Professor Alberto Romano Schiesari

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Prof. Alberto Romano Schiesari

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Apologies

My English is not good... Please send the corrections you think necessary.

News

- On 07-Oct-2011 Voyager 1, launched on Sep 05, 1977, was 118.49 AU far from the Sun; 1 Astronomical Unit is the distance between the Earth and the Sun = 149,597,870.69 km (Pluto is roughly at 39,5 AU from the Sun). It's expected that it keeps on operating up to 2020/2025. Amazing! See http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/weekly-reports/index.htm and http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/

- Read my book "Carlos Carreño: months of captivity, years without freedom" (in portuguese).

It is the biography from former Chilean military Carlos Carreño, kidnapped in Santiago in 1987. After 3 months of captivity he was released in São Paulo. It is a true history, where the reader will see in discussion themes like Human Rights, injustice, insane country leaders, and the danger of labeling persons. Enjoy the reading (soon the news about English version).

To buy, please write to arschiesari@gmail.com and I'll send you by mail.

Who am I...

(Under construction, until my last second)

I teach at University (30 years) and I'm an IT professional (40m years - at that time it was called Data Processing...). Enthusiast of astronautics. I decided to open this space to spread to my pupils (and to anyone else that can profit) some things I've lived in these years of life and profession.

Interest areas: mainframes, logic and programming logic, software engineering, technology, quantum computing, software development, and so on.

I've been in London in 2008, and I had the opportunity to give a talk at UCL about the "old" systems that are still running in the large companies and computers.

See the link http://sse.cs.ucl.ac.uk/seminars/
And see the talk (.ppt zipped) at downloads.

Interest areas besides IT: sciences, nanotechnology, history, geography, philosophy, math, music (as a listener), astronomy. And, mainly, astronautics. Yes, a lot of themes, but to understand this world we need lots of things...

Contact me : arschiesari@gmail.com

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Alberto Romano Schiesari - My recent readings

The title between parentheses is a free translation based on the original; without parentheses, the title is the original one or as published in USA/UK.

(Caetano de Campos - Memoirs of a well-behaved (and naughty) schoolgirl), Wilma Schiesari-Legris

Remembering is living. A book to remember the pre-college era. Enables younger readers to understand how the teaching was in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It makes the reader ponder about the events that shape our personality and memories tattooed on our souls. The book is tailored for those who studied at Caetano de Campos, in Sao Paulo.
But even who studied at another school (my case) has invigorated the mind with the reminiscences evoked by the days when "we were happy and did not know that. " The aging, bringing the weight of some clear and structured uncomfortable truths, also allows to expand the spectrum of understanding of the facts. An adult (the author) talking about how a child and a teenager was and behaved, is a very interesting perspective, worthy of being appreciated.

Moon Shot: The story of the America's race to the moon, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton

The vision of both astronauts, who were part of the first selected team (Mercury 7), about the race to the moon. Technical and political approaches, besides their own analysis regarding the manned flights. Interesting, well written.

Rocketman – Astronaut Pete Conrad’s incredible ride to the moon and beyond, Nancy Conrad e Howard A. Klausner

The life of astronaut Charles “Pete” Conrad’s (Gemini 5, Gemini 11, Apollo XII and Skylab 1). Conrad was known due to his good humor, and was always cited by his fellow astronauts as an example of human being. The book is a good summary of his life, and the 300 pages flow quickly, as in movie’s trailler; the movie itself remains unseen.

Apollo moon missions - The unsung heroes, Billy Watkins

The author describes some persons whose participation in the Apollo missions, although unknown, was critical to the success of the program that sent the human being to the moon. The Apollo VIII Christmas’ message author, and the photographer who insisted that the moon landings had live broadcast, are just two examples of the unsung heroes the title refers.

Moon Lander – How we developed the Apollo Lunar Module, Thomas J. Kelly

Amazing! Tom Kelly, responsible by the project and development of the Lunar Module, shows us the sacrifice to accomplish the President Kennedy’s challenge to send a man on the moon and return him safely before the 60’s decade was out. This book is fundamental for those who want to learn about project management. The Lunar Module’s project had extremely severe quality goals; it was never before done (and was never afterwards redone). Everything followed by the world press. Better than the book, only the Lunar Module.

