Reviews for Preservation of Near-Earth Space for Future Generations

The average rating for Preservation of Near-Earth Space for Future Generations based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-07-06 00:00:00 James Kindell The book brings together the latest developments in space exploration and puts them in context. It first discusses the history of NASA; its inception, rise, stagnation after the Apollo program, and current bureaucratic inertia which prevents innovation and thriftiness and caters to the large aerospace firms. He then discusses the rise of private firms pioneering space, notably the following: Mojave Aerospace LLC, Scaled Composites LLC, Virgin Galactic Airways, Space Adventures Ltd., Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corp. "SpaceX", and Bigelow Aerospace Inc., all of which are pioneering private enterprise in space and will be the drivers for a new century of faster space exploration fueled by the competition for faster, cheaper, bigger and bolder which the free market creates. For my purposes, his summary of the legal environment in space exploration for governmental agencies and private enterprises was the key chapter. A good introduction to a burgeoning set of companies which will drive space exploration, and the legal environment in which they work. Solomon, a professor at Georgetown, makes a persuasive case for revising the '67 Outer Space treaty and completely abrogating the Moon Treaty, which does not protect private property rights on the moon. The final chapter also discusses the space elevator, which will significantly bring down the cost of moving goods and people into space and can be built for approximately $10-12 Billion.

Review # 2 was written on 2015-10-23 00:00:00 Marilyn Shiba Quick and easy survey of various prominent commercial & private space ventures. Short on policy analysis, but a nice introduction to the major players and significant impediments & challenges to further commercialization.