Detailed item info | Details | | Series: | Smithsonian Library of the Solar System |
| | Size | | Length: | 308 pages | | Height: | 9.3 in. | | Width: | 6.8 in. | | Thickness: | 1.0 in. | | Weight: | 24.8 oz. |
| | Publisher's Note | The Once and Future Moon describes the scientific legacy of the 1960s Apollo landings as well as the 1994 Clementine mission, which led to the first global mapping of the Moon and the unexpected discovery of ice in the areas near its south pole. Spudis presents a detailed picture of the Moon's composition and geological history: he describes the domes, cones, and channels created by its now inactive volcanoes, as well as the four billion years of bombardment evident in the regolith - a layer of dust and rock debris that thickly covers the lunar surface. He traces the evolution and properties of the Moon's crust and explains the currently accepted but unproven "Big Whack" theory of lunar origin. The Moon, Spudis contends, is a kind of Rosetta stone, enabling us to read the otherwise indecipherable text of planetary evolution. The far side of the Moon, uniquely shielded from Earth's electrical din, offers a quiet, stable site for unprecedented observations of the universe. Even a small array of telescopes situated there would far exceed the resolving capabilities of the Hubble Space Telescope. Providing an evenhanded chronicle of the fluctuating fortunes of the U.S. space program, this book presents as well a rational plan for humanity's return to the Moon.
| | Industry reviews | In 1994, barely noticed on Earth, an unmanned spacecraft called Clementine mapped the composition and topography of our moon. That the worldwide excitement carried along by Gemini and Apollo has fallen back to the current indifference regarding our nearest neighbor in space is an unfortunate state that this book aims to correct. Written by a leading scientist from that productive, unheralded mission, it seeks to update our understanding of the moon and rekindle interest in returning to it. The author's enthusiasm for his subject is infectious as he recounts the history of lunar exploration, what we have learned of its composition, and the various theories of its origin, and he even renders the rather profuse geological detail more palatable than it might have been. Spudis explains how much could be gained by a renewed long-term but not necessarily expensive commitment to explore and use the moon. Clearly written and informative, this book can be recommended for most science collections. Patrick Dunn, East Tennessee State Univ. Libs., Johnson City
Ives
Spudis, a geologist with the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, does his level best to interest readers in the "ancient and silent world of the Moon" in this copiously illustrated report. With a wealth of scientific detail, he describes the history and composition, observation and exploration, of our nearest cosmic neighbor a cold, lifeless satellite lacking a protecting atmosphere. The moon's deeply pocked surface bears witness to its violent beginnings, and Spudis believes that by studying the moon we can glean information about Earth's origins, as the two bodies share a history of cosmic bombardment. He writes clearly, providing effective if pedestrian analogies to clarify scientific phenomena. His narrative comes to life only when he passionately advocates a return to the moon, which he views as a civic as well as a scientific necessity. He outlines a surprisingly cost-effective program for taking both human and robotic explorers to the moon within the decade. There are resources to be mined, data to be retrieved and, critically, a national sense of pride and optimism to be revived, he says. His text begins to resemble low-grade science fiction, however, when he progresses from lunar exploration and utilization to colonization; his descriptions of a space-faring civilization on the moon is tentative and forced. Spudis will be most effective preaching to the converted, those possessed of a scientific bent who have already caught the lunar bug. Others may find him nearly as dry as the lunar plains. (Dec.)
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