The Human Archaeology of Space

A catalog of archaeological artifacts that have been left behind in space as a result of human exploration, this work describes the remnants of lost satellites, discarded lunar rovers, depleted rockets, and various abandoned spacecraft. The book is divided into three parts covering distinct but interconnected issues of lunar, planetary, and interstellar archaeology. In Parts I and II, individual chapters cover each space mission and provide technical notes, and, in some cases, images of the artifacts. Part III explores the archaeology of mobile artifacts in the solar system and the wider galaxy, looking particularly at the problems encountered in attempting a traditional archaeological field survey of artifacts that may remain in motion indefinitely.

P.J. Capelotti is assistant professor of archaeology and American studies at Penn State University’s Abington College in Abington, Pennsylvania. His research centers on the history of Arctic exploration and on the archaeology of human expansion into space.

P.J. Capelotti
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 199
Bibliographic Info: 35 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2010
pISBN: 978-0-7864-5859-2
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5994-0
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      ix

Preface: Measuring the Monuments of the Moon      1

Part I: Lunar Archaeology

1. Lunar Archaeology      15

2. Artifacts of Manned Exploration of the Moon      25

3. Artifacts of Unmanned Exploration of the Moon      41

Part II: Planetary Archaeology

4. Planetary Archaeology      85

5. Artifacts on the Martian Surface      103

6. Artifacts on Other Planets and Moons in the Solar System      134

Part III: Interstellar Archaeology

7. Interstellar Archaeology      151

8. Mobile Artifacts in the Solar System and Beyond      161

Chapter Notes      179

Bibliography      185

Index      187

“excellent…highly recommended”—Choice; “original and fascinating”—Spaceflight.