Page numbers in bold indicate figures, charts, tables, and plates.
3-D printing, impact of on space settlements, 150
6U CubeSats, 56
12,000 stars in hundred light-years radius of Earth, 319
2069, Zubrin's vision for the year, 317
3000, humanity in the year, 318–24
ΔV. See delta-v
Adams, John Couch, 152
Adonis (asteroid), 127
Advanced Technology Large-Aperture Space Telescope (ATLAST), 251
aerial algae, seeding of on Venus, 220
aerobraking, 103, 133, 164, 173, 339
Aerojet, 145
aeroshell, 339
ALH84001 (SNC meteorite), 120
Allison, Graham, 309
Alpha Centauri (star), 181, 182, 185
time to reach
using chemical rocket systems, 183–84
using fission propulsion, 185
using fusion propulsion, 191
using laser projector light sails, 200, 211
using nuclear salt-water rockets, 188
using photon rockets, 195
using thin solar sails, 198
Altair (star), 240
Alvarez hypothesis (Walter and Luis Alvarez), 290, 298
Amazon, 34
Ambani, Mukesh, 176
American Historical Association, 272
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 244
Anderson, Eric, 138
anthropic principle, 261
antimatter
for propulsion, 90, 174, 191–95, 207
as a weapon, 208
antisatellite systems (ASAT), 63–64
Apollo (asteroid), 127
Apollo program (NASA), 12, 54, 74, 76, 77, 102, 104, 153, 296, 317, 343
chemical analysis of typical lunar samples, 72, 73–74
impact on STEM education in US, 285–86, 285
mission driven nature of, 329
Applied Fusion Systems, 180
Aquila (constellation), 240
Ariane (European rockets), 36
Ariane V (heavy-lift rocket), 107
Arrhenius, Svante, 255
artificial gravity. See gravity
artificial greenhouse gases. See terraforming
artist cruise around moon (2023 SpaceX plan), plate 9
ASAT (antisatellite systems), 63–64
Ash, Robert, 147
crossing orbits of Mars and Earth, 126–27
and Earth, 16, plate 16, 171, 265, 287–92, 298–99
asteroids that disintegrated in the atmosphere (bolide events), 300
asteroid trajectories, 292
deflecting asteroids from Earth, 292–97
destructive force of asteroid impacts, 290
map of known craters, 289
near misses, 127
leading to new types of societies, 143–45
status of in vision of the year 2069, 317
status of in vision of the year 3000, 321
ice used for nuclear thermal rockets, 296, 297
metal resources of, 26
mining of, 136–38, 141, 150, 317
space triangle trade (Earth-Mars-asteroids), 140–42
types of, 128–29, 129, 136–37, 141
components of a type S, 137
water on, 130, 131, 140, 142–43, 294, 297
See also iceteroids
astronomical units (AU), 181, 196
astronomy, space as place to study, 250–54
Atlas V (Lockheed Martin), 107
ATLAST (Advanced Technology Large-Aperture Space Telescope), 251
atmosphere, transforming. See terraforming
atmospheric pressure, 118, 120, 163, 165, 218, 339, 344
atomic bombs to propel a spaceship, 186–87, 187, 190
Atomic Energy Commission (US), 179, 186
AU (astronomical units), defined, 181, 196
Augustine, Norm, 11
Babbage, Charles, 233–34, 234, 235
bacteria
capable of surviving spaceflight, 120, 236, 255, 259
finding of bacterial fossils, 260
and interstellar travel, 258–60
use of to terraform, 218, 219, 231–32
barcodes as a space-program spin-off, 284
BBC (TV network), 333
Beal Aerospace, 32
Bell, Jim, 332
Benford, Greg, 333
Bernhardi, Friedrich von, 305–306, 309
Bettinger, David, 53
Bezos, Jeff, 12, 34–35, 57, 176, 327
BFR (“Big F…ing Rocket”) (SpaceX), plate 7, 110, 339
also known as Starship, 110, 334, 344
See also Interplanetary Transport System (ITS) (SpaceX); Starship (rocket) (SpaceX)
bioengineering, 213, 219, 223, 230–37
bipropellant. See propellants and propulsion
Bloom Energy, 147
Blue Origin, 12, 34–35, 38, 40, 57, 71, 328
comparison of space launch systems, 36
Bode, Johann Elert, 125
Boeing, 12, 21, 22, 42, 107, 174, 202, 277, 316
United Launch Alliance, 35, 36
Boeing aircraft, 12, 21, 42, 174, 277, 316
bolide events, 300
Borucki, William, 240
Breakthrough Energy Ventures, 176
Breakthrough Propulsion Physics program (NASA), 206–207
Breakthrough Starshot mission, 199–200, 201, 210
Brin, David, 268
Bruckner, Adam, 148
Bush, George H. W., 105
Bussard, Robert, and the Bussard ramjet, 180, 201–202
Callisto (moon of Jupiter), 152, 167–69, 223
Čapek, Karel, 212
carbon dioxide, 228
creating greenhouse effect on Venus, 220
on Earth
map of increase in leaf area on earth because of, plate 15, 226
on Mars, 102–103, 109, 117–18, 146–48, 218, 296–97
See also Sabatier reaction
carbon monoxide, 83, 136, 146, 149, 150
carbon-nitrogen-oxygen (CNO) catalytic fusion cycle, 202, 238
carbonyls, 150
“carrying capacity,” 313
Case for Mars, The (Zubrin), 30, 31, 101, 141, 217–18, 222–23, 297
Cassini, Giovanni, 152
Cassini probe (NASA), 155–56, 157, 163, 242
at Enceladus, 156
at Saturn, 155
Ceres (asteroid), 92–93, 125, 130, 131, 142
CERN, 192
CF (fluorocarbon super greenhouse gases), 117
perfluoromethane (CF4), 218, 219
CFR (”Compact Fusion Reactor” project), 180
CFS (Commonwealth Fusion Systems), 176–77
challenges conquered by space travel, 271–86
impact on society if no space frontier, 275–84
Chase, Charles, 180
Chassigny (SNC meteorite), 343
chemical propulsion systems, 183–84
chemistry for space settlers, 145–50
Chiron (iceteroid), 152
Chu, Ching Wu (Paul), 203
Churyumov-Gerasimenko (comet), 130
civilizations, types of, 15, 182–83
human social development, 283, 304–305
time needed for interstellar civilizations to spread, 266–67
transforming into Type II and Type III civilizations, 183, 215, 236
Type I, 15, 67, 136, 208, 299, 315
rise of Type I civilizations, 280–83
Type II, 15, 174, 207, 208, 210, 213, 221, 299, 322
as a spacefaring interplanetary civilization, 67–68, 136, 183, 195, 197, 217, 223, 315–16, 321
vision of for the year 3000, 321–22
having interstellar travel, 223
vision of for the year 3000, 324
See also technological civilizations
Clarke, Arthur C., 52, 94, 197
Clementine mission, 73
climate change on Earth, ways to avert, 224–30
length of growing season in US, 225
map of increase in leaf area because of carbon dioxide, plate 15, 226
Club of Rome, 311
CNN (TV network), 333
CNO (carbon-nitrogen-oxygen catalytic fusion cycle), 202, 238
CO2. See carbon dioxide
colonization
chemistry for space settlers of, 150
leading to new types of societies, 143–45
list of what needs to be done, 327–34
chemistry for space settlers of, 146–50
commercial benefits of, 114–17
“Dragon Direct” plan, 108
habitation module, plate 5
leading to a human asteroid mission, 131–32
as new frontier for humanity, 277–79, 316
as a public-private enterprise, 328
raising families on Mars, plate 8
use of greenhouses, 101, 113, 115, 278
achieving long-range mobility on, 80–81
chemistry for space settlers of, 145–46
phases of Moon Direct program, 75
as a public-private enterprise, 317
range and lunar accessibility of an LEV, 81
sending solar energy back to earth, 82–83
use of microwaves to extract water vapor, 79
need for low cost spaceflight, 25–26
Noah's Ark Eggs (seed spaceships), 209–14
of outer solar system
reasons for pursuing
for the future we can create, 315–25
for the knowledge gained, 249–69
for survival of humanity, 287–99
terraforming other worlds, 215–45
time needed for interstellar civilizations to spread, 266–67
vision of for the year 2069, 317
vision of for the year 3000, 319–24
Columbus, Christopher, 174, 182, 208, 316, 328
comets, 129, 130, 151, 170, 171, 195–96
commercial benefits of spaceflight, 66–68
commercial energy system in space, 57–60
communications and data satellites, 51–56
fast global travel on Earth, 40–43
orbital research labs, 47–48, 50
commercial development of Titan, 162–65
in the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud, 171–72
space triangle trade (Earth-Mars-asteroids), 140–42
See also mining
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS), 330–31
Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), 176–77
communications and data satellites, 23, 52–56, 63, 64, 65, 277
potential impact of on World War II, 61–62
“Compact Fusion Reactor” (CFR) project, 180
complexity theory applied to the universe, 262–63
constants, role of in physics, 260–61
Coons, Steve, 148
Cosmic Microwave Background Surveyor, 251
cosmic rays, 104, 132, 135, 167, 192, 253, 259, 339
cost-plus contracting, 22–24, 330–31
COTS (Commercial Orbital Transportation Services), 330–31
Crèvecoeur, Jean de, 274
cryogenic hydrogen and oxygen, 102, 339–40
CT Fusion, 180
Curiosity rover (NASA), 13, 106
Customs and Border Protection (US), 138
Cygnus (constellation), 240
D. See deuterium (D)
Dactyl (asteroid), 130
Darwinist natural selection, 304, 305
Dawn spacecraft (Jet Propulsion Lab), 130, 130, 142
Deep Space Gateway. See Lunar Orbit Platform-Gateway (LOP-G)
Deep Space Industries, 139, 140
Deep Space Network, 182
Delage, Michael, 179
Delta IV (Boeing), 107
delta-V (ΔV), 340
and Alpha Centauri (using different propulsion systems), 184, 185
for Callisto, 168
and change of mass ratio and payload of a rocket, 44–45, 44
from Earth
from LEO to Mars and Ceres, 92–93, 107, 131
and light sails, 196
and a Lunar Excursion Vehicle, 80–81, 81
and plasma sails, 206
and the skyhook, 96–97, 116–17
for Titan to Saturn, 163–64, 164
and trips between asteroid belt and Mars, 115–17
compared to Earth to the asteroids, 141
and two-stage rockets, 45
Department of Energy (US), 177
departure velocity (hyperbolic velocity), 169, 184, 340, 341
Desert Storm as first space war, 61
Design Reference Mission (NASA), 104–105
Destined for War (Allison), 309
deuterium (D)
content of asteroidal water, 142–43
D-D reactions, 87
catalyzed D-D fusion, 189
D-He3 reactor (deuterium-helium-3), 87, 90–91, 143, 160, 189
compared to antimatter systems, 192
D-T fusion reaction (deuterium-tritium), 85–87
Diamandis, Peter, 28–29, 34, 138
Dickens, Charles, 224
Dinan, Richard, 180
Dione (moon of Saturn), 156
dipole drives and electric sails, 204–206, 205
direct launch, 340
dirt. See regolith
Discovery Channel (TV network), 333
Discovery program, 242. See also Kepler Space Telescope mission
distance of Earth from the sun as 1 AU, 181, 196
Dragon capsule (SpaceX), 33, 76, 212, 330
Gaiashield mission to asteroids, 132, 134
use of for Mini BFR, 111
use of to build a moon base, 70, 71, 77, 80
“Dragon Direct” plan for Mars trip, 108–10, 108
Drake, Frank and the Drake Equation, 263–65, 266
Drexler, K. Eric, 233, 235, 236
D-T. See deuterium: D-T fusion reaction
Noah's Ark Eggs (seed spaceships), 209–14
Earth
and asteroids, 16, plate 16, 171, 265, 287–92, 298–99
asteroids crossing orbit of, 127
asteroids that disintegrated in the atmosphere (bolide events), 300
asteroid trajectories, 292
deflecting asteroids from Earth, 292–97
destructive force of asteroid impacts, 290
map of known craters, 289
near misses, 127
concerns about Martian microbes harming, 119–23
distance from the sun as 1 AU, 181, 196
early Earth having thick CO2 atmosphere, 223
Earth-Mars length of trip, 109
environmental changes to, 216–17
increase in leaf area because of carbon dioxide, plate 15, 226
ways to avert global warming, 224–30
life on, 12–14, 14, 255, 290, 298
“panspermia” hypothesis, 236, 255
making planets more Earthlike (see terraforming)
12,000 stars in hundred light-years radius of, 319
Earth Return Vehicles (ERV), 69, 102, 103, 104, 108
eclipses as a way to discover new planets. See Kepler Space Telescope mission
Ehricke, Krafft, 72
Ehrlich, Paul, 313
electricity, generating
Helion Energy, 179
Nuclear Electric Propulsion systems, 160–61, 185, 296, 343
for Titan, 165
See also energy
electric sails and dipole drives, 204–206, 205
electrolysis, 69, 70, 79, 92, 102, 146, 149, 340
Electron Launch vehicle (Rocket Lab), plate 4
EMCC, 180
EmDrive, 207
Enceladus (moon of Saturn), 155–56, 156, 157, 165, 201
End of History, The (Fukuyama), 283
End of Science, The (Horgan), 283
endothermic reactions, 146, 147, 149, 150, 340
energy
costs of energy to launch a spacecraft to orbit, 20–26
getting to a $200 per kilogram cost, 27–28
