The author does a good job documenting space exploration through 2004, especially manned exploration. Klerkx thinks of exploration the way most of us would, as going to and investigating new places, not as repairing equipment or simply conducting experiments. To that end he shows how the United States, through NASA, has stopped exploring. He chronicles how NASA lost its desire and ability to explore and then investigates alternatives to space exploration outside of NASA, believing NASA to be a nemesis rather than a facilitator.

Those of us who have both witnessed the United States space efforts over several decades and who also have a solid grounding in astronimy have independently come to the same conclusion. Specifically we realize that manned exploration is worthwhile and that the goal for our generation is to reach Mars, and that a moon base and earth-orbiting space station are not part of exploration.

Klerkx puts this view together pretty well, and describes the efforts outside NASA that are trying to further true exploration toward Mars.

I recommend this book for those curious about space exploration, its history and the future paths space activity may take. ( )