Case for MarsSince the beginning of human history Mars has been an alluring dream—the stuff of legends, gods, and mystery. The planet most like ours, it has still been thought impossible to reach, let alone explore and inhabit. Now with the advent of a revolutionary new plan, all this has changed. Leading space exploration authority Robert Zubrin has crafted a daring new blueprint, Mars Direct, presented here with illustrations, photographs, and engaging anecdotes. The Case for Mars is not a vision for the far future or one that will cost us impossible billions. It explains step-by-step how we can use present-day technology to send humans to Mars within ten years; actually produce fuel and oxygen on the planet's surface with Martian natural resources; how we can build bases and settlements; and how we can one day "terraform" Mars—a process that can alter the atmosphere of planets and pave the way for sustainable life. |
Contents
From Kepler to the Space Age 19 | 19 |
Killing the Dragons Avoiding the Sirens | 125 |
Exploring Mars | 151 |
The View from Earth | 293 |
The Significance of the Martian Frontier | 323 |
Appendix II | 355 |
References | 371 |
Other editions - View all
The Case for Mars: The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must Robert Zubrin Limited preview - 2021 |
Common terms and phrases
able addition allow amount astronauts atmosphere base billion booster called carbon dioxide carried century chemical cosmic rays cost create crew deliver domes Earth effect electric energy engines environment equal example exist exploration fact FIGURE flight four fuel future greenhouse heat human hydrogen kilometers known landing launch living lunar Mars Direct Mars mission Martian Martian surface Martin Marietta mass material meters methane Moon NASA nuclear once operating orbit organisms oxygen past payload percent planet possible present pressure problem produced propellant propulsion radiation reach reaction reactor reason result rocket rover sample Society soil solar space spacecraft supplies surface temperature tion tonnes transportation United universe vehicle Viking