Dennis Meredith—Earthbound: The Obstacles to Human Space Exploration and the Promise of Artificial Intelligence

Advance copy: Backstories on books by NASW members

Earthbound

EARTHBOUND:
THE OBSTACLES TO HUMAN SPACE EXPLORATION
AND THE PROMISE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Dennis Meredith
Glyphus, LLC, March 31, 2025
Paperback, $16.95, eBook, $9.99
Paperback ISBN 13: 9781939118288
eBook ISBN-13: 9781939118271

Meredith reports:

I don’t think any topic I’ve written about has ticked me off more than human space exploration. To explain: when I began researching Earthbound, I accepted the positive spin that NASA put on its space missions, like the cheery transmissions from International Space Station astronauts. But as I began to explore the realities of life in space, I found that astronauts suffer excruciatingly painful effects of weightlessness, both initially and while recovering from long space missions.

Research on subjects from cells to humans has revealed that radiation, weightlessness, disease, toxic chemicals, and psychological trauma damage every organ: heart, lungs, gut, muscles, skeleton, blood, immune system, brain, and eyes.

Dennis Meredith

I also found that NASA is well aware of these impacts, having identified a long list of unsolved “Red Risks” to humans in space. I documented NASA’s massive waste of money on human space programs and its promotion by cosmic cheerleaders: scientists, politicians, aerospace corporations, and space travel enthusiasts. They ignore the medical, economic, technological, political, and ethical obstacles.

NASA and private companies have launched major efforts to advance artificial intelligence and plan sophisticated space and planetary probes. I advocate that space be explored by “neuronaut” collaborations of these probes and scientists, and the data used to create a Virtual Cosmos for all to experience.

Agents and publishers were resistant to a book that painted a critical picture of human space exploration. One agent told me, “I believe that those who buy hardcover books will be space optimists and enthusiasts.” Another said, “This felt like a bit of a research review. I need a book to be saying something new.”

I believe Earthbound has much new to say. Fortunately, I am able to publish it under my own imprint, thanks to layout and cover designers on Fiverr and a terrific cover image using the AI program Midjourney. Independent publishing has definite pros, including total control over title, design, marketing, etc.

For authors like me writing a book that is controversial and contrarian, it’s unknowable whether one will find oneself in a firestorm of criticism or be totally dismissed.

Contact Info: -

Dennis Meredith, 760-451-6845, dennis@glyphus.com, http://www.DennisMeredith.com
Blog: http://www.ResearchExplainer.com
Book: Earthbound: The Obstacles to Human Space Exploration and the Promise of Artificial Intelligence
Review copy requests: editor@glyphus.com

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Banner image adapted from original photo by Dennis Meredith.

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Advance Copy

The path from idea to book may take myriad routes. The Advance Copy column, started in 2000 by NASW volunteer book editor Lynne Lamberg, features NASW authors telling the stories behind their books. Authors are asked to report how they got their idea, honed it into a proposal, found an agent and a publisher, funded and conducted their research, and organized their writing process. They also are asked to share what they wish they’d known when they started or would do differently next time, and what advice they can offer aspiring authors. Lamberg edits the authors’ answers to produce the Advance Copy reports.

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