Exploring Space, Exploring Earth: New Understanding of the Earth from Space Research

by Paul D. Lowman Jr, Neil A. Armstrong

Overview

This book describes the impact of space flight on geology and geophysics, beginning with a foreword by Neil Armstrong, which illustrates how the exploration of space has lead us to a far deeper understanding of our own planet. Direct results from Earth-orbital missions include studies of Earth's gravity and magnetic fields. In contrast, the recognition of the economic and biological significance of impact craters on Earth is an indirect consequence of the study of the geology of other planets. The final chapter presents a new theory for the tectonic evolution of the Earth based on comparative planetology and the Gaia concept.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521661256
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/15/2002
Pages:	408
Product dimensions:	7.13(w) x 10.04(h) x 1.02(d)

About the Author

Paul Lowman has been involved in a wide range of space research programs at the Goddard Space Flight Center. In 1963–4 he took part in planning for the Apollo missions. He was Principal Investigator for Synoptic Terrain Photography on the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo earth orbital missions, an experiment that laid the foundation for Landsat. Between 1965 and 1970 he taught lunar geology at the University of California, Catholic University of America, Washington DC, and the Air Force Institute of Technology. Dr Lowman was also involved with the Mariner 9 Mars mission, the Apollo X-ray fluorescence experiment and Apollo 11 and 12 sample analysis among others. His main research interest was and still is the origin of continental crust, as approached through comparative planetology. In 1974, Dr Lowman received the Lindsay Award from the Goddard Space Flight Center. He was elected a Fellow of the Geological Society of America in 1975, and of the Geological Society of Canada in 1988. Drawing on his dual career in terrestrial and lunar geology, he authored Space Panorama (1968), Lunar Panorama (1970), and The Third Planet (1972). He also contributed to Mission to Earth (1976), the first NASA compilation of Landsat pictures edited by N. M. Short.

Table of Contents

Foreword Neil Armstrong; Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Preview of the orbital perspective: the Million Year Day; 2. Space geodesy; 3. Satellite studies of geomagnetism; 4. Remote sensing: the view from space; 5. Impact cratering and terrestrial geology; 6. Comparative planetology and the origin of continental crust; 7. Geology and biology: the influence of life on terrestrial geology; Afterword; Appendix A. Elements of physical geology; Appendix B. Lunar missions, 1958 to 1994; Appendix C. Planetary missions, 1961 to 1992; Glossary of geologic terms; Selected bibliography (by chapter); Index.

Editorial Reviews

"...an excellent and well-written book, full of useful information and stimulating ideas." The Leading Edge

From the Publisher

Geologist Lowman (Goddard Space Flight Center) explores the impact of space flight on his field and its subsurface counterpart, geophysics, which he finds largely unappreciated in the earth science community. After previewing the orbital perspective, he considers such facets as space geodesy, satellite studies of geomagnetism, remote sensing, impact cratering and terrestrial geology, comparative planetology and the origin of continental drift, and the influence of life on terrestrial geology. He writes primarily for earth sciences, but outlines the essentials of physical geology and provides a glossary (without pronunciation) for beginners. He also includes 26 color plates. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR