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EDITORIAL INFORMATION

Over the last two decades, a consensus has developed that human exploration of Mars should be the long term goal of the American space program. One of the key forums for developing the strategy for Mars exploration has been the Case for Mars conferences, organized by a group of Mars enthusiasts known as the Mars Underground, and cosponsored by the American Astronautical Society. This book had its genesis in the many ideas presented and discussions held at Case for Mars over the last 15 years. Strategies for Mars: A Guide to Human Exploration is intended to provide a broad background on the wide range of topics relevant to human exploration of Mars.

(Extracted from the foreword, by the editors).

GENERAL TABLE OF CONTENTS

-Fellow Traveler - Poem and Book Dedication to Thomas O. Paine.

-Foreword.

-Prologue. Steps to Mars. Daniel Goldin.

-SECTION I: MAKING THE CASE FOR MARS.

-1- Why Should Humans Explore Space?
-2- The Significance of the Martian Frontier.
-3- The Millenium Project.
-4- Mars: The Media... the Masses... and the Message.
-5- Strategic Communications Planning and the Case for Mars.
-6- Managing the Exploration of the Moon and Mars.

-SECTION II - GETTING THERE: INTERPLANETARY TRANSPORT ISSUES.

-7- Mars Mission Concepts: The von Braun Era.
-8- Pathways to Mars: An Overview of Flight Profiles and Staging Options for Mars Missions.
-9- Mars Mission Designs: Comparing the Near Term Options.
-10- Artificial Gravity: Design Implications for Mars Vehicles.
-11- Nuclear Rockets: High-Perfomance Propulsion for Mars.
-12- Nuclear Electric Propulsion for Human Mars Missions.

-SECTION III - LIVING IN SPACE: THE HUMAN ELEMENT.

-13- Biomedical Issues in the Exploration of Mars.
-14- The Human Side of Mars Flight: A Review of Human Factors Issues.
-15- From the Great Voyages of Exploration to Missions to Mars.
-16- The Interplanetary Radiation Environment and Methods to Shield from it.

-SECTION IV - BEING THERE: LIVING AND WORKING ON MARS.

-17- Moving in on Mars: The Hitchhiker's Guide to Martian Life Support.
-18- Living in Space: Results from Biosphere 2's Initial Closure, an Early Testbed for Closed Ecological Systems on Mars.
-19- Using the Resources of Mars for Human Settlement.
-20- Mars Rovers.
-21- First Mars Outpost Habitation Strategy.

-SECTION V - SCIENCE ON MARS.

-22- Scientific Objectives of Human Exploration of Mars.
-23- Science Strategy for Human Exploration of Mars.

-SECTION VI - COSTS AND BENEFITS OF MARS EXPLORATION.

-24- The Cost of Sending Humans to Mars.
-25- Mars Colonization: Technically Feasible, Affordable, and a Universal Human Drive.

-EPILOGUE.

-26- Beyond Mars... Into the Universe at Large.

- INDEX.

-Numerical Index.
-Author Index.

OUR REVIEW

Such a fascinating issue as the exploration of the Red Planet will certainly attract the attention of all those readers who are interested in space flights. The thrill we felt during the legendary missions to the Moon would no doubt be dwarfed by such a magnificient enterprise. Yet... Is it possible? There have been many lectures about this issue, as well as many articles talking about it. However, it is difficult to find a single book which achieves to join together the wide range of issues that have to be taken into account for such a venture (from a technological, budgetary, scientific... viewpoint). Strategies for Mars: A Guide to Human Exploration is one of the few, valuable works we have available today which thoroughly examines all the factors that will play a role in this adventure, and it does so with the contributions of numerous experts who update the fascinating perspective of our future visit to Mars.

The articles gathered in this book may then satisfy both those who wish to study a given aspect of the Martian exploration in depth and those who would rather have a general, concise view of everything concerning this project. The authors of the different papers have greatly contributed to it, each from their own fields of interest and professional excellence, which guarantees the precision of their arguments and the realism of their proposals. No doubt this book will make a fine, interesting addition to the library sponsored by the American Astronautical Society.