important for the future of space exploration and also exceptionally interesting. The book thoroughly deserves to be great success."

-- Ivan Almar, Konkolyi Observatory, Budapest
Coordinator of the SETI Committee
International Academy of Astronautics

Background required: Bachelor's degree in math, physics, or engineering.

ISBN 1-880930-12-9

Copyright 2002, 234 + xvi pages.

List price: $35 in USA, $42 elsewhere (includes priority mail shipping anywhere in the world)

CONTENTS

A Brief Overview
Chapt 1: So Much Gain at 550 AU
Chapt 2: Scientific Investigations Along the Way to 550 AU
Chapt 3: Magnifying the Nearby Stellar Systems
Chapt 4: Astrodynamics to Exit the Solar System at the Highest Speed
Chapt 5: SETI and the FOCAL Space Mission
Chapt 6: GL-SETI (Gravitational Lensing SETI): Receilving Far ETI Signals Focused by the Gravity of Other Stars
Chapt 7: The Gravitational Lenses of Alpha Centauri A, B, C and of Barnard's Stars
Chapt 8: The Coronal Plasma "Pushing Out" the Focus of the Gravity+Plasma Lens Far Beyond 550 AU
Chapt 9: NASA's Interstellar Probe (ISP: 2010-2070?) and the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)
Chapt 10: Interstellar Propulsion by Sunlensing
Appendix A: Engineering Tradeoffs for the FOCAL Spacecraft Antenna
Appendix B: Sun Flyby Characteristics
Appendix C: Mission to the Solar Gravitational Lens by Solar Sailing
Appendix D: FOCAL Radio Interferometry by a Tethered System

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Claudio Maccone is a space scientist at Alenia Aerospazio in Turin, Italy. He holds degrees in physics and in mathematics from the University of Turin, and a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from King's College, University of London (U.K., 1980). Since 1985 he has served as secretary of the G. Colombo Center for Astrodynamics of Turin as well as coordinator of a series of conferences on deep space missions. He is co-vice chair of the SETI Committee of the International Academy of Astronautics. In 1993 he submitted a formal proposal to the European Space Agency to fund the FOCAL space mission described in this book. Asteroid #11264 was renamed "Claudimaccone" in his honor by the International Astronomical Union on September 2, 2001. He also received the Giordana Bruno Award by the SETI League "for technical excellence in the service of SETI" on April 27, 2002, in Trenton, NJ, USA.

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