developing commercial energy system in space, 57–60
entrepreneurial fusion revolution, 174–80 (see also fusion)
geothermal energy, 83, 115, 153, 167, 340
human use of energy, 157–58, 158
and the moon
beaming microwave power on, 78–79, 79
needed to fulfill Noah's Ark Egg project, 211
and settling in the outer solar system, 173–74
in Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud, 172
solar system energy resources, 159
See also electricity, generating
Engines of Creation (Drexler), 233
ENI, 176
entrepreneurship. See commercial benefits of spaceflight
environment, transforming. See terraforming
Environmental Protection Agency (US), 216
equilibrium constant, 147, 340, 343
Eros (asteroid), 126, 126, 130
ERVs (Earth Return Vehicles), 69, 102, 103, 104, 108
ETC group, 228
ethical questions
about controllable self-replicating robots, 235
related to Noah's Ark Egg project, 213
related to terraforming, 216–17, 219
Europa (moon of Jupiter), 13, 107, 152, 153–55, 167, 168
water on, plate 10
European space programs, 13, 105, 106, 107, 130, 148, 286
EVA (extravehicular activity), 46, 340
electric propulsion, 130
impact of delta-V on, 43–44, 45
measured as specific impulse, 45
need for in interstellar travel, 185, 186, 188, 189
antimatter propulsion systems, 193, 195
chemical propulsion systems, 183, 185
fission propulsion systems, 143, 185, 188, 189
fusion propulsion systems, 160, 161, 189, 191, 194, 195
hydrogen/oxygen propellant, 76
LOX/propylene propellant, 37
methane/oxygen propellant, 44–45
exothermic reactions, 146, 148, 149, 340, 343
extinctions caused by asteroids, 265, 290–91, 298–99
extraterrestrials, search for, 256–58
Drake Equation for frequency of, 264–65
estimated nearest center of in our galaxy, 266
estimating the galactic population, 265–69, 268
vision of extraterrestrials in the year 3000, 323–24
See also intelligence, search for; life, search for
fairing, 340
Falcon (rocket) (SpaceX), 340
comparison of space launch systems, 36
Falcon Heavy, plate 1, plate 3, 27–28, 33, 35
as a heavy-lift booster, 11–12, 107
refueling upper stages of, plate 6
use of for Mini BFR, 111
use of to build a Mars base, 108
use of to build a moon base, 69, 71, 75, 77, 108–109
and visits to asteroids, 132, 134
payload size, 37
reducing launch costs of, 27
successful flight of (12/21/2015), 19–21, 21
use of for Mini BFR, 110
and visits to asteroids, 132, 134
Small Falcon Spaceship (SFS) (see BFR)
Far InfraRed Surveyor, 251
Farnsworth, Philo, 180
Feige, Jim, 332
Fermilab, 192
field-reversed configuration (FRC), 178–79, 178, 179, 180
Firefly Alpha, 38
fission reactors, 86, 160–61, 188, 193
fission propulsion systems, 185–89 (see also NEP [Nuclear Electric Propulsion] systems; NTR [nuclear thermal rocket])
Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (Mars Society), plate 16
fluorocarbon super greenhouse gases (CF), 117
perfluoromethane (CF4), 218, 219
Focus Section
chemistry for space settlers, 145–50
Drake Equation, mistakes in, 263–65
entrepreneurial fusion revolution, 174–80
Noah's Ark Eggs (seed spaceships), 209–14
protecting planet from alien organisms, 119–23
space program spin-offs, 284–86
virtual reality allowing visits to space, 98–99
Fountains of Paradise, The (Clarke), 94
Frankie, Brian, 147
FRC (field-reversed configuration), 178–79, 178, 179, 180
freedom, space travel as way to achieve, 301–25
damage caused by drive to war, 305–309
invalidity of limited-resources views, 301–305, 308
free return trajectory, 340
frontier, importance of having a frontier to conquer, 272–74
potential impact on society of no space frontier, 275–84
F-type stars, 319
fuels for rockets. See propellants and propulsion
Fukuyama, Francis, 283
fusion
carbon-nitrogen-oxygen catalytic fusion cycle, 202, 238
“Compact Fusion Reactor” project, 180
entrepreneurial fusion revolution, 174–80
fusion propulsion systems, 189–91
compared to antimatter systems, 194–95
potential of use of in outer solar system, 172, 173–74
SPARC fusion reactor, 177
stars as engines of nuclear fusion, 237
proton-proton fusion that powers the sun, 201–202, 237–38
thermonuclear fusion reactors, 73, 160, 174, 175, 177, 180, 207, 237, 278
use of magnetic fields, 159, 190–91
See also deuterium; helium-3 (He3)
future, space travel as what we can create, 315–25
vision of for the year 2069, 317
vision of for the year 3000, 318–24
Gaiashield mission (human asteroid mission), 131–35
Galileo probe (NASA), 13, 129–30, 152, 154, 157, 242
Ganymede (moon of Jupiter), 152, 167, 168
Garvey, Jim, 37
Gates, Bill, 176
GDP per capita vs. population, 302, 303
GEO (geosynchronous orbit), 52, 53, 58, 78
geosynchronous orbit (GEO), 52, 53, 58, 78
geothermal energy, 83, 115, 153, 167, 340
Germany and the Next War (Bernhardi), 305–306, 309
Ghost (movie), 98
Global Ecology (Ehrlich and Holdren), 313
Global Positioning Systems (GPS), 54, 61, 62, 63, 65
global transportation, use of rockets for, 40–43, 67, 96
development of space tourism, 46
global warming. See climate change on Earth, ways to avert
Goldman Sachs, 177
Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex, 129
GPS (Global Positioning Systems), 54, 61, 62, 63, 65
Gravitational Wave Surveyor, 251
gravity, 41, 48, 249, 254, 260, 291
artificial gravity, 103, 133, 135
gravity assists to increase speed, 153, 161, 168, 181, 183–84, 341
Lagrange point (Earth and moon gravity in balance), 95
and Phobos tether, 117
microgravity, 48
on Venus, 220
zero-gravity, 133
for fun and recreation, 35, 42, 43, 46, 135
impact on health, 74, 132, 135
for research and industries, 47–50, 59
Great Frontier, The (Webb), 271
Greeley, Horace, 327
greenhouse effect, 118, 216, 220, 223, 291
“moist greenhouse” theory, 222, 223
greenhouse gases, 117–18, 218, 219, 232, 298, 318, 335
greenhouses (agricultural use of), 101, 113, 115, 278
G-type stars, 181, 259, 265, 266, 319
Gump, David, 138
Habitable Exoplanet Imaging Mission, 251
