ARTICLE IN PRESS

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Space Policy 22 (2006) 152

wwwelseviercomlocatespacepol

Book review

Michael Ross From Footprints to Blueprints Development

of the Moon and Private Enterprise AuthorHouse Bloo-

mington IN ISBN1-4208-2522-4 2005 (252 pp)

At a time when five governments are planning lunarmissions another contribution to the growing body ofliterature about the Moon is welcome This one has 23concise chapters on a wide variety of relevant topics fromthe funding and types of lunar projects to lunar construc-tion and engineering Each has a useful bibliography andthe three appendices are also worthwhile providing as theydo descriptions of lunar solar power systems and a themepark on the Moon plus a helpful glossary

The foreword was written by David Schrunk He makessome telling points on lunar projects such as (1) gainingnew scientific knowledge for the accomplishment of evermore ambitious goals is a defining characteristic ofhumankind (2) the most practical and expeditious meansfor becoming a spacefaring civilization is to undertake athorough exploration and human settlement of theMoonmdashthe subject of this volume An aeronauticalengineer and physician Schrunk maintains that the reasonfor doing this is to gain access to unlimited lunar resourcesto advance science and engineering to utilize the oppor-tunity for international cooperation to expand businessopportunities off-world and to open up the endless highfrontier He thinks the 2003 lsquoHawaii Declarationrsquo of theInternational Lunar Exploration Working Group as wellas the 2004 US presidential policy directive for NASA toplan for a permanent return to the Moon and beyondconfirm this thesis and warrant the work under review

From Footprints to Blueprints is one aeronauticalengineerrsquos vision in this regard and a plea for discussionof his proposed strategies Based in Toronto Michael Rosshas extensive international project engineering experienceHe shares many cogent pragmatic ideas for lunardevelopment and provides 50 plates to illustrate histhinking The most useful are his own engineering drawingsof such possibilities as lunar enterprise site and habitatdesigns lunar vehicles and spacecraft lunar railroads(something proposed by Schrunk) and lunar constructionand engineering operations The author organizes histhemes around a summary succinct explanations ofproposed strategy and graphics to help readers visualizehis points I would have appreciated fewer NASA lunarphotos from the past and more exposition of the authorrsquosvisual conceptions for our future prospects on the Moon

acepol200602003

Some of his most valuable insights relate to Moon supportand transportation systems spaceports power generationand electrical systems and real estate managementAlthough he provides input on the UN space treaties hesays nothing about governance issues for lunar settlersPerhaps this will be in his sequel Sleeves that Brush the

Cosmos which is to treat of the human dimensions of livingand working on the MoonIn his rationale Ross discusses the opening of new

frontiers in order to create wealth and prosperity bypursuing space initiatives Yet I wish he had devoted morecontent on why earthkind must explore and develop outerspace starting with the Moon I can understand why hedevoted so much content to building on the Apolloheritagemdashwhat he calls the lsquofootprintsrsquo But I would havepreferred more innovative and futuristic thinking aboutgoing off the Earthmdashhis lsquoblueprintsrsquo starting with a lunarbase to launch our species to Mars and the Solar System Ifavor going back directly to the Moon and do not agreewith the writerrsquos plans for a second costly space station inlow-Earth orbit as an Earth-orbiting assembly and main-tenance facility Ross mentions the need for consortia bothwithin the private and public sectors I disagree withNASArsquos present lsquogo-it-alonersquo lunar policy when we knowRussia China Japan and India are also working oncomparable plans for the Moon This should be aninternational venture that promotes synergy in space Inmy lunar industrial novel Launch Out I proposed theestablishment of a Global Space Trust by which privateenterprise could collaborate on risky costly lunar under-takingAlthough the author is to be commended for his

investment in this work I think his publisher did him adisservice in the layout of this volume Instead of so manyblank spaces a larger typefront should have been usedalong with bold subheadings to differentiate blocks ofcontent The flow of the book would have benefited fromsome real professional editing Having said that wouldthat more engineers like Michael Ross would have thecourage to share their lunar thinkingThe book can be ordered from wwwAuthorHousecom

and the author can be contacted at michaelross1930hotmailcom

Philip Harris2702 Costebelle Drive La Jolla CA 92037 USA

E-mail address philharrisaolcom