Ad Astra
The magazine of the National Space Society
Volume 19, Number 3 Fall 2007
Featured Articles:
14
FAIR WARNING, DEADLY RESPONSE
In 2005 the U.S. Congress asked NASA to look into the asteroid threat to Earth, but the agency’s report has Near-Earth Object hunters raising more questions.
By Leonard David
18
WORLDS BEYOND:
BRINGING EXTRASOLAR PLANETS CLOSER TO HOME
The National Space Society teamed up with NASA and Northrup Grumman to bring the wonders of the cosmos closer to home.
By Cassie L. Kloberdanz
23
SPECIAL REPORT
SPACE: 2057
Introduction by Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides
24
NASA: THE NEXT 50 YEARS
Despite limitations in time, technology and money, the United States’ premier space exploration agency will continue to think of bigger and bolder missions.
By Jeff Foust
26
IS THERE A BORG IN OUR FUTURE?
In this excerpt from their forthcoming book Robots in Space: Technology, Evolution, and Interplanetary Travel, the authors describe a future where man and machine are one.
By Roger D. Launius and Howard E. McCurdy
28
FUTURE SHOCK:
ALTERNATIVE SPACE TRANSPORTATION FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS
The key to the successful exploration of our solar system depends on humanity’s ability to harness new technologies.
By John C. Mankins
32
GOING NATIVE ON MARS
Metallic cities on alien worlds may sell science fiction comics and movies, but for humanity’s first pioneers, communities will grow from the soil and sand of their new home.
By Bart Leahy
Departments:
5
LETTER FROM
HEADQUARTERS
Heroes at Scaled Composites
By George Whitesides, NSS Executive Committee
20
OPINION
The Future of Freedom in Space
By William Bruner
38
BOOK REVIEWS
Rocketeers: How a Visionary Band of Business Leaders, Engineers, and Pilots is Boldly Privatizing Space
Reviewed by Alan Boyle
A Ball, a Dog, and a Monkey: 1957—The Space Race Begins
Reviewed by Robert Z. Pearlman
39
COMMUNITY
Future History: How the Space Movement Changed Our Future
By Gary Barnhard, Chairman of the Executive Committee
40
SPOTLIGHT
Pushing Space Settlement Forward: At the National Space Society’s 2007 International Space Development Conference
By Al Globus
45
CHAPTER LISTINGS
48
SIGNING OFF
Sputnik’s Legacy
So much changes in so little time. In the 50 years since the first human satellite was launched, humanity has changed, hopefully for the better.
By James Oberg