Haida Salmon Restoration Corporation, 227
Haughton Crater, plate 16
Hayabusa and Hayabusa 2 missions, 130
heavy-lift rockets, 11–12, 69–70, 102, 103, 107. See also Falcon (rocket) (SpaceX); New Glenn booster (Blue Origin); Saturn V (rocket); Starship (rocket) (SpaceX)
heliocentric orbit, 341
Helion Energy, 179
helium-3 (He3), 143
moon as a source of, 83–91, 317
outer solar system as a source of, 160–62, 170
solar system energy resources, 159
values of helium-3 on earth, 88–89
See also deuterium (D), D-He3 reactor
hibernation, rotating, 184, 188
Hildebrand, Alan, 290
Himmler, Heinrich, 306
Hoffman, Alice, 332
Hohmann transfer orbit, 341, 342
Holdren, John, 313
Holz, Brian, 53
Hopkins, Mark, 332
Horgan, James, 283
Hossack, Aaron, 180
Howard, Andrew, 244
Hubble Space Telescope (NASA), 153, 201, 250, 251, 253, 283
Hugo, Victor, 19
humanity, 265
creating a future with space travel, 14, 15, 31, 101, 207, 274–76, 299, 315–25, 327
what needs to be done to achieve space travel, 327–34
damage caused by drive to war, 265, 305–309
fundamental dignity of the human, 312
human global well-being, 302
importance of freedom, 144, 282, 301–325
need for a frontier and challenges, 174, 208, 273–74, 276–84
survival of
climate change on Earth, 224–30
space travel as way to accomplish, 287–99
Western humanism requiring humans to progress and grow, 312–14
Huygens, Christiaan, 152
Huygens lander (part of Cassini mission), 163
hydrazine, 341
hydrogen/oxygen propellant, 45, 70, 71, 76, 77, 89, 132–33, 183, 192
using ice to create, 69, 73, 80, 81, 168
hyperbolic velocity. See departure velocity (hyperbolic velocity)
Hyper V, 180
IAC (International Astronautical Congress), 107, 110
iceteroids, 152, 170–72, 221. See also Kuiper Belt; Oort Cloud
Ida (asteroid), 130
“Ignitor,” 177
IKAROS solar sail spacecraft, plate 13, 197
Ikin, Kirby, 332
“imploding liner” concept, 179, 180
InSight Mars lander, 55
Inspiration Mars, 33
intelligence, search for, 256–58. See also extraterrestrials, search for; life, search for
International Astronautical Congress (IAC), 107, 110
International Space Station (ISS), 45, 47, 51, 132, 329, 330
International Space University, 29
International Tokamak Experimental Reactor (ITER) (Tokamak complex), 83–84, 175, 176, 176, 177, 178
Interplanetary Transport System (ITS) (SpaceX), plate 7, 107–10
See also Starship (rocket) (SpaceX)
interstellar communications, 257–58
interstellar travel, 181–214, 214
as indication of extraterrestrial intelligence, 256
list of what needs to be done to achieve, 327–34
making spacecraft lighter, 199–200
Noah's Ark Eggs (seed spaceships) concept, 209–14
propulsion systems for, 181–207 (see also antimatter propulsion systems; chemical propulsion systems; electric sails and dipole drives; fission propulsion systems; fusion propulsion systems; light sails; magnetic sails)
reasons for pursuing
for the future we can create, 315–25
for the knowledge gained, 249–69
for survival of humanity, 287–99
requiring a mature species to accomplish, 207–209
Saturn Express (concept project as step toward), 200–201
See also spaceflights/space travel
Io (moon of Jupiter), 152, 153, 167
ionosphere, 133, 253, 256, 341
iron, 136, 137, 145, 149, 150, 171, 226, 227, 229, 242, 294
Isp (specific impulse), 45, 143, 160–61, 163, 193–94, 296, 297, 341, 344
ISPP (in situ propellant production), 341, 342
ISS (International Space Station), 45, 47, 51, 132, 329, 330
ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) (Tokamak complex), 83–84, 175, 176, 176, 177, 178
Itokawa (asteroid), 130
ITS. See Interplanetary Transport System (ITS) (SpaceX)
Janhunen, Pekka, 204
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 197
Jarboe, Tom, 180
Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), 99, 129, 130, 147, 153, 332
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, 130
Johnson Space Center, 104
Journal of Propulsion, 204
Jovian system. See Jupiter and the Jovian system
JPL (Jet Propulsion Lab), 99, 129, 130, 147, 153, 332
JSC (Johnson Space Center), 104
Juno (planetoid), 125
Juno probe (NASA), 167
Jupiter and the Jovian system, 181
colonization of the Jovian system, 166–70
discoveries of Jupiter and its moons, 152
exploration spacecraft to, 152–53
solar system energy resources of, 159
statistics
on departing at high-velocity using high-thrust rockets, 169
on getting to and back from, 162
on primary moons of, 166
use of gravity assist of to make rocket go faster, 184
See also specific moons (i.e., Callisto, Europa, Ganymede, Io, and Titan)
Kardashev, Nikolai, 15
Kasting, James, 222
Kauffmann, Stuart, 262
Kepler Space Telescope mission, 12, 13–14, 238–45, 251
discovering more than 4,000 planets, 243, 243
Kito, Tomoko, 147
Klare, Michael T., 309
Klein, Naomi, 228
knowledge gained by reaching out to space travel, 249–69
Komsomolskaya pravda (newspaper), 93
Kowal, Charles T., 152
Krakowski, Robert, 175
K-T event (asteroid eliminating dinosaurs), 265, 290–91, 298–99
K-type stars, 237, 259, 265, 266, 319
Kuiper, Gerard, 152
Kulcinski, Jerry, 83
Laberge, Michel, 179
Lagrange point (Earth and moon gravity in balance), 95
Lambert, James, 180
Large Ultra Violet Optical InfraRed Surveyor (LUVOIR), 251
lasers
laser projection and light sails, 199, 200, 201, 210–12
potential for fusion-powered ten-gigawatt laser stations, 213
Lassell, William, 152
Lebedev, Peter N., 196
LEM (Lunar Excursion Module), 74, 76, 77
LEO. See low Earth orbit
Lerner, Eric, 180
Letters from an American Farmer (Crèvecoeur), 274
LEV (Lunar Excursion Vehicle), 70, 71, 79–81
chart of range and lunar accessibility, 81
LeVerrier, Joseph, 152
Lewicki, Chris, 138
life, search for, 12–14, 254–55, 297
anthropic principle, 261
See also extraterrestrials, search for; intelligence, search for
Life of the Cosmos, The (Smolin), 262
cannot thrust to the sun, 206
thin solar sails for interstellar travel, 197–99, 198
use of mirror effect, 203
Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1963), 186–87
