robert zubrin - the case for mars

i had been planning to read this book for quite a while, when i finally got my hands on it last month. so, many thanks to pali for lending me his copy. the book is a work of non-fiction by robert zubrin, a former aeronautical engineer from martin corporation (today lockheed-martin) and presents the “mars direct” proposal, developed in the 90s, as a possible route to human exploration of mars (this takes up the bulk of the book), as well as the possibility of a permanent manned outpost and eventually the terraforming of the red planet.

the book is written with the layman in mind and every technical term or concept is thoroughly explained. the author challenges many of the assumptions associated with a piloted mars mission even today, such as the need for extensive infrastructure in low earth orbit (fuel depots, space stations, assembly plants) or the need for new propulsion technologies like nuclear-thermal or electric (zubrin proposes the use of existing chemical rockets). most nasa mars mission proposals advocate a short 30- to 60-day stay on the martian surface followed by a long journey back, possibly with a venus fly-by (400+ days); conversely, the “mars direct” plan calls for a 500-day-long surface stay (until the planets line up again for a favorable launch window) and a 200+ day journey back to earth (the reasoning being that the astronauts only spend half as much time in space and are safer and much more productive on the martian surface). the entire “mars direct” proposal hinges on a concept called “in-situ resource utilisation”, which in broad terms means using local resources, for example the abundant CO2 in the martian atmosphere can be combined with hydrogen to produce methane (that’s rocket fuel) and water (and the reaction is even exothermic). the later chapters of the book propose possibilities for permanent mars outposts, outline local resources and industries that might arise and tackle the problem of terraforming mars; one chapter presents some interesting ideas for possible martian timekeeping and calendar systems. 

where the book breaks down, for me, is when the author is trying to give reasons for the necessity of human presence on mars and the best he can come up with is wholeheartedly embracing jackson turner’s very flawed and  narrow-minded “frontier thesis” (i suppose it shows that he’s a rocket scientist, not a sociologist). in a nutshell, it posits that the defining factor that shaped modern america was the western frontier and without it modern ideals of democracy, individual liberty and religious freedom would not exist. furthermore, argues zubrin, a wild west-like frontier is necessary to maintain the spirit and identity of the american people.

if the subject of mars missions, or space exploration in general, interests you, then you should definitely check out this book. alternatively, if you don’t have time to read or can’t get a hold of it, just search for “a case for mars” on youtube and there is an hour-long presentation by zubrin himself.