Misfit by Robert Heinlein:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

Delightful story published in 1939; it shows how an asteroid was moved into a more useful orbit and set up as a space station by a group of young recruits.


('Misfit' by Robert Heinlein)

Select an invention:

Ballistic Calculator - trajectories between planets
An on-board computer for a spaceship to calculate its course and perform other related tasks.

Durite
Super-strong material used to counter reaction-blasts.

Inflatable Roofed Valley - early inflatable reference
A habitat on an asteroid created by placing a tent-like roof over a natural valley or depression, and then inflating it.

Move an Asteroid
Using practical techniques to change the orbit of an asteroid or small moon.

Portable Atomic Heater
Compact source of energy.

Smoke Filter
Allows grizzled spacemen to smoke in space ships.

Synthetic Spider Silk
Artificial fabric thread as strong as steel.

 

Technovelgy.com is devoted to the creative inventions of science fiction authors and movie makers. Look for the Science Fiction Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary of Science Fiction Inventions, the Timeline of Science Fiction Inventions, or see what's New.
Find
new authors and technologies - Shop for yourself, your library and your lab.

 

 

 

 

Science Fiction
in the News

Robotic Barber Programmed With a Number of Styles
re: Don Wilcox
(5/17/2025)

Humanoid Boxing Robot KO's Opponent - It's A Knockout!
re: Aldo Giunta
(5/15/2025)

Caterpillar Electric Mining Loader Not Yet Ready For Moon
re: Jack Williamson
(5/13/2025)

Centipede Robots Down On The Farm
re: Fritz Leiber
(5/11/2025)

Anthropic's Claude AI Creates Legal Citation From Whole Cloth
re: Punch
(5/11/2025)

Students Vie For Lunar Regolith Mining Robot Prize
re: Pournelle and Niven
(5/9/2025)

'They Erased My Memory' Says Ariana Grande
re: Edmond Hamilton
(5/7/2025)

Solitary Black Hole Wanders In Space
re: Frank K. Kelly
(5/5/2025)

Spaceplane From Virgin Atlantic
re: Max Plaisted
(5/3/2025)

DARPA Wants 'Large Bio-Mechanical Space Structures'
re: Greg Bear
(5/1/2025)

Robot Hand Creeps Along, Separate From It's Owner
re: Philip K. Dick
(4/30/2025)

Taikonauts Exercise In China's Tiangong Space Station
re: Murray Leinster
(4/28/2025)

Korean Exoskeleton Suit F1 Helps You Put It On
re: Marvel
(4/26/2025)

Have AI Researchers Given Up On 'Bio-Babies'?
re: David Brin
(4/24/2025)

More SF in the News

Home | Glossary | Invention Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.