Pioneering the Space Frontier

The National Commission, appointed by President Reagan, has issued this report advocating a vigorous 50-year program of space exploration and settlement highlighted by the establishment of human communities on the moon and Mars. The Commission argues that it should be possible to reduce substantially the cost of lifting spaceship cargoes and that private firms should be attracted by the profit potential of some space ventures. Thus, government investment in space should not increase unreasonably. This is a well-written, attractively illustrated work of advocacy; reasoned arguments against this ambitious program are cited very infrequently. Although one-sided, the work may predict accurately the U.S. space strategy over the next several decades. Jack W. Weigel, Univ. of Michigan Lib., Ann Arbor Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.