Case for Mars

Robert Zubrin

Jun 2011 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this eBook

Since the beginning of human history Mars has been an alluring dream—the stuff of legends, gods, and mystery. The planet most like ours, it has still been thought impossible to reach, let alone explore and inhabit.

Now with the advent of a revolutionary new plan, all this has changed. Leading space exploration authority Robert Zubrin has crafted a daring new blueprint, Mars Direct, presented here with illustrations, photographs, and engaging anecdotes.

The Case for Mars is not a vision for the far future or one that will cost us impossible billions. It explains step-by-step how we can use present-day technology to send humans to Mars within ten years; actually produce fuel and oxygen on the planet's surface with Martian natural resources; how we can build bases and settlements; and how we can one day "terraform" Mars—a process that can alter the atmosphere of planets and pave the way for sustainable life.

Ratings and reviews

For me, and I would expect anyone with an interest in how we can and will get to Mars, this is a must read. It does a good job of explaining the challenges of going to Mars, and how they are all within our capability. While it won't go exactly how he proposes in the book (I think), he does a good case of explaining how to approach the goal to keep costs/risks in check.

There are times where things are repeated in the book, but given the crucial importance of Mars to survival of the species, frontier for freedom, and advancement of technology, it doesn't hurt to drive the point home. Its the first book I've read on the potential of Mars and I'm surprisingly enthused and optimistic.

As a first year university of british columbia engineering student, i found this book to be fairly detailed and presented an excellent approach to mars exploration that is usually overlooked in favour of grandeur.

About the author

Robert Zubrin, formerly a senior engineer at Lockheed Martin, is the founder of Pioneer Astronautics, a space-exploration research and development firm. Currently chairman of the executive committee of the National Space Society, Dr. Zubrin lives with his family in Indian Hills, Colorado.