Dr. Space The life of Wernher von Braun, Bob Ward

The book is a good biography of Von Braun, showing his early interest by the rockets, and his pioneer work on this area; His job in Nazi Germany, the transfer to the USA, together with more than a hundred scientists of this team, and eventually the recognition of his work by his “enemies”. Von Braun had an outstanding personality, a scientist and a born leader.

How do you go to the bathroom in space?, William Pogue

Questions and answers about life in space and related stuff, based on Pogue’s experience as Skylab astronaut.

Do your years pop in space?, Mike Mullane

Questions and answers about life in space and related stuff, based on Mullane’s experience as Shuttle astronaut.

Two sides of the moon, David Scott and Alexei Leonov

Double biography: Scott (Gemini VIII, Apollo IX and Apollo XV) and Alexei Leonov (1st man to do a space walk). Very well written, we can learn some facts about the soviet space program, and also about the “space race” in the cold war.

John Glenn A Memoir, John Glenn and Nick Taylor

Biography of the first American to orbit the Earth.

Apollo 13, Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger

Some biographical data of Lovell (Gemini VII, Gemini XII, Apollo VIII and Apollo XIII) focusing on Apollo XIII mission. Full of important details, it was the basis for Tom Hanks’ movie. When you read the book, you realize how much the movie is faithful to reality.

Genesis – The story of Apollo 8 , Robert Zimmerman

Apollo VIII mission’s history. The first time human being was free from Earth gravity, and orbited the moon. Pleasant reading.

(The Solar System), Alberto Delerue

Sorry, probably not in English version. Written in clear and easy language, this book has fundamental information for those who want to learn basics of Solar System.

How things are, John Brockman and Katinka Matson

Scientist’s reflections about several themes, e.g.: before Big Bang, the time, how do we learn, communication, etc. Interesting both by the diversity of subjects and authors, as by the surprising approaches.

A arte de reviver, Manoel Carlos

Manoel Carlos chronicles. Pleasant reading, the author’ style always focused on the emotions of the characters, and on the unusual aspects of the facts.

The longitude prize, Joan Dash

Today we use GPS so easily! But before XVIIIth and XIXth centuries, navigate by the seas was a hard task. In the XVIIIth century England, it was established a prize to the discoverer of a device or method to determine with accuracy the longitude. A watchmaker dared to think he was the award winner. The story is super interesting. We can learn the truth about the sea travel at that time, and many injustices and jealousy, which have always plagued the humanity. It’s a pleasant reading.

Failure is not an option, Gene Kranz

Gene Kranz’ career as NASA’s flight director. Excellent work for those who want to learn something about team work, work under pressure and work in circumstances where there cannot have failures.

Flying to the moon – An astronaut’s story, Michael Collins

A very didactic work of astronaut Collins about what is a trip to the Moon, and what are the difficulties. Easy language, for those who want to start knowing about astronautics.

Carrying the fire – An astronaut’s journey, Michael Collins

Also from the astronaut Collins. The story of his life as astronaut, the missions of which he participated. With more details than the previous book, it is written in a clear and easy language, making the reader follow without difficulty. The reader is excited about the reading.

Moondust – In search of the men who fell to Earth, Andrew Smith

The author describes his search for interviews with the astronauts that are still alive (at the time he wrote the book, the early 2000s decade), and attempts to answer the question "And after the moon, what happens to the astronauts?". The text not always corresponds to the expectations of the reader, but it is a significant work.

Deke!, Donald Slayton with Michael Cassutt

Auto-biography of Donald Slayton, one of the 7 astronauts of the first group selected by NASA, but he was grounded from flying by heart problems. Because of this, became responsible for the astronauts of NASA, with practically the last word on the composition of crews for space flights by the end of the Apollo project. Important as historical document, and very well written, enjoyable reading.

