Dan Gillespie ESD.30 Due: 2 April 2007 Book Review: The Reluctant Space-Farers: A Study in the Politics of Discovery This book, written in 1965 by Frank Gibney and George J. Feldman, examines the implications of America’s space effort, “in particular as they affect areas of life not normally regarded as ‘scientific’” ([1]p. 5). Written during the Apollo program, over four years before the successful moon landing, it gives insights into the expectations held by the authors for what space exploration would mean to the nation, and the world. Although much of their analysis is well thought out and supported by facts, their conclusions are quite opinionated, and their self declared “capstone thesis”, that the space exploration effort would eventually replace war (p. 156), is extremely optimistic and has proven over time to be too idealistic. In this commentary on the space program several themes become clear: strong support for the space effort; anger at Eisenhower’s slow start in space and his decision to separate military space efforts from civilian efforts; high regard for the Soviets’ ability to blend the military, political, and scientific aspects of space into a single effort which the authors regard as highly successful; and a strong belief that space exploration is the key to America’s future success. Their conclusion is the possibility that space exploration can unite the world and make war obsolete. Gibney and Feldman possess an almost fanatical support for the space effort, referred to consistently as the “Space Discovery” (always capitalized), meaning “the total process of innovation, experiment, and application directed to the exploration and use of outer space” (p. 2). They believe it will have a beneficial effect on “every aspect of our lives” (p. 8), from national survival to our “seek-and-strive” mechanism which is currently fulfilled in some by religion (p.7). Followed to its logical conclusion, the Space Discovery would focus the nation away from wasteful distractions, allowing it to solve problems and ultimately replace war. Although this book addresses some decisions, it is not about decision-making. Instead it deals with vision; with a view of where the decisions made in the US space program would lead America and the world. The vision is based on the technological gains made, but also on many “non-scientific” factors.The authors’ involvement in the space program was in the political realm. Frank Gibney, a journalist, served as a consultant to the newly formed House Select Committee on Astronautics and Space Exploration, established by John W. McCormack, Speaker of the House. George J. Feldman served as the committee’s director. The committee’s immediate goal was to produce a bill that would set up a national space authority, realized with NASA. They claim no background in space, or even science, but had to learn from the testimony and consultations of the committee. Despite the heavy involvement of the authors in the space program, the book is not well documented. Other than the occasional footnote, usually referring the reader to a magazine article of the period, this book cites no references, and there is no bibliography. The authors claim as their sources “the fruits of [their] conversations and consultations with members of the Congress and the professional staffs of the relevant congressional committees, over the years, as well as numerous talks with officials of NASA, the Defense Department and other Executive agencies involved” (p. xiii). At times it is difficult to know what the authors are asserting as substantiated fact, and what they are giving as their opinions. At the time this book was written the Cold War was in full swing. The authors were extremely impressed with the engineering effort which produced nuclear weapons and ICBMs, and felt secure that their deterrent capabilities would succeed. By the mid 1960s they had seen the Cuban missile crisis, which convinced them the Soviets didn’t want war either. They saw the Cuban standoff as one more in a long line of Soviet “tests”, from which they could always retreat if it didn’t work since their leaders were unencumbered by the constraints of public opinion and the need for re-election. They felt technology had already reduced war to a political game of chess which was being fought with tools other than weapons, national prestige being chief among them. This rational world was at a turning point, and the promise of the Space Discovery was capable of uniting the world in an international space exploration effort that would take the place of war. The authors base this vision on some big assumptions, which in retrospect were extremely optimistic. The first assumption is that space travel would become very affordable. Gibney and Feldman claim the technology of nuclear propulsion, specifically gaseous-fission-powered rockets, would drastically decrease the cost and enroute times of space travel, making it analogous to air transport. This would unlock the resources of the solar system to alleviateEarth’s shortages. Second, protected by nuclear missiles the U.S. could convert its defense spending into spending on the Space Discovery. This would fuel the economy as well as technological development much as defense spending had done. Third, the Soviets could be convinced of the advantages of doing the same and joining the Space Discovery. After all, their citizens were already extremely enthusiastic about space exploration, and the thawing of US-Soviet relations during the mid 1960s was encouraging. Fourth, most other developed nations were struggling to develop nuclear weapons and a space capability. Following the example of the US and USSR these other countries would see the benefits of channeling their resources into the space effort. And finally, the education level of the world would increase as countries participated in the Space Discovery, and in their view, educated people are naturally drawn to democracy. The US, being the world leader in the Space Discovery and democracy would be the logical example to follow. The result would be a content and democratic world where everyone’s needs were met, and everyone’s efforts were constructively channeled into the Space Discovery. Although Gibney and Feldman were able to convince themselves, and maybe some other visionaries of their time, that these