limited-resources views, 301–305, 308
Lindbergh, Charles, 29
liquid oxygen (LOX). See LOX (liquid oxygen)
Livermore National Lab, 175, 190, 293
“Compact Fusion Reactor” project, 180
as Martin Marietta, 22
United Launch Alliance, 35, 36
LOP-G (Lunar Orbit Platform-Gateway aka Deep Space Gateway), 71, 74, 329–30
LOR (Lunar Orbit Rendezvous), 74, 75
Los Alamos National Lab, 175, 186, 293
low Earth orbit (LEO), 58, 69–71, 108, 109, 111
delta-v needed to leave and go to Mars or beyond, 92–93, 131–32
and nonrotating tether spacecraft system, 96–97
refueling rockets in, 107
LOX/kerosene propellant, 37–38
LOX/propylene propellant, 37
Lunar Excursion Module (LEM), 74, 76, 77
Lunar Excursion Vehicle (LEV), 70, 71, 79–81
building a lunar base on the moon, 81
Lunar Orbit Platform-Gateway (LOP-G) (aka Deep Space Gateway), 71, 74, 329–30
Lunar Orbit Rendezvous (LOR), 74, 75
Lunar Prospector mission, 73
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, 73
Lutetia (asteroid), 130
LUVOIR (Large Ultra Violet Optical InfraRed Surveyor), 251
Lynx X-Ray Surveyor, 251
Lyra (constellation), 240
Ma, Jack, 176
Mach drive, 207
MagLIF, 180
Magnetic Confinement Fusion Propulsion System, plate 12
magnetic fields
around asteroids, 129
around giant planets, 153
in fusion and propulsion systems, 84, 86, 159, 176–78, 179, 180, 188, 190–91, 344
magnetic sails (magsail), 201–204, 204, 210, 342
cannot thrust to the sun, 206
“MagOrion,” 203
Malthus, Thomas and Malthusian theory, 302–303, 304, 305, 311
Manned Maneuvering Unit, 133
MarCO-A and MarCO-B CubeSats, 55
mariculture, 227, 229–30, 277, 317
Markusic, Tom, 38
Mars, 181
asteroids crossing orbit of, 126–27
chemistry for space settlers of, 146–50
colonization of (Mars Direct program), plate 7, 101–23
commercial benefits of, 114–17
“Dragon Direct” plan, 108
habitation module, plate 5
leading to a human asteroid mission, 131–32
need for low cost spaceflight, 25–26
as a new frontier for humanity, 277–79, 316
as a public-private enterprise, 328
raising families on Mars, plate 8
status of in vision of the year 2069, 317
status of in vision of the year 3000, 321
use of greenhouses, 101, 113, 115, 278
concerns about Martian microbes Earth, 119–23
delta-V needed to leave LEO and go to, 92–93, 107, 131
Earth-Mars length of trip, 109
European programs, 13
Founding Declaration of Mars Society, 335–37
ways to learn about origins of life on Earth, 254–55
NASA's programs, 13, 14, 30, 104–106, 135, 148–49, 182, 257, 296
“on the road to Mars,” plate 2
and SNC meteorites, 119–20, 343
and technological civilizations, 13, 25, 101, 114
terraforming of, 117–19, 217–19, 222–23
a photo of a Mars in the future, plate 14
water on, 14, 101, 102–103, 105–106, 109, 113–15, 117, 118, 120, 146–49, 218, 222, 297
Mars Desert Research Station, 30
Mars Direct. See Mars: colonization of
Mars Express Orbiter (European Space Agency), 13, 106, 148
Mars Global Surveyor (MSG) (NASA), 105
“Mars Gravity” mission, 31
Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA), 204
Mars Odyssey orbiter (NASA), 106, 148
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) (NASA), 14, 106, 148, 182, 257
Mars Sample Return (MSR), 121, 148
MSR-ISPP (Mars Sample Return employing in situ propellant production), 342
Mars Society, 30–31, 32, 332, 333–34
Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station, plate 16
Mars Underground, 333
Martin Marietta, 22, 146. See also Lockheed Martin
mass extinctions and asteroids, 265, 290–91, 298–99
mass ratio, 43, 76, 77, 80, 90, 141, 162, 163, 201, 259
change of mass ratio and payload of a rocket, 44
energy-to-mass ratio, 160
Titan-based methane-propelled NTR excursions, 163–64, 164, 165
McFadden, Lucy-Ann, 129
McGuire, Tom, 180
McKay, Chris, 333
Mein Kampf (Hitler), 308
SNC meteorites, 343
methane, 102
destruction of by ultraviolet light, 106
methanation reaction (Sabatier reaction), 102, 146, 147, 342, 343
methane/oxygen propellant, 41, 44–45, 102–103, 106–107, 109, 165
Titan as a source of, 163
Titan-based methane-propelled NTR excursions to other Saturn moons, 164
Meyer, Tom, 333
comparison of space launch systems, 36
use of in colonization of Mars, 113
use of in colonization of the moon, 69, 78–79, 79
military uses of space power and deterring a war, 60–66
Milky Way, 235, 240–41, 252, 263, 264
estimating the galactic population, 265–69, 268
Miller, Charles, 332
miniaturization
and Noah's Ark Eggs (seed spaceships), 209
Mini BFR (SpaceX), 110–12. See also Interplanetary Transport System (ITS) (SpaceX)
minimum energy trajectory, 341, 342
mining, 74
of asteroids, 93, 114, 117, 136–38, 139–40, 141, 142, 150, 297, 317
value of components in a type S asteroid, 137
in the outer solar system, 162, 163, 168, 172
Mir (Russian space station), 45
Mithril Fund, 179
“moist greenhouse” theory, 222
Mons Malapert (on the moon), 76
moon
chemical analysis of typical Apollo lunar samples, 72, 73–74
chemistry for space settlers of, 145–46
colonization of (Moon Direct program), 69–99
achieving long-range mobility on, 80–81
chart of range and lunar accessibility of an LEV, 81
phases of, 75
as a public-private enterprise, 328
sending solar energy back to earth, 82–83
status of in vision of the year 2069, 317
status of in vision of the year 3000, 321
use of microwaves to extract water vapor, 79
as a location for astronomical research, 252–54, 257
NASA programs, 11, 13, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79–81, 81, 329–30 (see also Apollo program [NASA])
as a refueling point for other destinations, 91–93
SDIO sending space probe to, 13
solar system energy resources of, 159
SpaceX planned 2023 artists’ cruise around, plate 9
water on, 13, 55, 69, 70, 73, 75–76, 79, 79, 81, 91–92, 145–46
Mount Palomar telescope, 239
MOXIE system, 147
MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter) (NASA), 14, 106, 148, 182, 257
MSG (Mars Global Surveyor) (NASA), 105
MSR (Mars Sample Return), 121, 148
