Includes bibliographical references (pages 245-278) and index.
Contents:
Introduction: why boldly go? -- Part 1. The scene -- 1. Asteroids: a primer -- Part II. Motive -- 2. Love -- 3. Fear -- 4. Greed -- Part III. Means -- 5. Love: doing science with asteroids -- 6. Fear: how to handle the asteroid threat -- 7. Greed: asteroid prospecting -- Part IV. Opportunity -- 8. Getting space off the ground -- 9. Making space safe for capitalism -- 10. In the long run.
Summary:
Human travel into space is an enormously expensive and unforgiving endeavor. So why go? In this accessible and authoritative book, astrophysicist Martin Elvis argues that the answer is the asteroid exploration, for motives of love, fear, and greed. Elvis's personal motivation is one of scientific love - asteroid investigations may teach us about the composition of the solar system and the origins of life. A more compelling reason may be fear - of a large asteroid hitting our planet. Finally, Elvis maintains, we should consider greed: asteroids likely hold vast riches, such as large platinum deposits, and mining them could provide both a new industry and a funding source for bolder space exploration. Elvis explains how each motive can be satisfied, and how they help one another. From the origins of life, to "space billiards" and space sports, Elvis looks at how asteroids may be used in the not-so-distant future
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.