Case for Space Cover
Nicole Sommer-Lecht / Prometheus Books
Space luminary Robert Zubrin has just released The Case for Space, a book that expands the motif of his seminal The Case for Mars throughout the solar system. While the founder and President of The Mars Society has long been associated with efforts to colonize the Red Planet, his new book makes it clear that he does not suffer from planetary myopia. Just the opposite. Dr. Zubrin sees Mars as a critical element in a solar system well organized to serve humanity. The Case for Space demonstrates the author’s rare breadth of domain knowledge, which covers engineering, science, economics and policy as well as his depth of knowledge on every significant destination in the solar system from the Moon to the outer planets.
I’ve been particularly grateful for Robert Zubrin’s strong voice in the lunar policy arena. Serving on the Presidential Transition Team at NASA, I watched the laying out many of the agency’s current goals, including returning to the moon to stay. Like many of you, I want to see that particular goal fulfilled with actions, not simply policy statements, bigger budgets and updated programmatic timelines (though these are all encouraging). Zubrin has been absolutely relentless in his efforts to redirect NASA toward a simpler, cheaper, faster and ultimately more sustainable return to the moon. His Moon Direct model could deliver on the Vice President’s mandate requiring the agency to return humans to the lunar surface by2024 More importantly it would do it in a way that would leave humanity with a permanent lunar presence and place the US firmly in the lead for the upcoming lunar land rush. Zubrin’s excellent chapter on Moon Direct is reason enough to buy The Case for Space. I’m Chairing the National Space Society’s International Space Development Conference (ISDC) in Washington DC this June 5-9 and our timely theme is “Back to the Moon to Stay.” NSS is proud to have Dr. Zubrin as an ISDC speaker once again. Register here and see what the good doctor has to say about Moon Direct in person.
In his new book, Zubrin’s digs right into the issues of lunar resource extraction, energy generation, manufacturing and transportation that will drive the quick settlement of Earth’s “eighth continent.” Zubrin leaves no moon rock unturned in either closing or rejecting the business case for each idea. For instance, in considering the likely (relative) abundance of the He-3 isotope of helium on the moon, Zubrin delves into the physics of fusion reactors and why lunar He-3 is the preferable fuel for Earth’s emissions-free energy future. He looks at everything from the physical practicality of extracting this material to the economics of transporting it. All of these topics are addressed in a style that any space enthusiast will easily follow and enjoy.
Elon Musk with Dr. Robert Zubrin
Mars Society
While the book seriously analyzes the reality and economic value of cis-lunar resources, it doesn’t find itself trapped there. Zubrin understands that once you leave Low Earth Orbit (LEO), every other destination in the solar system is simply a function of propellant and time; and there is no good reason to delay human expansion. Mars and the asteroid belt await and Zubrin does the math for us. For instance, if you’ve wondered about the economic details of asteroid mining, I won’t spoil it here, read the chapter.
Zubrin is unapologetic in his assertion that the purpose of the solar system, if it has one, is to be the home to a greater human civilization. Zubrin swiftly disposes of the bogeyman of planetary protection with its ridiculous notions that Mars is likely to harbor simple organisms that might either be dangerous to or that ought to be somehow “protected” from humans or other Earth life. Solid evidence from meteors and the realities of planetary physics makes it clear that our worlds have been exchanging DNA for billions of years and that process is ongoing, like it or not. Zubrin is not about to sacrifice his vision of prosperous human future for the sake of some hypothetical and needy space bacteria.
You may be surprised to find there is a strong case for colonizing many of the icy moons of the outer solar system. Zubrin argues that the rich atmospheres of distant gas giants like Saturn, Uranus and Neptune offer sufficient fuel to keep a solar-system wide economy running for millions of years. Their natural satellites offer gravity, water and in the case of Saturn’s big moon, Titan, comfortable atmospheric pressure. Zubrin doesn’t stop there. He moves on to take the most serious look at interstellar travel that I’ve seen in a long time. He takes particular care in exploring the engineering, economics and politics of likely drive mechanisms for future nuclear starships. Curious about the economics of producing anti-matter for a starship? It’s in the book; seriously. He does the same through job with terraforming planets, including the Earth.
In fact, one of the nicer surprises in The Case for Space is a balanced and honest analysis of terrestrial climate change. Free of traditional political agendas, Zubrin looks at the historical data, the current trends, the causes and the possible cures through a hard-nosed, scientific and economic lens. Understanding that we all share an interest in a productive and predictable climate for our home planet, Zubrin wisely rejects political solutions designed to push civilization back into the middle ages and instead focuses on viable technical solutions to real problems that can deliver win/win outcomes for the environment and the economy.
