A Telegraph Best Book of the Year

A wry and compelling take on the who, how, and why of near-future colonies in space. From bone-whittling microgravity to eye-popping profits, the risks and rewards of space settlement have never been so close at hand.

More than fifty years after the Apollo 11 moon landing, why is there so little human presence in space? Will we ever reach Mars? What will it take to become a multiplanet species, colonizing the solar system and traveling to other stars?

Spacefarers meets these questions head on. While many books have speculated on the possibility of living beyond the Earth, few have delved into the practical challenges or plausible motives for leaving the safe confines of our home planet. Christopher Wanjek argues that there is little doubt we will be returning to the Moon and exploring Mars in the coming decades, given the potential scientific and commercial bonanza. Private industry is already taking a leading role and earning profits from human space activity. This can be, Wanjek suggests, a sustainable venture and a natural extension of earthbound science, business, and leisure. He envisions hotels in low-earth orbit and mining, tourism, and science on the Moon. He also proposes the slow, steady development of science bases on Mars, to be followed by settlements if Martian gravity will permit reproduction and healthy child development.

An appetite for wonder will take us far, but if we really want to settle new worlds, we’ll need the earnest plans of engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs. Wanjek introduces us to those planners, who are striving right now to make life in space a reality.

"Nerdily engaging (and often funny)…Technology and science fiction enthusiasts will find much here to delight them, as Wanjek goes into rich detail on rocketry and propulsion methods, including skyhooks and railguns to fling things into orbit, or maglev trains running around manmade orbital rings…He is a sensible skeptic, yet also convinced that, in the long run, our destiny is among the stars." - The Guardian

"Wanjek’s analysis of the commercial approach to space exploration adds an important perspective to the conversation about our future in space." - Science

"If the events of this year have had you daydreaming about abandoning the planet entirely, [Spacefarers] is a geekily pleasurable survey of the practicalities and challenges…This book should be given to all prospective space cadets." - The Telegraph

"A fascinating read for anyone interested in the practicalities of living away from Earth, and describes just how engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs are planning to expand humanity’s horizons." - BBC Sky at Night

"Engagingly readable…[A] delightful book." - Los Angeles Review of Books

"Of interest to anyone curious about space travel and the (possible) human colonization of outer space." - Complete Review

"Wanjek takes an optimistic look towards humanity’s future in space—not only on the Moon and Mars, but also on the asteroids and beyond…The great thing about this book is its balance between optimism and realism, between respect and frivolity." - E&T

"Charts the way to an intriguing, not-too-distant future…Though the childlike wonder that took ahold of Americans during the Apollo era seems gone, Spacefarers suggests that a future in space is within reach, inspiring wonder in an age of skepticism." - Foreword Reviews

"A welcome and timely addition to synoptic views of the future of human space exploration…Offers a solid basis to inform what is becoming an increasingly vital debate on the use and international deployment of space technologies." - Observatory

"Drawing on the science and history of space exploration, Wanjek paints scenes of future human activity across the solar system." - Science News

"Wanjek walks the reader through a realistic, scientific description of how humans could live enduringly in space in his engaging and informative book." - Strategic Studies Quarterly

"Wanjek's engaging style makes this a must-read for space enthusiasts, and for anyone who ponders our place in the universe." - Choice

"Wanjek addresses the challenges and possibilities of living in space in this inquisitive work…[He] opens up many intriguing possibilities in this wide-ranging survey." - Publishers Weekly