This book compares and contrasts the motivations, morality, and effectiveness of space exploration when pursued by private entrepreneurs as opposed to government. The authors advocate market-driven, private initiatives take the lead through enhanced competition and significant resources that can be allocated to the exploration and exploitation of outer space. Space travel and colonisation is analysed through the prism of economic freedom and laissez faire capitalism, in a unique and accessible book.

Contextualises space travel and colonisation within historical economic thought applied to earth, including Adam Smith's thoughts on traditional forms of property and governance Offers an academic perspective on current private projects in space travel and technological breakthroughts such as Virgin Galactic and Skreemr Explains how public/private partnerships fail Explores how and why states destroy the promise of space exploration Explains how a laissez faire view enhances the promise of space travel and colonization

Autorentext

Peter Lothian Nelson has masters degrees in engineering and divinity. He has over 40 years of experience in civil engineering and forensics, and is the former president of PL Nelson Engineering Inc, USA. Walter E. Block is Harold E. Wirth Endowed Chair and Professor of Economics, College of Business, Loyola University New Orleans, and senior fellow at the Mises Institute. He earned his PhD in economics at Columbia University in 1972. He has taught at Rutgers, SUNY Stony Brook, Baruch CUNY, Holy Cross and the University of Central Arkansas. He is the author of more than 500 refereed articles in professional journals, two dozen books, and thousands of op eds. He lectures widely on college campuses, delivers seminars around the world and appears regularly on television and radio shows. He is the Schlarbaum Laureate, Mises Institute, 2011; and has won the Loyola University Research Award (2005, 2008) and the Mises Institute's Rothbard Medal of Freedom,2005; and the Dux Academicus award, Loyola University, 2007.

Inhalt

1. Privatize Space Travel!.- 2. Man's Inhumanity to Man.- 3. Why privatize anything?.- 4. Why Privatize Space Travel and Colonization?.- 5. Ownership Concepts.- 6.The Moon.- 7. The Inner Planets and Extra-terrestrial Moons.- 8. Gas Giants.- 9. Asteroids, Comets, and Other non-Planetary Objects.- 10. Space boondoggles: NASA, STEM subsidies.- 11. Public Goods: Basic Research and Terraforming.- 12. Space Law.- 13. Timing.- 14. Who Are the Libertarians in the Space Initiative?.- 15. Space Oriented Writers.- 16. Conclusion.