Last and not least, Zubrin is a student of history and moral philosophy. He understands the broader ideological and political context in which our expansion into the solar system must occur. He calls up the unsung heroes of space colonization to paint a picture of a space frontier that is diverse and naturally disposed to individual freedom. Zubrin understands that going to space is not just desirable, it is necessary to the survival of the ideals of liberty that established our nation. He writes, “Without a frontier from which to breathe life, the spirit that gave rise to the progressive humanistic culture that America has offered to the world for the past several centuries is fading.” The alternative to space is cultural homogenization, stagnation and authoritarian control over dwindling limited resources. Those of us deeply embedded in the space community understand that space development is the Rx for a dismal Malthusian future and Zubrin makes our case better than anyone has to date. I’d ask every space enthusiast to pony up a hundred bucks to buy five copies of The Case for Space. Keep one for yourself and give four directly to young people you know or drop them off at a local school or library.
Zubrin’s vision of the human future in space is eternally optimistic.
Robert Murray, Mars Society
I’m excited to be welcoming Dr. Zubrin to USC this fall. Replicating last year’s success with the National Space Society and Moon Village Association, I’m excited to host the 22nd Mars Society Convention along with my second annual Southern California Commercial Spaceflight Initiative Workshop. The Mars Society event is open to all while the SCCSI workshop is geared toward academics and students interested in research into the business of commercial space. Everyone who attends either event should have read The Case for Space for background and bring yours along for an autograph.
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Case for Area
Cover(*********
) Nicole Sommer-Lecht/ Prometheus Books(***** )
(***** )
Area star Robert Zubrin has actually simply launched The Case for Area, a book that broadens the concept of his influential The Case for Mars throughout the planetary system. While the creator and President of The Mars Society has actually long been connected with efforts to colonize the Red World, his brand-new book makes it clear that he does not struggle with planetary myopia. Simply the opposite. Dr. Zubrin sees Mars as a vital aspect in a planetary system well arranged to serve humankind. The Case for Area shows the author’s uncommon breadth of domain understanding, which covers engineering, science, economics and policy along with his depth of understanding on every considerable location in the planetary system from the Moon to the external worlds.
I have actually been especially grateful for Robert Zubrin’s strong voice in the lunar policy arena. Serving on the Presidential Shift Group at NASA, I viewed the setting out much of the firm’s present objectives, consisting of going back to the moon to remain. Like much of you, I wish to see that specific objective satisfied with actions, not merely policy declarations, larger budget plans and upgraded programmatic timelines (though these are all motivating). Zubrin has actually been definitely ruthless in his efforts to reroute NASA towards an easier, less expensive, quicker and eventually more sustainable go back to the moon. His Moon Direct design might provide on the Vice President’s required needing the firm to return people to the lunar surface area by2024 More notably it would do it in such a way that would leave humankind with an irreversible lunar existence and location the United States strongly in the lead for the upcoming lunar land rush. Zubrin’s outstanding chapter on Moon Direct is factor enough to purchase The Case for Area. I’m Chairing the National Area Society’s International Area Advancement Conference(ISDC) in Washington DC this June 5-9 and our prompt style is “Back to the Moon to Stay.” NSS is happy to have Dr. Zubrin as an ISDC speaker when again. Register here and see what the excellent physician needs to state about Moon Direct personally.
In his brand-new book, Zubrin’s digs right into the problems of lunar resource extraction, energy generation, production and transport that will drive the fast settlement of Earth’s “8th continent.” Zubrin leaves no moon rock unturned in either closing or turning down business case for each concept. For example, in thinking about the most likely (relative) abundance of the He-3 isotope of helium on the moon, Zubrin looks into the physics of combination reactors and why lunar He-3 is the more suitable fuel for Earth’s emissions-free energy future. He takes a look at whatever from the physical functionality of extracting this product to the economics of transferring it. All of these subjects are attended to in a design that any area lover will quickly follow and take pleasure in.
(***********************
)
(****** )
Elon Musk with Dr. Robert Zubrin
Mars Society(***** )
While the book seriously examines the truth and financial worth of cis-lunar resources, it does not discover itself caught there. Zubrin comprehends that when you leave Low Earth Orbit (LEO), every other location in the planetary system is merely a function of propellant and time; and there is no excellent factor to postpone human growth. Mars and the asteroid belt wait for and Zubrin does the mathematics for us. For example, if you have actually questioned the financial information of asteroid mining, I will not ruin it here, check out the chapter.
