Giovanni Bignami is a member of the Accademia dei Lincei, Italy, and of the French Academy. He has held key roles in the European Space Agency, and directed the largest institute for space research in France, a country which awarded him the Legion of Honor. He was elected to the Presidency of the COSPAR (Committee on Space Research), was president of the Italian Space Agency, and was president of the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics. Andrea Sommariva is an international economist, who specializes in international finance, international monetary policy, the markets for oil and raw materials, renewable energy, and development of space. He is a member of the study group 'Space Mineral Resources: Challenges and Opportunities' at the International Academy of Astronautics. He has worked as an economist and has been an associate professor at LUISS, Rome, Italy, the Catholic University of Milan, Italy, theSDA Bocconi in Milan, Italy, and the China-Europe Management Institute in Beijing, China.

• Introduction.- Chapter 1. Stepping Out of the Cradle: The Exploration of the Solar System from the 1950s to Today.- Chapter 2. Human Space Exploration in the 'Deep Space Proving Grounds'.- Chapter 3. The Great Leap out of the Cradle: The Human Exploration of Our Solar System.- Chapter 4. The Ultimate Challenge: The Exploration and Colonization of Extrasolar Planets.- Chapter 5. The Uncertainties.

“This ... book offers a thoughtful and interesting perspective on the prospects for the future of human space exploration in the Solar System and beyond. ... This is a book that will be of interest to anyone who wants to understand the potential for the human race to move beyond its current confines. Most importantly, it is founded in reality rather than science fiction and, hence, provides a useful blue-print for space-policy makers to consult.” (Martin Barstow, The Observatory, Vol. 137 (1258), June, 2017)

Giovanni Bignami is a member of the Accademia dei Lincei, Italy, and of the French Academy. He has held key roles in the European Space Agency, and directed the largest institute for space research in France, a country which awarded him the Legion of Honor. He was elected to the Presidency of the COSPAR (Committee on Space Research), was president of the Italian Space Agency, and was president of the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics. Andrea Sommariva is an international economist, who specializes in international finance, international monetary policy, the markets for oil and raw materials, renewable energy, and development of space. He is a member of the study group 'Space Mineral Resources: Challenges and Opportunities' at the International Academy of Astronautics. He has worked as an economist and has been an associate professor at LUISS, Rome, Italy, the Catholic University of Milan, Italy, theSDA Bocconi in Milan, Italy, and the China-Europe Management Institute in Beijing, China.

• Introduction.- Chapter 1. Stepping Out of the Cradle: The Exploration of the Solar System from the 1950s to Today.- Chapter 2. Human Space Exploration in the 'Deep Space Proving Grounds'.- Chapter 3. The Great Leap out of the Cradle: The Human Exploration of Our Solar System.- Chapter 4. The Ultimate Challenge: The Exploration and Colonization of Extrasolar Planets.- Chapter 5. The Uncertainties.

“This ... book offers a thoughtful and interesting perspective on the prospects for the future of human space exploration in the Solar System and beyond. ... This is a book that will be of interest to anyone who wants to understand the potential for the human race to move beyond its current confines. Most importantly, it is founded in reality rather than science fiction and, hence, provides a useful blue-print for space-policy makers to consult.” (Martin Barstow, The Observatory, Vol. 137 (1258), June, 2017)

Giovanni Bignami is a member of the Accademia dei Lincei, Italy, and of the French Academy. He has held key roles in the European Space Agency, and directed the largest institute for space research in France, a country which awarded him the Legion of Honor. He was elected to the Presidency of the COSPAR (Committee on Space Research), was president of the Italian Space Agency, and was president of the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics. Andrea Sommariva is an international economist, who specializes in international finance, international monetary policy, the markets for oil and raw materials, renewable energy, and development of space. He is a member of the study group 'Space Mineral Resources: Challenges and Opportunities' at the International Academy of Astronautics. He has worked as an economist and has been an associate professor at LUISS, Rome, Italy, the Catholic University of Milan, Italy, theSDA Bocconi in Milan, Italy, and the China-Europe Management Institute in Beijing, China.

• Introduction.- Chapter 1. Stepping Out of the Cradle: The Exploration of the Solar System from the 1950s to Today.- Chapter 2. Human Space Exploration in the 'Deep Space Proving Grounds'.- Chapter 3. The Great Leap out of the Cradle: The Human Exploration of Our Solar System.- Chapter 4. The Ultimate Challenge: The Exploration and Colonization of Extrasolar Planets.- Chapter 5. The Uncertainties.

“This ... book offers a thoughtful and interesting perspective on the prospects for the future of human space exploration in the Solar System and beyond. ... This is a book that will be of interest to anyone who wants to understand the potential for the human race to move beyond its current confines. Most importantly, it is founded in reality rather than science fiction and, hence, provides a useful blue-print for space-policy makers to consult.” (Martin Barstow, The Observatory, Vol. 137 (1258), June, 2017)