Social Foundations of Human Space Exploration

by James A. Dator

This title presents a uniquely human perspective on the quest to explore space and to understand the universe through the lens of the arts, humanities, and social sciences. It considers early stories about the universe in various cultures; recent space fiction; the origins and cultural rationale for the space age; experiences of humans in space and their emerging interactions with robots and artificial intelligence; how humans should treat environments and alien life; and the alternative futures of space exploration and settlement.

118 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Serena Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most people may believe that Social Sciences have nothing to contribute to the exploration and eventual habitation of space - but this author proves them all wrong. With lots of examples, Dator presents an easy-to-read account of what we would be missing if we didn't look at the "human side" of how we research space.

A very recommended read not just for anthropologists and other scientists, but for everyone.