Crossing the Threshold: Advancing Into Space to Benefit the Earth

Space for a World of Abundance

Space has been called "the final frontier," "the great beyond," and "the endless void," but it may also be "the key to a sustainable world of abundance." In Crossing the Threshold: Advancing into Space to Benefit the Earth, Paul Wieland presents a vision of a secure, sustainable future--with abundant energy, resources, and opportunities while ensuring a healthy environment and a high standard of living--and shows how advancing our efforts in space can help us achieve it.

Written for a general audience and including personal anecdotes from the author, Crossing the Threshold considers the major challenges we are facing in the 21st century and poses the questions: For these challenges, what are the opportunities and benefits that space activities could provide? How could our activities in space enhance other solutions? What specific actions might be included in a space program designed to address the major challenges?

There is a physical threshold, crossed as a spacecraft leaves the atmosphere for the vacuum of space, but there is also a threshold of awareness which is crossed when the entire Earth is seen against the backdrop of space, revealing the interdependence of everything on Earth. We have the power to transform the Earth, as well as ourselves, and can create a sustainable world of abundance with opportunities for everyone to live more fulfilling and secure lives, and we can become a space-faring civilization while doing so. Explore the possibilities in Crossing the Threshold.

What people are saying:

"Paul Wieland knows space from the bottom-up...and offers a fresh and valuable perspective. I intended only to skim the book but became so interested I soon found myself deeply involved in reading it." - Norm Augustine, author of Augustine's Laws and appointed in 2009 by President Obama to determine options for NASA

"Crossing the Threshold is a carefully considered, insightful narrative that should interest anyone and everyone who cares about the future of spaceflight." - Homer Hickam, author of Rocket Boys/October Sky

"Crossing the Threshold is a NASA veteran's thoughtful and considered look at the value of space travel and exploration, not only for satisfying humanity's seemingly unquenchable thirst for adventure and knowledge but also for preparing and positioning us technically to begin to solve some of the greatest problems facing us on Earth." - Henry Petroski, author of The Essential Engineer: Why Science Alone Will Not Solve Our Global Problems

Crossing the Threshold "is very impressive for the range of ideas and technical specifics." - Felix Godwin, author of The Exploration of the Solar System.