Toward the Moon, Asteroids, and Mars

This article, which appeared in the GAO Journal, No. 14, Winter 1991/92, discusses a practical space exploration program that would: (1) increase knowledge about how climate changes work; (2) discover metals and other resources in asteroids and develop uses for them; (3) establish a lunar base to study such problems of broad interest as the obliteration of many terrestial species 65 million years ago; (4) reach Mars and visit Phobos to learn more about the origins of asteroids and satellites and use Phobos as a ready-made space station and supply base for Martian exploration; and (5) explore Mars' surface.