MSR-ISPP (Mars Sample Return employing in situ propellant production), 342
multigeneration spaceships, 184, 198
multiverse theory, 261
Muncy, Jim, 332
Murray, Bruce, 332
Musk, Elon, 19–20, 32, 39, 40, 53, 98, 175, 327
and development of SpaceX, 30–37
and the Interplanetary Transport System, 107–10
See also SpaceX
Nakhla (SNC meteorite), 343
Breakthrough Propulsion Physics program, 206–207
and CubeSats, 54
Discovery program, 240
on efforts to restore salmon fishery, 227–28
greatest accomplishments of, 153
Mars programs, 13, 14, 55, 104–106, 135, 148–49, 182, 257, 296
mission driven nature of, 328–29
moon programs of, 11, 13, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79–81, 81, 329–30 (see also Apollo program [NASA])
near-Earth programs, 126, 130, 293
nuclear thermal propulsion research, 185
outer solar system missions, 154–55, 156–57, 167
and planetary protection, 121
probes, 167 (see also Cassini probe; Galileo probe)
on rate of plant growth on Earth, plate 15, 226
SLS rocket, 36, 77, 132, 134, 157
space program spin-offs, 284–86
steps toward acceptable space programs, 329–31
study of electric sails and dipole drive, 204–205
use of space telescopes, 250–51 (see also Hubble Space Telescope; Kepler Space Telescope mission)
See also Voyager missions (NASA)
National Ignition Facility (NIF), plate 11, 190
National Space Society (NSS), 332
Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) mission (NASA), 126, 130
Near-Earth Object Observation Program (NEOOP) (NASA), 293
near-Earth Objects (NEOs), 129, 131
round-trips from low-Earth orbit to, 131
NEP (Nuclear Electric Propulsion) systems, 160–61, 185, 296, 343
exploration spacecraft to, 153, 181, 328
mining possibilities, 172
solar system energy resources of, 159
statistics on getting to and back from, 162
Triton (moon of Neptune), 152, 237
New Enterprise Associates, 177
New Glenn booster (Blue Origin), 12, 35, 71, 132, 134
comparison of space launch systems, 36
New Shepard launch vehicle (Blue Origin), 35
New York Times (newspaper), 228, 308, 333
NIF (National Ignition Facility), plate 11, 190
NIFT vehicle (Nuclear Indigenous Fueled Transatmospheric), 161–62, 163, 164
NIMF vehicles (Nuclear rocket using indigenous Martian fuel), 297, 343
“90 Day Report” (NASA), 104–105
Noah's Ark Eggs (seed spaceships), 209–14, 319
NSS (National Space Society), 332
NSWR (nuclear salt-water rocket), 187–88, 187
NTR (nuclear thermal rocket), 163, 165, 185, 343
Titan-based methane-propelled NTR excursions to other Saturn moons, 164
use of to nudge asteroids, 296–97
nuclear-bomb driven spacecraft, 186–87, 187, 190
Nuclear Electric Propulsion systems (NEP), 160–61, 185, 296, 343
Nuclear Indigenous Fueled Transatmospheric (NIFT) vehicle, 161–62, 163, 164
nuclear reactors, 102, 111, 161, 182, 185, 202, 296
Nuclear rocket using indigenous Martian fuel (NIMF) vehicle, 297, 343
nuclear salt-water rocket (NSWR), 187–88, 187
nuclear thermal rockets. See NTR (nuclear thermal rocket)
Numerex, 180
Nye, Bill, 332
observatories, gaining knowledge through use of, 250, 252–53, 254, 256, 317
Olbers, Heinrich, 126
O'Neill, Gerard K., 34, 57, 60, 332
O'Neill space colonies, 128, 184
OneWeb (aka WorldVu), 53
water in, 171
Opportunity rover (NASA), 106
ORBCOMM satellites, 19
orbital research labs, 47–48, 50
organisms from Mars, potential dangers to Earth, 119–23
Origins Space Telescope, 251
Orion-nuclear-bomb-driven spacecraft, 111, 186, 187, 188, 190, 191, 330–31
“MagOrion,” 203
OSIRIS-REx mission (NASA), 130–31
Ostro, Steve, 129
getting around the outer solar system, 162
solar system energy resources of, 159
See also specific celestial objects (i.e., Oort Cloud, Triton, Uranus, etc.)
oxygen, 92
cryogenic hydrogen and oxygen, 102, 339–40
See also hydrogen/oxygen propellant; methane/oxygen propellant
Paine, Thomas, 112
Pallas (planetoid), 125
“panspermia” hypothesis on sources of life on Earth, 255, 259
Park, Jaeyoung, 180
Patent Office (US), 139
patents from space exploration and colonization, 48, 115–16, 139–40
Pathfinder lander (NASA), 105
Patte, email to, 219
payloads
of Blue Origin rockets, 41
comparison of two-stage and one-stage rockets, 42
cost of delivering to GEO vs. LEO, 58
fairing, 340
of interstellar spacecraft, 188, 196
and Mars Direct program, 102, 103, 109
mass ratio and payload as a function of delta-V, 44
and nuclear-bomb driven spacecraft, 187
of SpaceX rockets, 27, 39, 41, 110, 111, 134, 212, 339, 344
Falcon rockets, 11, 19, 28, 33, 42, 69, 70, 77, 80, 107, 108, 133
of Vector-R rockets, 37
PayPal, 30
Pearson, Jerome, 94
Pegasus 51b (extrasolar planet), 239
“Penning traps,” 192
perfluoromethane (CF4), 218, 219
Phobos tether system, 141
photometric planet detection, 242, 244. See also Kepler Space Telescope mission
photosynthesis, role of in atmospheres, 216, 220, 221, 223, 226, 232
photovoltaics, 78, 83, 109, 113, 132
nanophotovoltaics, 233
Piazzi, Giuseppe, 125
Pickering Lecture, 244
Pioneer Astronautics, 37, 55, 92, 147–48
Pioneer Energy, 148
Pioneer 10 and 11 missions, 152, 166
planetary protection against alien organisms, 119–23
Planetary Resources, 138–39, 140
planetoids, 125
plasma, 84, 85, 202–203, 208, 291
and fusion, 85–86, 159, 160, 176, 178, 179, 180, 188, 344
See also tokamaks
plasma sail systems, 204–206, 210
and sail devices, 203, 204, 205, 206, 210, 342
Plasma Physics Fusion, 180
platinum group metals, 137–39, 138
Plato, 312
Polyakov, Max, 38
population, estimating for the galaxy, 265–69, 268
Project LINUS, 179
Project Orion, 186–87, 187. See also Orion-nuclear-bomb-driven spacecraft
propellants and propulsion, plate 12
antimatter propulsion systems
antimatter annihilation, 191–93
bipropellants, 24, 103, 108, 109, 339
chemical propulsion systems, 183–84
dipole drives and electric sails, 205
electric sails and dipole drives, 204–206
fission propulsion systems, 185–89
fusion propulsion systems, 189–91
compared to antimatter systems, 194–95
