Review
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“Refreshing….delightfully different from any other book
I’ve ever read by human-spaceflight cheerleaders. The authors
have put their thinking caps on and broken out of the usual
orthodoxy by presenting cogent ideas on why humans should go into
space, including their lovely idea of going to and living on
obscure (to most folks) Titan….Mr. Wohlforth and Ms. Hendrix
gracefully outline not just the mechanics but the philosophy and
morality of human spaceflight in their well-structured book….It
is decidedly a book that should be read by anyone intrigued by
the possibility and feasibility of a future ‘out there.’” —Homer
Hickam, The Wall Street Journal
“Beyond Earth balances possible futures with a raft of facts on
advances in spacecraft technology, robotics and space medicine.
Crucially, [Wohlforth and Hendrix] parse the push and pull
between cautious governments and g-ho entrepreneurs,
concluding that the two may ultimately add up to a propulsive
combination.” —Nature
“Imaginative. . . . A different look at life beyond Earth.”
—Financial Times
“The combination of Hendrix's extensive knowledge with
Wohlforth's wonderful storytelling ability results in a book that
is deeply informative, yet lively and engaging from start to
finish.”
—Alaska Dispatch News (Anchorage)
“Promising not to offer another ‘wide-eyed technology fantasy,’
Hendrix and Wohlforth dive into the gritty bureaucratic,
political, and scientific hoops humans will have to jump through
to make life on other planets a reality. The book also delivers
its own form of a mic drop with the argument that it is Titan,
not Mars, that will eventually serve as Earth's next frontier.”
—Inverse
“Well researched, the volume takes the compelling approach of
discussing current and planned explorations of the solar system,
then projects this work into a future scenario narrative that
plays out over segments in each chapter. . . . Written in lay
language with clear explanations of planetary research, this
offering will appeal to readers of environmental or space
topics.” —Library Journal
“Planetary scientist Hendrix and writer Wohlforth weave
scientific research with fascinating speculation to paint a
picture of how and why humankind might spread to other planets. .
. . On the whole, the fictional chapters are entertaining,
chilling, and put the science in a more human context. The two
halves work together to create a striking, reality-based possible
future that's seen through the lens of current knowledge.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The authors successfully combine a visionary approach to space
colonization with the practicalities facing the program now.
Their conclusion that NASA should focus on 'stretch technology,'
leaving the rest to the private sector, is controversial but
worthy of serious consideration. A welcome contribution to the
ongoing discussion of the future of America's space program.”
—Kirkus Reviews
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About the Author
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Charles Wohlforth is the author of more than ten previous
books. He writes a column for Alaska Dispatch News, hosts a
weekly interview program for public radio stations in Alaska
(where he lives), and is winner of the Los Angeles Times Book
Prize for Science and Technology, among many other awards.
Amanda R. Hendrix, Ph.D., a planetary scientist, worked for
twelve years at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She has been a
scientific investigator on the Galileo and Lunar Reconnaissance
missions, a principal investigator on NASA research and Hubble
Space Tele observing programs, and the author of many
scientific papers. As an investigator on the Cassini mission to
Saturn, she has focused her research on the moons of Saturn.
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