Space

This book is for readers who wonder why the US turned its back on lunar exploration, failed for half a century to produce a sustainable crewed space flight program, and how we might now, finally, be able to restart human space exploration. Since the end of the Apollo program, NASA's human space flight program has had little political support and even less funding. It needs to be replaced by an economically self-sustaining commercial space program. The book's narrative examines the technical and economic challenges in establishing a human settlement in Earth Orbit, on the lunar surface, and on Mars. NASA's failed program to reduce orbital launch costs and use space exploration to increase international cooperation is discussed. Methods of establishing an economically self-supporting lunar mining colony are examined in detail. Three proposed programs for human exploration of Mars are compared. Astroids as a source of terror and possible treasure are examined in the final chapters. The book is based on Internet research and analysis augmented by original "back of the envelope" calculations at key points.