thin solar sails for interstellar travel, 197–99, 198
Magnetic Confinement Fusion Propulsion System, plate 12
magnetic sails (magsail), 201–204, 204, 210
methods for creating propellants on Mars, 146–50
Nuclear Electric Propulsion systems, 160–61, 296
Proton (Russian space launch system), 36, 107
Puig-Suari, Jordi, 54
pyrolyze, 343
Qualcomm, 53
Quigley, Carroll, 283
Radar Ice Satellite Explorer (RISE), 55, 56
radiation, 79, 120, 134, 156, 186, 193
radiation belts, 153, 154, 166, 167, 168
radiation doses, 74, 135, 166, 166, 167, 343
solar radiation, 104, 220, 343
radio transmissions, use of to find intelligent life, 257–58
ramjet. See Bussard, Robert, and the Bussard ramjet
Ramohalli, Kumar, 147
reconnaissance satellites, 63, 64, 65
potential impact could have had on World War II, 61–62
Red Planet. See Mars
regolith, 72, 73–74, 79, 83, 87–89, 218, 343
Resource Wars (Klare), 309
reusability of spacecraft, 21–22, 24–25, 27, 28, 29, 36, 42, 54, 57, 66–67, 92
and SpaceX, 11–12, 33, 40, 45, 107, 108, 111, 339, 340, 344
reverse water-gas shift reaction (RWGS), 147–48, 149
Ribeiro, Silvia, 228
RISE (Radar Ice Satellite Explorer), 55, 56
Robinson, Kim Stanley, 333
rocketry, fundamentals of, 43–45. See also propellants and propulsion
Rosenberg, Sanders, 145
Rosetta spacecraft, 130
Rostoker, Norman, 177
Rotary Rocket, 32
Russia, current space launch capabilities, 35–37
comparison of space launch systems, 36
Rutan, Burt, 29
RWGS (reverse water-gas shift reaction), 147–48, 149
Sabatier reaction (methanation reaction), 102, 146, 147, 342, 343
Sagan, Carl, 220–21, 223, 240, 287, 332
salmon fishery, restoring, 227–29
Samsung, 53
Sandia Lab, 180
Santa Fe Institute, 262
Santarius, John, 83
See also antisatellite systems (ASAT); communications and data satellites; reconnaissance satellites; solar energy, solar power satellites (SPS)
Saturn Express (concept project), 200–201
Saturn system, 155, 181, 200–201
discoveries of, 152
exploration spacecraft to, 153
Titan-based methane-propelled NTR excursions to other Saturn moons, 164
water on, 155–56, 157, 163, 164, 165
See also specific moons (i.e., Dione, Enceladus, Titan)
solar system energy resources of, 159
statistics on getting to and back from, 162
Saturn V (rocket), 11, 36, 41, 102, 107, 108, 329, 343
Schiller, Friedrich, 327
Schmitt, Harrison, 83
Schwarzenegger, Arnold, 235
Scientific American (journal), 283
scoops, magnetic. See magnetic sails (magsail)
SDIO (Strategic Defense Initiative Organization) (US), 13
Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), 256–57, 258
SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space), 29, 34
seed spaceships (Noah's Ark Eggs), 209–14
SEI (Space Exploration Initiative), 343
self-replicating complex systems, 231–32, 236. See also nanotechnology
SFS (Small Falcon Spaceship), 111–12
Shackleton Crater (on the moon), 76
SHARAD ground-penetrating radar, 14, 106
Shelley, Percy B., 334
Shergotty (SNC meteorite), 343
Sieck, Paul, 180
silicon, 72, 82–83, 149, 171, 232, 285, 303–304
single-stage rocket systems, 40–41, 45, 344
payloads for one and two stage reusable rockets, 42
Skylab space station, 118, 132
Slough, John, 179
SLS rocket (NASA), 36, 77, 132, 134, 157
Smallest Possible Affordable Robust Compact (SPARC), 177
Small Falcon Spaceship (SFS), 111–12
Snyder, Timothy, 308
Socrates, 312
SoftBank Group, 53
Sojourner (Mars lander), 105
solar energy, 31, 34, 57, 73, 76, 159, 265, 304
limited availability in outer solar system, 167, 173–74
sending from moon back to earth, 82–83, 90
solar power satellites, 34, 57–60
use of on Mars, 111
solar light pressure at 1 AU, 200
solar sails, plate 13, 116, 196–98, 221, 234, 235, 258, 344
use of as reflectors to increase solar flux, 222–23
use of to amplify brightness of stars, 237–38
See also IKAROS solar sail spacecraft; light sails
solar-wind pushed magsail, 203, 204
Soyuz (Russian space launch system), 36
space activism, how to achieve, 327–31
what individuals can do, 331–34
Space Exploration Initiative, 105
spaceflights/space travel
commercial benefits of
communications and data satellites, 51–56
developing commercial energy system in space, 57–60
fast global travel on Earth, 40–43
going beyond Earth orbit, 66–68
orbital research labs, 47–48, 50
fundamentals of rocketry, 43–45
change of mass ratio and payload of a rocket, 44
health effects of long-duration spaceflight, 133–35
military uses and deterring a war, 60–66
outer solar system
need for advanced second or third generation systems to settle, 173–74
statistics on getting to and back from, 162
program of action to achieve, 328–31
what individuals can do, 331–34
reasons for pursuing
for the future we can create, 315–25
for the knowledge gained, 249–69
need for a frontier and challenges, 272–74, 275–84
for survival of humanity, 287–99
spin-offs from space program, 284–86
STEM graduates in US (1960–1990), 285–86, 285
See also interstellar travel
Space Frontier Foundation, 332–33
Space Internet, 53
space launches
comparison of space launch systems, 36
consequences of cheap space launches, 24–28
for developing solar power satellite systems, 57–58
getting to a $200 per kilogram cost, 27–28
importance of a two-stage system to reduce costs, 39–45
lower costs allowing for orbital industries, 49–50
See also commercial benefits of spaceflight
Elon Musk and development of SpaceX, 30–37
impact of cost-plus contracts, 22–24, 330–31
need for reusable spacecraft, 21–23
skyhook as alternate means of Earth-to-orbit transit, 93–94
See also propellants and propulsion
space power, use of and deterring a war, 60–66
Space Resources (Lewis), 136
Spaceship One, 29
space superiority vs. space supremacy, 62–63
SpaceX, plate 6, plate 7, 12, 19–21, 21, 27–28, 53, 77, 84, 175, 211, 328
heavy-lift rockets, 107
Interplanetary Transport System plan, plate 7, 107–10
See also Starship (rocket) (SpaceX)
planned 2023 artists’ cruise around, plate 9
sending Tesla Roadster past Mars, 11
