Description
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewAn important book by a visionary with his feet planted on the ground. Kirkus Reviews Finally, a give-it-to-me-straight account of why space exploration matters. In Mankind Beyond Earth, Claude A. Piantadosi folds together science, politics, and culture to demonstrate why a civilization without a spacefaring future is doomed to extinction. -- Neil Degrasse Tyson, astrophysicist, American Museum of Natural History, author of Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier In this engaging book, Claude A. Piantadosi presents a concise and accurate history of how our nation's space program arrived at its current uncertain juncture, supplementing it with powerful insights into a wide range of fields, from planetary science to human physiology. This is a compelling work from a scientist committed to expanding the human exploration of our universe. -- Michael L. Gernhardt, NASA astronaut, manager of the Environmental Physiology Laboratory at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Recommended for readers intrigued by the real-life requirements of space exploration. Library Journal This nicely written volume will appeal to the general public and space enthusiasts who want to learn about the hazards of human space exploration. Choice Piantadosi's goal throughout the book is to explain to the lay audience why spaceexploration is difficult and important. He achieves this first goal in a clear manner,very accessible to someone without a technical background. -- Lisa Messeri MetaScience Piantadosi assembles and presents the best of the vast amount of information we have accumulated... it will kindle in many a sense of excitement for some of the great adventures still awaiting us as a nation. SirReadaLot.org
Table of ContentsPreface A Short Introduction to the Science of Space Exploration Part 1: Hindsight and Foresight 1. Men and Machines 2. A Space Lexicon 3. The Explorers 4. Twentieth-Century Space 5. Back to the Moon Part 2: A Home Away from Home 6. Living off the Land 7. Round and Round It Goes ... Where It Stops 8. By Force of Gravity 9. The Cosmic Ray Dilemma 10. Tiny Bubbles Part 3: Where Are We Going? 11. The Case for Mars 12. Big Planets 13. New Stars Bibliography and Additional Reading Index
