Customer Reviews

On to Mars 2: Exploring and Settling a New World (Apogee Books Space Series)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

this book is actually a collection of scientific papers on the topic of Mars mission planning. If you are not a serious scientist or amateur engrossed in the subject you will be bored. I was expecting more material from Zubrin. I recommend instead Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan

This book is for the serious reader and the space enthusiast who sees Mars as a real future endeavor. If you believe in the reality of space exploration and wish to see just how we can go about getting there, then this book is for you. There is also poetry, light hearted looks at Mars themes, etc. It comes with a CD as well. It is a culmination of several serious space related authors who came together, like Lewis & Clark, to explore new frontiers. Only this time they look beyond our blue planet.

Just got done reviewing On to Mars vol 1 ...4 stars.

Here is On to Mars vol 2 Exploring and Settling a New World. I wanted to get up to speed on some of the papers submitted to the Mars Society I belong to.

All of the papers were at least 3 stars and several 5 stars. I liked page 45 about the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah...5 stars.
Page 126 In Situ Martian Construction was very interesting as well as some of the pictures. Page 95 Project Greenhouse was very interesting...5 stars. Some of the propulsion papers were interesting... 4 stars.There was a lot for everyone.

This was a slow reading book for me and took me well over a year to finish. I only read a paper when I had spare time, when I wasn't reading another book, or doing outside work...like when it rained and I was off work.

I found the papers a little better than the 3 1/2 star papers on the first volume. This 2nd volume papers were 4 star.

The DVD was great seeing the 7 participates using the Hab on Devon Island in the far north, isolated island in Canada... The Stepping Stone to Mars. Fascinating stuff putting on their "spacesuits", showing how their special fire burner toilet works, guns on the ready against Polar Bears and the problems that had to be solved in training for a Mars expedition. Lots of useful data learned for the future manned landing on Mars.

There were some Mars songs on the DVD, a few were really good 5 stars. Some were not that great.

The book On To Mars 2 Exploring and Settling a New World book and DVD together 4 stars. Anyone wanting to catch up on old papers submitted to the Mars Society and wanting a DVD explaining the work done at the Hab in Devon Island and learning new knowledge for the future manned mission to Mars will enjoy this book.