Starlink satellites, 53
See also Falcon (rocket) (SpaceX); Musk, Elon
SPARC (Smallest Possible Affordable Robust Compact) fusion reactor, 177
specific impulse (Isp), 45, 143, 160–61, 163, 193–94, 296, 297, 341, 344
spherical tokamak (ST), 175–76, 176, 180
“spheromak,” 180
spin-offs from space program, 284–86
STEM graduates in US (1960–1990), 285–86, 285
Spire Lemur-2 CubeSats, plate 4
Spirit rover (NASA), 106
SPS (solar power satellites), 34, 57–60
Sridhar, K. R., 147
SR-71 (Boeing), 277
ST (spherical tokamak), 175–76, 176, 180
Stapledon, Olaf, 238
Starlink (SpaceX), 53
Star Maker (Stapeldon), 238
stars, travel to. See interstellar travel
Starship (rocket) (SpaceX), 11, 12, 27–28, 28, 41, 77, 112, 134–35, 344
originally known as BFR, 110, 334, 344
reducing launch costs of, 27
See also Interplanetary Transport System (ITS) (SpaceX)
Star Trek (television series), 323
Steins (asteroid), 130
stellarators, 84
STEM graduates in US (1960–1990), 285–86, 285
Stoker, Carol, 333
Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) (US), 13
stromatolites (bacterial fossils), 260
Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS), 29, 34
“Summer Triangle,” 240
sunlight as source of propulsion. See light sails
superconductors, 177, 180, 203
Surveyor probe, 77
survival as reason for reaching out to space travel, 287–99
Sutherland, Derek, 180
TAE (Tri-Alpha Energy), 177–78, 177
Tang as a space-program spin-off, 284
Tarter, Jill, 240
time to reach using Noah's Ark Egg project, 211
vision of for the year 3000, 318–19
Taylor, Ted, 186
technological civilizations, 267
lifetime of an average, 264, 266
numbers of in our galaxy, 264, 266–67, 269
resources as a function of technology, 303–304
vision of for the year 3000, 320–21
Teflon as a space-program spin-off, 284
telerobotic operations, 70, 102, 344
telescopes, gaining knowledge through use of, 250–51, 253, 256. See also specific telescopes (i.e., Hubble Space Telescope, Origins Space Telescope, TESS telescope, etc.)
Terminator 2 (movie), 235
of Callisto, 223
of Earth to avert global warming, 224–30
of Mars and Mars-like worlds, plate 14, 117–19, 217–19, 222–23
role of robotics, bioengineering, nanotechnology, and picotechnology, 230–37
of Titan, 223
of worlds that are too hot, 220–23
TESS telescope (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite), 244, 251
thermonuclear fusion. See fusion
Thiel, Peter, 179
thrust, 38, 143, 185–86, 188, 191, 193, 194, 296–97, 344
of fission reactor propulsion, 143
of fusion reactor propulsion, 160, 161, 168, 179
use of high thrust FRC rockets to depart Jupiter, 179
of Interplanetary Transport System (SpaceX), 108
and magnetic sails, 202, 203, 204
and Noah's Ark Eggs (seed spaceships), 210
and Nuclear Electric Propulsion systems, 343
and nuclear thermal rockets, 343
Titan (moon of Saturn), 152, 260
commercial development of, 162–65, 168
terraforming of, 223
Titius, Johann Daniel, 125
Tito, Dennis, 33
TLI (translunar injection), 107, 110, 111
TMI (Trans-Mars injection), 77, 344
spherical tokamak, 175–76, 176
spherical tokamak (ST), 180
See also fusion, entrepreneurial fusion revolution
Tombaugh, Clyde W., 152
Toutatis (near-Earth object), 129
Transcontinental Railroad, 97, 97
Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS telescope), 244, 251
“Translife” mission, 31
translunar injection orbit (TLI), 107, 109, 110, 111
Trans-Mars injection (TMI), 77, 344
Tri-Alpha Energy (TAE), 177–78, 178
Triton (moon of Neptune), 152, 237
Tsiolkovsky, Konstantin, 316
Turner, Frederick Jackson on importance of having a frontier to conquer, 272–73
Twigg, Robert, 54
two-stage rocket systems, 39–45
payloads for one and two stage reusable rockets, 42
types of civilization. See civilizations, types of
Ulam, Stanislaw, 186
United Launch Alliance (Lockheed Martin-Boeing), 35
comparison of space launch systems, 36
universe, why it is an ultimate mystery, 260
universes born within black holes, 262
University of Rochester/Sandia Lab project, 180
discoveries of, 152
exploration spacecraft to, 153
moons of, 152
solar system energy resources of, 159
statistics on getting to and back from, 162
Van Allen, James, 166
Vancouver Sun (newspaper), 228–29
vapor pressure, 344
Vector-H microsatellite launcher, 36
Vector-R microsatellite launcher, 36, 37
Velcro as a space-program spin-off, 284
Venrock, 177
Venus
IKAROS solar sail spacecraft flying to, 197
NASA and Soviet probes reaching, 220
Verne, Jules, 318
Viking mission (NASA), 119, 153
Virgin Galactic, 12, 29–30, 38, 42, 43
virtual reality allowing visits to space, 98–99
Von Neumann, John, 231
Voyager missions (NASA), 154, 167, 168, 181, 183, 184
Voyager 2, 153
wars
belief in inevitability of, 305–309, 309
use of space power to deter, 60–66
War with the Newts, The (Čapek), 212
water
on asteroids, 130, 131, 140, 142–43, 294, 297
on Jupiter's moons, plate 10, 153–54, 167
Kepler mission finding, 242
on Mars, 14, 101, 102–103, 105–106, 109, 113–15, 117, 118, 120, 146–49, 218, 222, 297
on the moon, 13, 55, 69, 70, 73, 75–76, 79, 79, 81, 91–92, 145–46
nuclear salt-water rocket, 187–88, 187
in Oort cloud, 171
reverse water-gas shift reaction, 147–48, 149
on Saturn's moons, 155–56, 157, 163, 164, 165
water vapor, 13
on Venus, 222
Webb, Walter Prescott, 271
Webb space telescope, 201, 251
Wellcome Trust, 177
WFIRST (WideField InfraRed Space Telescope), 251
Whitmire, Daniel, 202
Whyte, Dennis, 177
WideField InfraRed Space Telescope (WFIRST), 251
Williams, John, 148
WorldVu (aka OneWeb), 53
impact present technology could have had on, 61–62
Wyler, Greg, 53
XPRIZE Foundation, 29
Young, Larry, 133
zero-gravity. See gravity
Zubrin, Robert, 108, 146, 147, 154, 175, 178, 202–203, 215
The Case for Mars, 30, 31, 101, 141, 217–18, 222–23, 297
on complexity theory applied to the universe, 262–63
email on terraforming Mars, 219
and the Mars Society, 30–31, 32, 332, 333–34
vision for the year 2069, 317
vision for the year 3000, 318–24