Choice, Not Fate: Shaping a Sustainable Future in the Space Age

Choice, Not Fate challenges the traditional paradigm in which space goals are equated with destinations. It suggests that spaceflight programs should target advanced capabilities that bring direct benefits to Earth and enable exploration and development of the solar system. Space activities are examined in the context of today s globalized world while paying homage to the work of noted space futurists. Historical examples and current political processes illustrate the forces that perpetuate short-term thinking and highlight the need for incentives to promote long-term thinking. The book presents a revised rationale for spaceflight directly tied to societal needs and ambitions, with a greater role for the commercial sector.

Jim Vedda is one of the few individuals I know who is equally comfortable and capable in both the policy world and the technical world of space issues. That makes him someone whose ideas should be read, as his insights consider and encompass both - which is a rarity. Space is a part of America's strategic future. Jim Vedda helps us recognize why, and how we might best utilize its potential. - Dr. Joan Johnson-Freese, chair, National Security Decision Making Department, U.S. Naval War College
 
In this important book, space policy specialist Jim Vedda argues for the necessity of formulating long-term goals for space exploration through a rigorous process and then pursuing them over a decade or more. He appropriately concludes that social and cultural perspectives, and the institutions that support them, are focused almost exclusively on short-term ends usually designed to resolve a crisis. In the space exploration world this is a powerful stricture for an endeavor that requires generations of effort. Vedda's analysis of this problem and his recommendations for resolution in Choice, Not Fate are most welcome. - Dr. Roger Launius, senior curator of space history, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
 
Jim Vedda's analysis of space-related issues is thoroughly researched and thought-provoking. He clearly understands the mix of social, political, and fiscal realities that drive technology, and the need for immediate, long-term action. Vedda's insights are essential reading for anyone who knows, or wants to understand, the importance of space-related science, technology, and policy. His ability to explore and explain complex issues in a highly readable fashion further enhances the value of this work. - Dr. David C. Webb, space consultant, educator, and former member of President Ronald Reagan's National Commission on Space