Utilization of Space is a book devoted to providing a detailed explanation of the various scientific and technological fields in which space based assets, primarily satellites, have either greatly enhanced our depth of understanding for that field or have created, as a consequence of humanity's first steps into the space environment, entirely new ones. Edited by Berndt Feuerbacher and Heinz Stoewer, the book is a collection of independent chapters contributed by authors affiliated with various German education and aerospace institutions. With contributions from twenty distinguished scholars from a variety of fields, this book provides a rather comprehensive overview of how space utilization contributes to the advancement and betterment of human society.

Chapter List:

1 Space Utilization
2 Access to Space - the Prerequisites for Space Utilization
3 The Earth Surface
4 Climate and Environment
5 Weather Observations from Space
6 Geodynamics
7 Astronomy and Astrophysics
8 The Solar System
9 Communications
10 Satellite Navigation
11 Fundamental Physics
12 Materials Sciences
13 Life Sciences
14 Challenges and Perspectives

For each of the eleven different topic areas addressed, the authors provide a brief introduction to the field; an explanation of the underlying principles; and the role that space, satellites in particular, has played in that field. Perhaps most satisfying is that each of the chapters stands on its own, making it possible for the reader to focus on those chapters that deal with areas in which they are most interested. The four main conceptual areas the book is concerned with are the study of the Earth, the study of the heavens, communications, and space based experimentation.

Following an introductory chapter, the book dives into the issue of access to space, the key limiting factor to broader use of space. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this chapter is its coverage of project management, systems engineering, and product assurance as they relate to the design of space missions.

The next four chapters of the book deal with observing Earth from space. Since 1960, when the first satellite to simply "look" at clouds was launched, great strides have been made in the technology and data processing necessary to provide humanity with essential information regarding the state of the planet. Space based observations are especially important when it comes to collecting data over the oceans (70 percent of the Earth's surface) and remote areas that lack local observational stations. The availability of high quality global data sets from satellite instruments is crucial in building climate models and numerical weather prediction models. The four chapters that deal with these issues do an excellent job of providing both an introduction to the associated sciences and an overview of the satellites and instrumentation.

My favorite quote about the importance of space utilization comes from one of the two chapters devoted to the study of the heavens. In the chapter "The Solar System", the author states that "It can be said without any doubt that space exploration has turned dim discs in the sky observable with telescopes into worlds in their own right waiting for further, perhaps eventually human, exploration." The knowledge acquired from just 40 years of space missions has revolutionized not just our understanding of the solar system, but the universe as a whole. Given broad concerns about global warming and humanity's possible impact on the Earth's climate, the book's coverage of planetary science enhances those chapters dealing with the study of the Earth.

In terms of commercial space, the next two chapters are devoted to using space assets for world wide communications and satellite-based navigation. GPS, satellite television, and global telecommunications are the aspects of space utilization with which people are most personally familiar.

The final chapters of the book are devoted to the use of space as a laboratory: a setting for conducting experiments impossible to perform in a terrestrial environment. One common use is the testing of some of the basic laws of physics, especially those dealing with gravitation, the special theory of relativity and the general theory of relativity. Experiments into materials processing and crystal growth take advantage of the available microgravity environment which makes possible a variety of novel experiments. The chapter on life sciences covers not only questions of the space environment and its affect on human physiology, but the relatively new field of astrobiology as well.

The book's editors, Feuerbacher and Stoewer, bring the book to a close with a chapter that summarizes the positive impact that space utilization has had on humanity. In their opinion, "in order to respond to fundamental demands of human society, space activities have to concentrate on: human welfare and sustainability of life; economic development and security; culture and knowledge."

Utilization of Space is well illustrated and each chapter ends with a list of references: both print and electronic. This book makes for an excellent reference and I can heartily recommend it to anyone who is interested in understanding space utilization and its impact on humanity.

© 2007 Jim Plaxco

NSS Featured Review for August 2007