Greenburgh Public Library Blog

Hot Topics in Science: Exploring Space

"Do you think we'll see a manned mission to Mars in our lifetime?" my husband asked me a few weeks ago, after NASA's successful touchdown of the InSight Lander on what we know as "the red planet." My immediate thought was "probably not," but then I got to thinking about projects like Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin, and Elon Musk's SpaceX, all with goals to do big things in space (including go to Mars!).... and I said "You know what, just maybe we will!"

I'm no expert on space travel and technology, but like many humans I've found myself looking up at the night sky in awe and wondering what's out there, and how far can we go? Many science fiction authors like Andy Weir, Ann Leckie, Kim Stanley Robinson, and Alastair Reynolds have also thought about what it would be like to explore the universe beyond Earth, and they've unleashed their imaginations to tell captivating stories that push us to consider the possibilities. There's no doubt many scientists and engineers have been inspired by their tales, and that their stories have had an influence on what we dream is possible. Take a look at some great SciFi reads, recommended by a ravenous reader, HERE.  

While we haven't sent people outside of Earth's orbit for several decades now, we have made some pretty amazing progress when it comes to launching things into and exploring the solar system: like re-usable rockets; CubeSats; and other probes similar to NASA's InSight. With all of the progress happening it doesn't seem so unlikely that many of these stories we've read about what we believe is impossible, might actually be within reach soon.  

Are you interested in learning about some of the awesome new projects that are pushing the bounds of technology and the exploration of space? Check out the following to learn more: 

BOOKS

How to Live in Space by Colin Stuart

"An amusing and informative illustrated guide to life beyond our own planet that covers everything from training for and living in space to the future of space travel and tourism. Now that suborbital space tourism is predicted to become a billion-dollar industry in the next ten years and NASA has announced its plans for landing humans on Mars in the 2030s, the dream of traveling and living in space is taking on new reality."

 

The Space Barons by Christian Davenport

"The historic quest to rekindle the human exploration and colonization of space led by two rivals and their vast fortunes, egos, and visions of space as the next entrepreneurial frontier. The Space Barons is the story of a group of billionaire entrepreneurs who are pouring their fortunes into the epic resurrection of the American space program. Nearly a half-century after Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, these Space Barons-most notably Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, along with Richard Branson and Paul Allen-are using Silicon Valley-style innovation to dramatically lower the cost of space travel, and send humans even further than NASA has gone." 

 

Chasing New Horizons by Alan Stern; David Grinspoon

"At a time when so many think our most historic achievements are in the past, the most distant planetary exploration ever attempted not only succeeded but made history and captured the world's imagination. How did this happen? Chasing New Horizons is the story of the men and women behind the mission: of their decades-long commitment; of the political fights within and outside of NASA; of the sheer human ingenuity it took to design, build, and fly the mission. Told from the insider's perspective of Dr. Alan Stern, Chasing New Horizons is a riveting story of scientific discovery, and of how far humanity can go when we work together toward an incredible goal."

 

Spaceport Earth by Joe Pappalardo

"The 21st-century space industry is changing drastically, the most dramatic shift happening in the United States, where private sector companies--like Elon Musk's SpaceX--are building a dizzying array of new spacecraft and rockets, not just for government use, but for any paying customer. At the heart of this space revolution are spaceports, the center and literal launching pad of spaceflight. The up-front costs of spaceports are measured in the hundreds of millions of dollars, the competition is extreme, and failure is unforgivable--and often fatal. Aerospace journalist Joe Pappalardo has witnessed rocket launches around the world, visiting every working spaceport in the United States. In his comprehensive book Spaceport Earth, Pappalardo describes the rise of a plethora of private companies in the United States, and how they are reshaping the way the world is using space for industry and science--and creating spaceports." 

 

The Future of Humanity by Michio Kaku 

"The #1 bestselling author of The Future of the Mind traverses the frontiers of astrophysics, artificial intelligence, and technology to offer a stunning vision of man's future in space, from settling Mars to traveling to distant galaxies. Formerly the domain of fiction, moving human civilization to the stars is increasingly becoming a scientific possibility--and a necessity. Whether in the near future due to climate change and the depletion of finite resources, or in the distant future due to catastrophic cosmological events, we must face the reality that humans will one day need to leave planet Earth to survive as a species. World-renowned physicist and futurist Michio Kaku explores in rich, intimate detail the process by which humanity may gradually move away from the planet and develop a sustainable civilization in outer space."

 

PODCASTS

Planetary Radio: 

A weekly podcast produced by The Planetary Society, interviewing scientists, engineers and advocates who are passionate about exploring the solar system and beyond. 

 

 

Small Steps, Giant Leaps:

Produced by NASA, this podcast talks with engineers and scientists about the challenges, opportunities, and successes in pushing the envelope of human achievement and scientific understanding. 

 

 

 

VIDEOS

Check out SpaceX launches, landings, and testing videos

View videos from NASA's Ames Research Center that develops cutting edge technology for exploring space