Outstanding Academic Title, Choice Magazine Roger D. Launius and Howard E. McCurdy expound upon the possibilities and improbabilities involved in trekking across the Milky Way and beyond. They survey the literature, both fictional and academic studies; outline the progress of space programs in the United States and other nations; and assess the current state of affairs. Their conclusion would be startling only to those who haven't spent time with Asimov, Heinlein, and Clarke: to traverse the cosmos, humans must embrace and entwine themselves with advanced robotic technologies. "Noted space historians . breathe new life into the subject by examining its history as well as its possible future. They call for a new vision of human spaceflight--a 'transhuman' program that takes into account current trends in robotics, artificial intelligence, genetic engineering and other fields that are rapidly changing the nature of both humans and machines.

"-- Air and Space Magazine "A timely and thought-provoking read, no matter what side of the humans vs. robots debate one is on. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in where our species is ultimately headed in space." --Liftoff "An examination of the history of the various arguments for sending humans and machines into space, and their relative merits. It is an authoritative, detailed look at how these arguments evolved and what the future of humans and robots in space might hold."-- Space Review.