Space: What Now: The Past, Present, and Possible Futures of Activities in Space

The Columbia tragedy of 2003 left the United States questioning its actions in space. Have we financially starved the program into an inability to act? Have we chosen the best course of action for our money? Even deeper questions remain: What should our goals be in space? How critical is space to our future? What role should the government play? How much are we willing to spend? From historical context to the Columbia accident and recommendations, from possible destinations to methods and policies for getting there, with stops at space advocacy and the new directions for NASA, Tom Hill takes the reader through many facets and viewpoints in space. Insightful, well-researched, and at times funny, Space: What Now? is for anyone who wants to talk intelligently about humankind’s future beyond the atmosphere.