Man, Medicine and Space

Book excerpt: Man, Medicine and Space is a wide-ranging philosophical and historical exploration of human activity in Space written for the interested general reader. It is not an encyclopedia, nor a textbook, but seeks to answer in plain language the question "What on Earth is Humanity doing in Space and why is it doing it?" As we enter a new Millennium many writers and thinkers are asking if Humanity's curiosity, science, and technology are really benign forces or if they serve the long-term interests of our species. This book gives , perhaps uniquely, resoundingly positive answers and suggests further that we may have after all discovered through science the true role of Humanity in a evolving Universe. In a time of uncertainty and rising superstition this book proposes a Destiny for Mankind which, unlike previous such programs, can be built by vision, hard work and discipline, and which threatens no others - human or animal. In summary, it offers a positive future for the long term, which can realize the unlocked creative potential for of our species. It is a supreme Humanist affirmation for our times.