Futures: 50 Years in Space : The Challenge of the Stars

It was in 1954, shortly after their first collaboration, that astronomer Patrick Moore and illustrator David A. Hardy first agreed to undertake an illustrated book to show how humans would expand into space via orbiting space stations, moon-landings, voyages to the planets and stars.By the time such a project could become a reality, though, men had walked on the moon for the first and last time and space exploration had revealed discoveries wondrous, awesome, and unexpected. Now, in 2004, it is an ideal time to review the many ways in which our visions of space, the universe, and all things astronomical have changed over those fifty years.

Futures: 50 Years in Space -- The Challenge of the Stars is a unique book which only this author and artist could produce. Bringing together their combined wealth of experience and expertise in revealing the wonders of the cosmos to a wide audience, along with a cautiously optimistic forecast of our future in space.

David A. Hardy, FBIS, FIAAA was the first artist on The Sky At Night in 1957, and has illustrated a large number of Patrick Moore's books, as well as appearing on the programme in person. He is a former President of the International Association of Astronomical Artists (IAAA), and has written and illustrated seven of his own books, as well as producing work for TV, the stage and book, record and magazine covers, both factual and science fiction. A book about his life and work, Hardyware, appeared in 2001 (Paper Tiger), and in 2003 his first novel, Aurora, was published by Cosmos Books.

Sir Patrick Moore is Britain's best-known astronomer, and legendary host of the BBC’s long-running series "The Sky at Night," and was involved with mapping the moon for the Apollo missions. He is the author of hundreds of books on astronomy and including his autobiography "80 Not Out."

In 1957, David A. Hardy became the first artist featured on The Sky at Night and has illustrated many of Sir Patrick Moore’s books. He is a former president of the International Association of Astronomical Artists (IAAA) and has produced illustration for carious TV, stage, book, record, and magazine projects.