The last man on the Moon, Eugene Cernan

Auto-biography of Cernan, the astronaut who commanded Apollo 17, last manned mission to the moon in the XXth century. In the description of his EVA (extra-vehicular activity) in the Gemini 9 mission, we are almost stop breathing as he describes the difficulties he encountered. It’s also an important historical document, and pleasant reading.

The End of Eternity, Isaac Asimov

Hi quality sci-fi, about time travel. Asimov's masterpiece, with many details, that surprises us.

101 Things You didn't Know About Da Vinci , Cynthia Phillips and Shana Priwer

A little about the biography and the works of the versatile Leonardo. Interesting and nice to read.

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Franklin

Considering the personality and interest areas, Franklin was a XVIII century's da Vinci; you'll learn that Mr. Franklin invented the daylight savings time and the bifocal glasses; he is author of several proverbs, such as "Remember that time is money" and "An empty bag cannot stand upright". Refined style (it was written more than 2 centuries ago), but the reading is worth.

(The Time that the Time has), Alexandre Cherman and Fernando Vieira

Sorry, no version in English... E-x-c-e-l-e-n-t! Why the year does have 12 months? Whose are exactly the leap years rules? How many movements (or "movement components") does the Earth have? How are the different calendars? It's really super interesting. Publishers and translators: it deserves English/French/Italian/Spanish versions.

(Hemingway and Paris - A Love Affair), Benjamim Santos

Sorry, no version in English... For those who love Ernest Hemingway and his fiction, it's a good reading. Mainly for those who love Paris...

The Secret Life of Numbers, George G. Szpiro

50 chronicles about math. The author is a mathematician that became a journalist. The themes are presented in a quite interesting way, easy to understand for those who have "normal" math background.

(At the Seine's banks), Às margens do Sena, Reali Jr. (testimonial to Gianni Carta)

Sorry, I think this book has no version in English... Mr. Reali Jr. is a famous Brazilian journalist; he lived for more than 30 years in France, and was foreign correspondent for Jovem Pan Radio and "O Estado de São Paulo". Every day, he started the news with "Here is Reali Jr., at the Seine's banks, near the Maison de la Radio..."

The cogwheel brain, Doron Swade

Amazing! Mr. Swade tell us why Mr. Babbage couldn't build the machines he designed. It could be a great movie.

Mr. Swade tells us the story of Charles Babbage, and the events surrounding the creation of differential and analytical engines; we have so much technology today, that is difficult to understand what "Babbage was unable to build their machines because the technology of the time couldn't allow" meant when we read the texts of computer history; in this book, we can understand that. It would be a great movie, even.

(The scapegoat), O bode expiatório, Ari Riboldi

Sorry, this book has no version in English... This book explains the origin of many words, expression and Sayings in Portuguese. Super interesting. Our language is not a "creature with 7 heads" (learn the reason for this expression)...

Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman ! Richard P. Feynman

A-m-a-z-i-n-g ! The Nobel Prize in Physics Richard Feynman tells us numerous situations of his interesting life; read this book, and see how a Nobel Prize winner spent a season in Brazil, giving lessons in Portuguese, dancing in a samba school, and other delights more. A life lesson.

(Astronautics - Dream coming true), Astronáutica - Do sonho à realidade, Ronaldo Rogério de Freitas Mourão

Sorry, I think this book has no English version. More than 600 pages; encyclopedia-book, for those who like much the subject (my case); sin: many errors in the text; a future edition requires strict review.

A short history of the world, Geoffrey Blainey

Sometimes the author believes that we know history as he does, but we can "forgive him". The book gives a macro view of our historic civilization, highlighting the events that the author considers key in the light of the description and analysis he does. Very interesting.

A brief history of the future, Jacques Attali

Cool, especially after reading the previous ( "A short history of the world"). The first dozen pages show a historical perspective, different from that presented by Geoffrey Blainey. With that, Jacques Attali seeks to highlight the main ideas that lead to the main events in our civilization, and to where they will lead our future in the short and medium term. Super interesting.

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