The Asteroid Hunter

Reviews

"A beautifully written, first-hand report from the scientific leader of an awe-inspiring NASA mission, aimed at the pioneering delivery of material from an ancient asteroid to Earth. While the book educates us about the technological heights of human ingenuity, the returned asteroid material would teach us about our cosmic roots within the solar system and the organic molecules that sourced life on Earth."—Avi Loeb, Professor of Science at Harvard University and bestselling author of Extraterrestrial “The Asteroid Hunter is an inspiring memoir of the boldest mission NASA has ever flown: the journey to the most dangerous asteroid in the solar system, which contains the secrets of how life began on Earth. Dante Lauretta’s poetic account of the thrilling journey establishes him firmly in the pantheon of great explorer-authors of our time. The Asteroid Hunter is a work no space enthusiast should miss.”—David W. Brown, author of The Mission "[Lauretta] is a talented storyteller, spinning a gripping narrative out of scientists’ efforts to overcome unforeseen obstacles under intense pressure. Armchair astronomers should consider this a must read." —Publisher's Weekly, starred review "In this captivating, behind-the-scenes account of the OSIRIS-REx NASA asteroid sample return mission, PI Dante Lauretta provides an unmatched portrayal of the joys and challenges from an insider's perspective. A fascinating read."—Sara Seager, Professor of physics and planetary science at MIT and award-winning author of The Smallest Lights in the Universe “An autobiography, an action-adventure story, a how-to manual on creating a space mission, and an introduction to solar system science all rolled up into one book that ends with a piece of the early solar system delivered softly to our home planet, its secrets to be revealed.”—Jonathan I. Lunine, the David C. Duncan Professor in the Physical Sciences, Cornell University "In Asteroid Hunter leading planetary scientist Dante Lauretta provides a detailed, personal, and highly poignant inside look into one of the most daring and successful robotic space missions ever attempted. What a ride!"—Jim Bell, Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University and author of The Interstellar Age and Art of the Cosmos "In The Asteroid Hunter, Dante Lauretta tells the story of a space mission designed to bring back a handful of dirt from the dawn of the Solar System. The book has much of  the pacing and suspense of a good thriller. Lauretta has to run the gauntlet of endless NASA reviews with many rejections, the death of his mentor and original leader of the project, and the challenge of solving a thicket of technical challenges. It takes as long to see a NASA space mission from concept to conclusion as it does to raise a child and  Lauretta experiences a scientific version of the highs and lows of parenting. The final  chapter will not be written until labs around the world have scrutinized the OSIRIS-REx samples, but The Asteroid Hunter makes it clear to a general audience why scientists spend years on projects where success is never guaranteed. The thrill of learning about our origins and the camaraderie of the mission team keeps them going."—Chris Impey, Distinguished Professor of Astronomy, University of Arizona and author of How It Began: A Time-Traveler's Guide to the Universe “Just outstanding! A thrilling, behind the scenes, insider account of how a historic space mission was conceived, won, built, and flown."—Alan Stern, Principal Investigator of NASA’s New Horizons mission and author of Chasing New Horizons “This intimate account of the triumphs and tragedies of space exploration will enthrall anyone who has ever dreamed of traveling the stars. The Asteroid Hunter is a high-stakes travelogue to an otherworldly object, and Dante Lauretta is the perfect guide: perceptive, driven, and wide-eyed at every new wonder.”—Melissa L. Sevigny, author of Under Desert Skies “Lauretta’s account of a historic mission is an impressive combination of fascinating science and human inspiration.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Human frailty and courage are at the heart of this unflinching book and this daring mission to understand what a rubble pile in space can tell us about life–its origins and its pageant here and now. The Asteroid Hunter explores the chancy beauty of a mission and its incredible team, its dedicated leader and the cosmos itself."—Christopher Cokinos, award-winning author of Still as Bright: An Illuminating History of the Moon from Antiquity to Tomorrow and The Fallen Sky: An Intimate History of Shooting Stars Expand reviews