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Columbia University Press
January 2013
On Sale: January 1, 2013
300 pages
ISBN: 0231531036
EAN: 9780231531030
Kindle: B00AJOWPTQ
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Non-Fiction
Seeking to reenergize Americans’ passion for the space
program, the value of the Moon, and the importance of
people in the final frontier, Claude A. Piantadosi presents
a rich history of American space exploration and its
extraordinary achievements. He emphasizes the importance of
continuing manned and unmanned space missions to American
and human interests, and he stresses the many adventures
that still await us in the unfolding universe. Remaining
cognizant of space exploration’s practical and financial
obstacles, Piantadosi nevertheless challenges us to
revitalize our leadership in space and reap its vast
scientific bounty. Along with being a captivating story of ambition,
invention, and discovery, Piantadosi’s history explains why
space exploration is increasingly difficult and why space
experts always seem to disagree. He argues that the future
of the space program requires merging the practicalities of
exploration with the constraints of human biology. Space
science deals with the unknown, and the margin (and budget)
for error is small. Lethal near-vacuum conditions, deadly
cosmic radiation, microgravity, vast distances, and highly
scattered resources remain immense physical problems. To be
competitive, America needs to develop affordable space
transportation and flexible exploration strategies grounded
in sound science. Piantadosi closes with suggestions for
accomplishing these goals, combining his skepticism as a
scientist with an unshakable belief in space’s untapped—and
wholly worthwhile—potential
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