Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Latest By
Category:
Armor
Artificial
Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual
Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work
"I love that computer science has made mathematics into something like an experimental science. I was never all that good at proving things, but I love doing computer experiments."
- Rudy Rucker
 |
| Astrogator | ||
| A person who acts as navigator for s space ship. |
This appears to be the first instance of this word.
| Surely a complete faith in the laws of mathematics and astronomy must be the first requisite of the interplanetary astrogator. For as his little craft is lost in the immensities of space, and he sees the fiery sun on his left, waiting to snatch him, Venus, lost in the sun’s glare, will not even be in sight. He must realize then that he is staking his life and that of his crew on the knowledge that Venus will be at an appointed place to meet him. He must indeed have a sublime faith in the inflexibility of heavenly mechanics and of the power of his craft!
He will find, as day after day passes in the changeless skies, that doubts will arise as to whether Venus will meet him at all. The earth will have shrunk to a ball, then a disk, and finally to only a point of light in the heavens The emptiness will seem infinite. The astrogator will take observation after observation of the stars, check and recheck his speed and course, and wait feverishly for the first glimpse of emerging Venus. Doubt will change to fear, and then to terror, as the weeks bring only increasing loneliness and monotony. A hundred times he will believe himself lost, and, like the first navigator of the Atlantic, he will be besieged by a panic-stricken crew demanding that he turn back before they perish miserably in this infinite space. |
| Technovelgy from The Conquest of Space,
by David Lasser. Published by Not Known in 1931 Additional resources -
|
Compare to astronaut from The Death's Head Meteor (1930) by Neil R. Jones, space pirate from Evans of the Earth-Guard (1930) by Edmond Hamilton, spacedog from A Question of Salvage (1939) by Malcolm Jameson, space marines from Misfit (1939) by Robert Heinlein, rocketeer from Sunward Flight (1943) by Leo Zagat and space cadet from Sunward Flight (1943) by Leo Zagat.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from The Conquest of Space
More Ideas
and Technology by David Lasser
Tech news articles related to The Conquest of Space
Tech news articles related to works by David Lasser
| The New Habitable Zones Include Asimov's Ribbon Worlds |
| Will Space Stations Have Large Interior Spaces Again? |
| Reflect Orbital Offers 'Sunlight on Demand' And Light Pollution |
| Chrysalis Generation Ship to Alpha Centauri |
Want to Contribute an
Item?
It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a
quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add
it here.
| <Previous | Next> |
|
|
|
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Science Fiction Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
|
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
'...there's a narrow belt where the climate is moderate.'
'He wore spectacles with thick wavy lenses. The spectacles were intended to make him not only half blind, but to give him whanging headaches besides.'
'... with the Master-operator all you have to do is push one! A remarkable achievement!'
'Not like me. A T-1000, advanced prototype. A mimetic poly-alloy. Liquid metal.'
'It was riddled with holes that were the mouths of tunnels.'
'The massive feet working the pedals, arms and hands flashing and glinting...'
