Human missions to Mars : enabling technologies for exploring the red planet /

Rapp's book is a very readable, critical view of possible explorations of Mars. He is very candid about his skepticism of human missions to the Red Planet, but fairly and justifiably defends the need for both skeptics and advocates in scientific and engineering endeavors. The book discusses in detail the many technologies that must be developed and demonstrated before a successful human mission to Mars can occur. The chapter on the mission profile clearly explains the intricacies of orbital dynamics and the difficulties in sending material to Mars and returning it safely. The next chapter describes mission-critical elements such as consumables, radiation effects and shielding, habitats, and mission safety. The rest of the book details proposed solutions to these problems and provides a detailed mission analysis by various groups and organizations. The appendixes give significant details about solar energy and water on Earth's moon and Mars. The work is an excellent analysis of the difficulties posed by a human mission to Mars. Rapp makes a convincing argument that NASA will not be able to mount such a mission before 2080. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections. D. B. Mason Albright College