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Product Description
Product Description
While we worry over the depletion of the earth's natural resources, the pollution of our planet, and the challenges presented by the earth's growing population, billions of dollars worth of metals, fuels, and life-sustaining substances await us in nearby space. In this visionary book, noted planetary scientist John S. Lewis explains how we can mine these precious metals from the asteroids, comets, and planets in our own solar system for use in space construction projects. And this is just one of the possibilities. Join John S. Lewis as he contemplates milking the moons of Mars for water and hollowing out asteroids for space-bound homesteaders-all while demonstrating the economic and technical feasibility of plans that were once considered pure fiction
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First Sentence
The age of exploration in which we live commenced (or so we are told) about the year 1419 with the first true European voyage of exploration, a Portuguese expedition to the Madeira Islands. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
The age of exploration in which we live commenced (or so we are told) about the year 1419 with the first true European voyage of exploration, a Portuguese expedition to the Madeira Islands. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was eagerly anticipating reading this book, and it was okay when I began, and there are many good, interesting, and even exciting ideas throughout the book. However, for some reason, I kept coming away from a reading of the book with a sort of "flat" almost bored feeling. The author himself, I support totally (especially in his involvement in the SpaceDev companies plans for "commercial space development"). I would still recommend this book to anyone intersted in space, and especially commercial development of space (esp. of course in relation to asteroids, etc.), my own feelings on reading the book nonwithstanding. Almost certainly good for those looking for expert sources, research, etc.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is a pretty comprehensive look at ways in which the resources of entire solar system can be harvested rather than many other books which focus exclusively on Mars or the Moon. The explanations are pretty good, requiring no more than a basic understanding of chemistry and physics and the ideas in the book will inspire almost anyone who is unsure of the value of space. My only criticism is that although the content is very good, the style of writing can be a little uninspiring and the short stories which preceed each chapter can be a little lame.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A short way into this book, I went to the back of the book to see if the author is a journalist or a real scientist. That's because it was so well written. He's a scientist alright. And, it wasn't long before I encountered the dense exposition I expected.
So, there's a dusting of light reading, especially the scifi scenes that serve as introductions to each chapter. The craftsmanship of those would make a professional scifi writer envious.
Then there's the info-packed core of each chapter. My chemistry and astrophysics is practically non-existant and I couldn't keep up, but I got the gist of it. I still appreciated the effort to explain things. Other authors would skip the explanation and merely state the conclusion. That would leave me wondering how trustworthy that statement was.
In the end, I felt I had a good overview of how the future might take shape.
I should warn you of that, at the start of the book, the author presents a version of 15th century Chinese explorations (he doesn't mention the name 'Zheng He') that is a little shakey historically. But blaming "the court eunuchs" makes too good a metaphor to let that get in the way. However, for a couple chapters at the end of the book he turns preachy -- essentially labelling dissenters from expansion into space as "court eunuchs", then disassociating himself from the political left and right by sloppily redefining their positions. I guess he couldn't trust us to make our own way thru political thickets. Fortunately, the just-the-facts bulk of the book make up for these few tantrums.
So, there's a dusting of light reading, especially the scifi scenes that serve as introductions to each chapter. The craftsmanship of those would make a professional scifi writer envious.
Then there's the info-packed core of each chapter. My chemistry and astrophysics is practically non-existant and I couldn't keep up, but I got the gist of it. I still appreciated the effort to explain things. Other authors would skip the explanation and merely state the conclusion. That would leave me wondering how trustworthy that statement was.
In the end, I felt I had a good overview of how the future might take shape.
I should warn you of that, at the start of the book, the author presents a version of 15th century Chinese explorations (he doesn't mention the name 'Zheng He') that is a little shakey historically. But blaming "the court eunuchs" makes too good a metaphor to let that get in the way. However, for a couple chapters at the end of the book he turns preachy -- essentially labelling dissenters from expansion into space as "court eunuchs", then disassociating himself from the political left and right by sloppily redefining their positions. I guess he couldn't trust us to make our own way thru political thickets. Fortunately, the just-the-facts bulk of the book make up for these few tantrums.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Essential reading for any space enthusiast
For those who wonder why some people make a fuss about space exploration, this book provides answers. Read more
Published on 23 Nov 1998
The Future is in the Sky
Mr. Lewis, Professor of Planetery Science at the University of Arizona knows his stuff when it comes to outer space and its natural resources and how to economically get there and... Read more
Published on 22 Jan 1998
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