The Once and Future Moon [Paperback]

Spudis Pd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 17, 1998

"Clearly written and informative. . . . The author's enthusiasm for his subject is infectious as he recounts the history of lunar exploration, what we have learned of (the moon's) composition, and the various theories of its origin".--"Library Journal". 111 photos, 18 in color.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

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
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 308 pages
• Publisher: Smithsonian (February 17, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560988479
• ISBN-13: 978-1560988472
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #727,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Manifesto For Mankind's Return to the Moon, June 27, 2003

By 

givbatam3 "givbatam3" (REHOVOT Israel) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Once and Future Moon (Paperback)

Dr Paul Spudis is one of the preeminent lunar geologists today and in his book he makes an eloquent argument for the importance of continuing manned exploration of the moon which ended with the return of Apollo 17 in December 1972.

The book is divided into two parts. The first gives a description of the bulk characteristics of the moon. He then goes into a fairly detailed description of what exploration of the moon has revealed in terms of lunar geology. The geological part of the book is written on the level of the "educated layman" so some might find it difficult by a glossary is provided that helps considerably. Spudis is not afraid to challenge the "commonly accepted wisdom". For example, he expresses a healthy skepticism about parts of the now largely accepted "big whack theory" that says a Mars-sized primordial object impacted the fledgling earth in a glancing blow that ejected a large amount of material into space which went into orbit around the earth and later coalesced inot the Moon and also greatly speeded up the earth's rotation about its axis. Spudis says the theory is so broad that it is used to explain away inconvenient data of which he provides examples.

The last part of the book consists of ideas on how the Moon could be explored and colonized in the future on an economically viable basis. For example the lunar regolith (soil) consists of a lot of oxygen which could be extracted. Similarly, the Clementine and Lunar Prospector spacecraft have possibly found water in the permanently shaded regions of craters near the lunar north and south poles which could be exploited in order to "live off the land".

Finally, Spudis makes an eloquent plea for the continuation of manned exploration of space pointing out that it is not enough to use robot spacecraft, but only man himself, on the spot, can really understand and analyze what is being seen firsthand, as well as having the ability to overcome unforeseen problems and malfunctions. Since the Moon is much closer to the Earth than Mars is and is much cheaper and easier to reach, the Moon is the logical choice as the next destination for continued exploration of the Solar System.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An introduction to Lunar Science, March 9, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Once and Future Moon (Hardcover)

This is the best introduction to the moon that I've encountered. Dr. Spudis clearly addresses the varies areas of lunar exploration--both past and future--and the findings of these visits. While addressing the issues of lunar geology (basin formation, cratering, volcanism, and regolith formation), he keeps the language non-technical and even enjoyable to read. While other introductions fail (in my mind) by being too brief, this volume 'does it all'. I have been very pleased with this book and highly recommend it as the only quality introductory text on the moon

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Discussion of the Moon's Origins, Exploration, and Reasons for Returning There, May 8, 2006

By 

Roger D. Launius "Historian" (Washington, D.C., United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Once and Future Moon (Paperback)

No one has been a more eloquent spokesperson for a return to the Moon than lunar scientist Paul Spudis, currently on the staff of the Applied Physics Laboratory of the Johns Hopkins University. This book is both a breathless survey of the history of lunar exploration, using both robotic spacecraft and the astronauts of Apollo, as well as an eloquent statement of rationales for renewed involvement with the Moon.

In his first part Spudis concentrates on describing the Moon and what humans know about it. As a geologist he focuses on the landforms of the Moon, systematically working through discussions of the regolith, volcanism, tectonic actions, impacts and the creation of the lunar face. In this context he discusses in some detail the origins of the Moon, a subject of perennial debate in scientific circles. While still contested, Spudis notes that detailed information from the Apollo exploration of the Moon pointed toward an impact theory--which suggests that the Earth collided with a very large object (as big as Mars or more)--and that the Moon formed from the ejected material. This "big whack" theory explained well what was learned about the geology and selenogony of the Moon during the Apollo program. While there are still details to be worked out, the impact theory is now widely accepted. In the end, Spudis believes that only further research will be able to resolve this question.

The heart of "The Once and Future Moon," however, is Spudis's erudite and impassioned plea for a return to the Moon after more than a generation, the manner in which it might be accomplished, and the scientific activities that might take place there. He offers many reasons for undertaking a renewed lunar exploration program. The rationales include everything from scientific exploration of the Moon, essentially completing the task begun by earlier efforts, as well as developing the resources of the Moon for human use, and engaging in other lunar activities such as astronomy from its surface.

This is a very fine book. Now a decade old, it is time for a new edition of the work, discussing the debate over the possibilities of ice on the lunar poles, and NASA's plans for returning to our nearest neighbor in the solar system. I hope Spudis will undertake this revision in the near term. Until then, I highly recommend this work as an outstanding explanation of the Moon and its place in the human existence.