Entering Space: Creating a Space-Faring Civilization

by Robert Zubrin

Book Overview

"Robert Zubrin is a true engineering genius like the heroic engineers of the past." --Frederick Turner, American EnterpriseUsing nuts-and-bolts engineering and a unique grasp of human history, Robert... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0874779758
• ISBN13: 9780874779752
• Release Date: August 1999
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Brain-damaging speculation!

Zubrin knows what he is talking about. This book was great! Zubrin leads us from the early space program, through the technology we could build today -- but haven't -- and into the far, far future.The first 1/3 of the book covers the current state of affairs in space exploration and what we could have done by now, but didn't. This section of the book will make you wish for election day, so you can toss those bums in DC out the airlock. In the second section (my personal favorite of the three), Zubrin explains how we can explore and exploit the solar system, with great emphasis on the technology thereof.Finally, Zubrin takes us to the stars, and engages in some really bizzare -- but cool! -- speculation into what technology our distant descendants might use to build new worlds.Great book, great science. 5 stars!

Inspiring

Although less focused than his excellent "The Case for Mars", "Entering Space" is an excellent book. I say less focused because in this work, Zubrin is considering a number of points for colonization (the Moon, Mars, asteroids, other solar systems), and a much broader time horizon. Thus, as one might expect, his "plans" are less thorough than the one outlined in his previous work. That said, they are equally sound at their core, and are rigorously supported through the use of easy to understand physics, chemistry, and even a little biology.Most importantly, though, "Entering Space" reiterates Zubrin's core argument: that it is an human imperative to explore, and that the failure to do so can only negatively affect our species. Ultimately, he's trying to get people excited about space exploration, to get them thinking about the enormous benefits, rather than the cost, and possible risk.This is a wonderful, inspiring work that should be read by anyone who's ever dreamed of treading on another planet; and perhaps more so by those who haven't. Enjoy!

....And comes the revolution

Two detractionist notions have been posed since the dawn of spaceflight as to why travel to other planets, and indeed, the great stars that lay beyond--were the stuff of science fiction. A)That such ideas were either impossible or impractical and B)That there is no real reason to go into space when we have problems here on earth.Robert Zubrin simultaneously destroys both excuses in Entering Space.In a literary style that is both eloquent yet simple, straight hard science yet common sense, Robert Zubrin lays out an explanation for why the atrophied space program is the way it is, and from there goes on to paint a practical and awe inspiring vision of what humanity could be, and why we should.Pages are filled with highly detailed tables, diagrams, and equations...yet what he writes is put so easy-to-understand, that you can skip over them entirely. The plan for a space faring civilization is laid out in three steps(Type 1: Planetary, Type 2: Interplanetary, and Type 3: Interstellar). And it cannot be overstated that this is perhaps the most perfect book ever written on the subject, and anyone from astronomers to scientists, to car mechanics will all understand and be inspired by Entering Space.It can be said that Robert Zubrin is no less than a modern day Wherner Von Braun...although I wouldn't want to give undo credit to Von braun :-)

Incredibly smart, absolutely inspiring, a must read.

It was probably a mistake to buy this book. As a student of engineering the last thing I needed was a completely enthralling book to keep me from my studies. This book will make you hate the government, question the nature of intelligent life, and love Robert Zubrin. If you have a semi-formal background in math, physics, and/or chemistry the book is an even more enlightening journey into the pitfalls and the promise of the exploration and colonization of the moon, Mars, our own solar system and eventually the stars. This book will make you a believer in the possibilities of mankind and completely frustrated at the current progress being made to achieve those possibilities. I agree, a few members of congress should read this...hopefully spurring more support for space exploration and the development of supporting technologies, like nuclear fusion. Get this book.

An Important Assessment of Our Spacefaring Potential

With his back of the envelope calculations and forceful assertions, Robert Zubrin convincingly puts forth ideas that could potentially set humans on a journey to exploit the vast resources of space for the purpose of proliferating the species. His ideas are not for some advanced civilization far off in the future, but for us, in the 21st century. Zubrin offers strong criticism and mindful praise to the aerospace industry and government agencies for their efforts to advance space exploration. A common sense approach to gaining cheap access to space and pioneering a strong presence on extraterrestrial outposts is presented throughout. His premise for venturing into the cold, dark, seemingly lifeless void of space, is mostly based on the idea that a civilization that adopts isolationinism and squelches its desire to expand and explore the unknown, simply cannot survive. His ideas expand on a theory that attempts to classify civilizations based on their level of technological advancement. As it goes, a Type I civilization is one that gains full mastery of it's planet's resources and can traverse the distances of the surface unchallenged. A Type II civilization has developed the technology to travel and establish a presence throughout it's solar system. A Type III civilization, of course, would have mastered interstellar travel and the ability to flourish outside of it's host solar system. Zubrin claims that we have evolved into a durable species that has achieved Type I status, that we are on the verge of becoming Type II, and most importantly that we have the promise of achieving Type III status. The capabilities of our current launch sytems are considered to be antiquated by historical and political factors, and Zubrin makes no bones about those to blame. He is quick to point his finger at major corporations, such as his previous employer Lockheed Martin, and the current NASA administrators, as the nemesis of cheap access to space. Zubrin suggests solutions that include some of his own designs, and a lengthy discussion of what it will take to make a profit on orbit, which is what he views as the critical step to becoming a spacefaring civilization. He also suggests that we can all do something to contribute to the cause, beginning by joining his Mars Society. Dr. Zubrin uses some simple astrodynamics calculations and chemistry concepts to explore the utilization of the raw materials already existing in outer space. The Moon has a modest amount of He3 that could potentially be mined for use in high-performance fusion rockets. Recent evidence suggests that the Moon may also contain useful amounts of water for Moon-basing, and certainly the far side of the Moon is a strategically unique position for conducting radio astronomy. The water, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen available on Mars could be used to implement the Mars Direct plan laid out by Zubrin in his previous book, "The Case for Mars". The plan h