Zubrin is unapologetic in his assertion that the function of the planetary system, if it has one, is to be the house to a higher human civilization. Zubrin promptly gets rid of the bogeyman of planetary defense with its absurd ideas that Mars is most likely to harbor easy organisms that may either threaten to or that should be in some way “safeguarded” from people or other Earth life. Strong proof from meteors and the truths of planetary physics makes it clear that our worlds have actually been exchanging DNA for billions of years which procedure is continuous, like it or not. Zubrin is not ready to compromise his vision of thriving human future for the sake of some theoretical and clingy area germs.
You might be amazed to discover there is a strong case for colonizing much of the icy moons of the external planetary system. Zubrin argues that the abundant environments of far-off gas giants like Saturn, Uranus and Neptune provide enough fuel to keep a solar-system broad economy running for countless years. Their natural satellites provide gravity, water and when it comes to Saturn’s huge moon, Titan, comfy air pressure. Zubrin does not stop there. He proceeds to take the most severe take a look at interstellar travel that I have actually seen in a long period of time. He takes specific care in checking out the engineering, economics and politics of most likely drive systems for future nuclear starships. Curious about the economics of producing anti-matter for a starship? It remains in the book; seriously. He does the very same through task with terraforming worlds, consisting of the Earth.
In truth, among the better surprises in The Case for Area is a well balanced and truthful analysis of terrestrial environment modification. Devoid of conventional political programs, Zubrin takes a look at the historic information, the present patterns, the causes and the possible remedies through a hard-nosed, clinical and financial lens. Comprehending that all of us share an interest in an efficient and foreseeable environment for our house world, Zubrin sensibly declines political options created to press civilization back into the midlifes and rather concentrates on feasible technical options to genuine issues that can provide win/win results for the environment and the economy.
Last and not least, Zubrin is a trainee of history and ethical approach. He comprehends the wider ideological and political context in which our growth into the planetary system should take place. He phones the unrecognized heroes of area colonization to paint an image of an area frontier that varies and naturally gotten rid of to specific flexibility. Zubrin comprehends that going to area is not simply preferable, it is needed to the survival of the suitables of liberty that developed our country. He composes, “Without a frontier from which to breathe life, the spirit that generated the progressive humanistic culture that America has actually provided to the world for the previous numerous centuries is fading.” The option to area is cultural homogenization, stagnancy and authoritarian control over diminishing minimal resources. Those people deeply ingrained in the area neighborhood comprehend that area advancement is the Rx for a depressing Malthusian future and Zubrin makes our case much better than anybody needs to date. I ‘d ask every area lover to pony up a hundred dollars to purchase 5 copies of The Case for Area Keep one on your own and offer 4 straight to youths you understand or drop them off at a regional school or library.
Robert Murray, Mars Society
I’m thrilled to be inviting Dr. Zubrin to USC this fall. Duplicating in 2015’s success with the National Area Society and Moon Town Association, I’m thrilled to host the 22 nd Mars Society Convention together with my 2nd yearly Southern California Commercial Spaceflight Effort Workshop. The Mars Society occasion is open to all while the SCCSI workshop is tailored towards academics and trainees thinking about research study into business of industrial area. Everybody who participates in either occasion needs to have checked out The Case for Area for background and bring yours along for a sign.
” readability =”90
318720379147″ >
Case for Area Cover
Nicole Sommer-Lecht/ Prometheus Books
.
.
Area star Robert Zubrin has actually simply launched The Case for Area , a book that broadens the concept of his influential The Case for Mars throughout the planetary system. While the creator and President of The Mars Society has actually long been connected with efforts to colonize the Red World, his brand-new book makes it clear that he does not struggle with planetary myopia. Simply the opposite. Dr. Zubrin sees Mars as a vital aspect in a planetary system well arranged to serve humankind. The Case for Area shows the author’s uncommon breadth of domain understanding, which covers engineering, science, economics and policy along with his depth of understanding on every considerable location in the planetary system from the Moon to the external worlds.
I have actually been especially grateful for Robert Zubrin’s strong voice in the lunar policy arena. Serving on the Presidential Shift Group at NASA, I viewed the setting out much of the firm’s present objectives, consisting of going back to the moon to remain. Like much of you, I wish to see that specific objective satisfied with actions, not merely policy declarations, larger budget plans and upgraded programmatic timelines (though these are all motivating). Zubrin has actually been definitely ruthless in his efforts to reroute NASA towards an easier, less expensive, quicker and eventually more sustainable go back to the moon. His Moon Direct design might provide on the Vice President’s required needing the firm to return people to the lunar surface area by2024 More notably it would do it in such a way that would leave humankind with an irreversible lunar existence and location the United States strongly in the lead for the upcoming lunar land rush. Zubrin’s outstanding chapter on Moon Direct is factor enough to purchase The Case for Area. I’m Chairing the National Area Society’s International Area Advancement Conference (ISDC) in Washington DC this June 5-9 and our prompt style is “Back to the Moon to Stay.” NSS is happy to have Dr. Zubrin as an ISDC speaker when again. Register here and see what the excellent physician needs to state about Moon Direct personally.
