The expansion of our civilization to the Moon and beyond is now within our reach, technically, intellectually and financially. Apollo was not our last foray into the Solar System and already science fiction is finding it difficult to keep ahead of science and engineering fact. In 1807, few people anticipated the Wright Brothers' human flight a hundred years later. In 1869, only science fiction writers would have suggested landing people on the Moon in 1969. Similarly, other great inventions in mechanics and in electronics were not envisaged and therefore the technologies to which those inventions gave birth were only foreseen by a tiny group of visionaries.

About the Author
Professor Benaroya is a well-known aerospace engineer and scholar with a wealth of publications to his credit. He has researched this subject for over 17 years, primarily at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Reviews

From the reviews:

"Turning Dust to Gold presents a history of the space program as well as a retrospective of that history. ... The interview with Neil Armstrong and a few of the others deserve wide circulation. This well-written book makes the case for space exploration and manned settlement of the moon and planets, and explains how these activities can be accomplished. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through professionals, general readers, and all space enthusiasts." (A. M. Strauss, Choice, Vol. 48 (2), October, 2010)

"The book is essentially one long argument for the exploration, settlement, and economic utilization of Earth's natural satellite. ... The moon is the principle focus throughout ... . Turning Dust to Gold makes a powerful case for the importance of lunar colonization, and outlines the steps human civilization is likely to have to make in order to achieve that goal. It contains much food for thought, and I recommend it highly to anyone with an interest in the future of human space exploration." (Ian Crawford, The Observatory, Vol. 131 (1221), April, 2011)

"If the fiction takes place on the Moon or Mars, the fiction reader will further broaden his or her views and better exercise his or her ability to create or at least dream. This is certainly the goal of this book ... . a well illustrated book with many diagrams, artistic views, and photographs. ... We see it best used in a creative writing class either as an example of science fiction or as a basis for discussion between students of science and literature." (Gary J. Long, Belgian Physical Society Magazine, Issue 3, 2011)

Book Information
ISBN 9781441908704
Author Haym Benaroya
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint Praxis
Publisher Springer-Verlag New York Inc.