Higher than Everest [antikvár]

PrefaceThis is a book about the planets and their moons, disguised as a guidebook. It takes you to each planet (and to some really interesting satellites) by describing a possible adventure involving certain spectacular planetary features. Each adventure is hypothetically possible, though none is easy and it will be many years before anyone will be taldng any of these trips. In many cases, the extreme conditions to be encountered are truly formidable and they will require remarkable spacecraft and equally remarkable space suits. But I believe that each of them will one day be done. What seemed impossible not long ago is now routine.Of course, recently we have experienced something of a halt in adventurous space travel. It seems a long time ago since the Apollo program. Apparently, for the moment, humanity is more willing to spend its extra money on other things. Some of these other things are very important. Some of the world needs to expend its resources on its people, who need adequate food and shelter, education and a society that serves its individual members. Other parts of the world seem to have less desperate needs and they are satisfying their appetites for more luxurious homes, bigger vehicles and newer computers. For all of the world there is a critical lack of concern for the Earth's future and more effort and resources must be spent on preserving our planet's health and livability. I believe, though, that the time will come when the world will be able to catch up with the space agencies' marvelous far-seeing vision, which has been kept alive even in periods of budget cuts and political apathy. We will explore the planets and, after the initial scientific work is done, some of us will not be able to resist the call of adventure. Until that time arrives, you can begin planning some spectacular trips ahead of time by reading this guidebook.Note on technicalities: The descriptions of the planets' and moons' surfaces given in this book are based on current understanding. Details will certainly change as we study them further. I have tried to indicate where scientists are presently uncertain about the details and, of course, the adventures themselves are hypothetical. I am thanldul to the scientists who have reviewed the text, especially to Dr. Toby Smith.