In his brand-new book, Zubrin’s digs right into the problems of lunar resource extraction, energy generation, production and transport that will drive the fast settlement of Earth’s “8th continent.” Zubrin leaves no moon rock unturned in either closing or turning down business case for each concept. For example, in thinking about the most likely (relative) abundance of the He-3 isotope of helium on the moon, Zubrin looks into the physics of combination reactors and why lunar He-3 is the more suitable fuel for Earth’s emissions-free energy future. He takes a look at whatever from the physical functionality of extracting this product to the economics of transferring it. All of these subjects are attended to in a design that any area lover will quickly follow and take pleasure in.
Elon Musk with Dr. Robert Zubrin
Mars Society
.
.
While the book seriously examines the truth and financial worth of cis-lunar resources, it does not discover itself caught there. Zubrin comprehends that when you leave Low Earth Orbit (LEO), every other location in the planetary system is merely a function of propellant and time; and there is no excellent factor to postpone human growth. Mars and the asteroid belt wait for and Zubrin does the mathematics for us. For example, if you have actually questioned the financial information of asteroid mining, I will not ruin it here, check out the chapter.
Zubrin is unapologetic in his assertion that the function of the planetary system, if it has one, is to be the house to a higher human civilization. Zubrin promptly gets rid of the bogeyman of planetary defense with its absurd ideas that Mars is most likely to harbor easy organisms that may either threaten to or that should be in some way “safeguarded” from people or other Earth life. Strong proof from meteors and the truths of planetary physics makes it clear that our worlds have actually been exchanging DNA for billions of years which procedure is continuous, like it or not. Zubrin is not ready to compromise his vision of thriving human future for the sake of some theoretical and clingy area germs.
You might be amazed to discover there is a strong case for colonizing much of the icy moons of the external planetary system. Zubrin argues that the abundant environments of far-off gas giants like Saturn, Uranus and Neptune provide enough fuel to keep a solar-system broad economy running for countless years. Their natural satellites provide gravity, water and when it comes to Saturn’s huge moon, Titan, comfy air pressure. Zubrin does not stop there. He proceeds to take the most severe take a look at interstellar travel that I have actually seen in a long period of time. He takes specific care in checking out the engineering, economics and politics of most likely drive systems for future nuclear starships. Curious about the economics of producing anti-matter for a starship? It remains in the book; seriously. He does the very same through task with terraforming worlds, consisting of the Earth.
In truth, among the better surprises in The Case for Area is a well balanced and truthful analysis of terrestrial environment modification. Devoid of conventional political programs, Zubrin takes a look at the historic information, the present patterns, the causes and the possible remedies through a hard-nosed, clinical and financial lens. Comprehending that all of us share an interest in an efficient and foreseeable environment for our house world, Zubrin sensibly declines political options created to press civilization back into the midlifes and rather concentrates on feasible technical options to genuine issues that can provide win/win results for the environment and the economy.
Last and not least, Zubrin is a trainee of history and ethical approach. He comprehends the wider ideological and political context in which our growth into the planetary system should take place. He phones the unrecognized heroes of area colonization to paint an image of an area frontier that varies and naturally gotten rid of to specific flexibility. Zubrin comprehends that going to area is not simply preferable, it is needed to the survival of the suitables of liberty that developed our country. He composes, “Without a frontier from which to breathe life, the spirit that generated the progressive humanistic culture that America has actually provided to the world for the previous numerous centuries is fading.” The option to area is cultural homogenization, stagnancy and authoritarian control over diminishing minimal resources. Those people deeply ingrained in the area neighborhood comprehend that area advancement is the Rx for a depressing Malthusian future and Zubrin makes our case much better than anybody needs to date. I ‘d ask every area lover to pony up a hundred dollars to purchase 5 copies of The Case for Area Keep one on your own and offer 4 straight to youths you understand or drop them off at a regional school or library.
Zubrin’s vision of the human future in area is forever positive.
Robert Murray, Mars Society
.
.
I’m thrilled to be inviting Dr. Zubrin to USC this fall. Duplicating in 2015’s success with the National Area Society and Moon Town Association, I’m thrilled to host the 22 nd Mars Society Convention together with my 2nd yearly Southern California Commercial Spaceflight Effort Workshop. The Mars Society occasion is open to all while the SCCSI workshop is tailored towards academics and trainees thinking about research study into business of industrial area. Everybody who participates in either occasion needs to have checked out The Case for Area for background and bring yours along for a sign.
.
