Space: The Next Twenty-Five Years (Wiley Science Editions)

This exciting work realistically assesses the immediate options for the future of space exploration. Space offers a comprehensive examination of some of the major new projects proposed by scientists and policy makers around the world. Chronicling the positions of leaders such as Isaac Asimov, Buzz Aldrin, Carl Sagan and Edward Teller, the book argues for the importance of developing long-range goals for the U.S. space program and for the need for international collaboration. Highlighted with numerous photographs and illustrations, this book presents a concise history of space exploration up to the present and then examines exciting and often controversial possibilities, including Star Wars, lunar space stations, space colonization, manned missions to Mars, potential mineral and energy resources, interstellar travel and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Space is a book for anyone interested in the future of cosmic exploration.

In this latest entry in the postChallenger space-books sweepstakes, McDonough writes with clarity and a pop-science touch. The volume's 16 chapters are fairly short, although interlarded with excellently chosen block inserts from official NASA documents and writings by well-known science writers and experts. He offers a brief history of space exploration up to Neil Armstrong, takes a less-than exhaustive look at the Space Shuttle and concludes with a discussion of what the vehicle is still expected to do in spaceif the money is available. Because he is an engineer, McDonough is sharp on space-vehicle design, but his overview of anticipated new space discoveries and industrial-military uses lacks the richness of astrophysicist Harry L. Shipman's Space 2000. (PW Forecasts, May 1). McDonough, also wrote The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. Illustrations.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.