"The popular imagination has seen a resurgence of interest in space research. It is fueled by the discovery of over 1,000 exoplanets, promising discoveries on Mars, and recent successes in commercial space exploration. Though space exploration remains a high cost, speculative enterprise, scientists and pundits argue we are closer than ever to answering key questions about life in the universe and human prospects of living off-world. The New York Times articles collected in this volume will reveal how concerns about planet Earth and space research development contribute to the quest for space colonization"--Provided by the publisher.

Includes index. Includes glossaries. At head of title: The New York Times.

Chapter 1: A golden age of exoplanet research -- In a golden age of discovery, faraway worlds beckon / by John Noble Wilford -- Astronomers find earthlike planet, but it's infernally hot / by Kenneth Chang -- Solar systems with their own rule books / by Douglas Quenqua -- The telescope of the 2030s / by Dennis Overbye -- NASA says data reveals an Earth-like planet, Kepler 452b / by Dennis Overbye -- Reaching for the stars, across 4.37 light-years / by Dennis Overbye -- Yes, there have been aliens / by Adam Frank -- What's so special about another Earth? / by Lisa Messeri -- 7 Earth-size planets orbit dwarf star, NASA and European astronomers say / by Kenneth Chang -- Earth-size planets among final tally of Nasa's Kepler telescope / by Dennis Overbye -- Meet TESS, seeker of alien worlds / by Dennis Overbye - Chapter 2: National space programs evolve and compete -- For NASA, longest countdown awaits / by Kenneth Chang -- Why India is going to Mars / by Manoj Kumar Patairiya -- On a shoestring, India sends orbiter to Mars on its first try / by Gardiner Harris -- Telescope that 'ate astronomy' is on track to surpass the Hubble / by Dennis Overbye -- Space council chooses the moon as Trump administration priority / by Kenneth Chang -- As America looks inward, China looks to outer space / by Mike Ives -- NASA names astronauts for Boeing and SpaceX flights to International Space Station / by Karen Zraick - Chapter 3: Privatizing space: the profit motive goes off-world -- New mission for American aerospace giants / by Jack Duffy -- Not a flight of fancy / by Sam Howe Verhovek -- Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo crash traced to co-pilot error / by Kenneth Chang -- Elon Musk's plan: get humans to Mars, and beyond / by Kenneth Chang -- Moon Express sets its sights on deliveries to the moon and beyond / by Kenneth Chang -- Elon Musk's Mars vision: a one-size-fits-all rocket. A very big one. / by Adam Baidawi and Kenneth Chang -- In this space race, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are competing to take you there / by Walter Isaacson -- The rich are planning to leave this wretched planet / by Sheila Marikar -- Meet SpaceX's first moon voyage customer, Yusaku Maezawa / by Kenneth Chang - Chapter 4: New views of the solar system -- The moon comes around again / by Natalie Angier -- Philae Lander nears a cosmic touchdown / by Kenneth Chang -- Suddenly, it seems, water is everywhere in solar system / by Kenneth Chang -- NASA's next Horizon in space / by Michael Roston -- Cassini seeks insights to life in plumes of Enceladus, Saturn's icy moon / by Dennis Overbye -- Venus: inhospitable, and perhaps instructional / by Kenneth Chang -- An interstellar visitor both familiar and alien / by Dennis Overbye -- Asteroids and adversaries: challenging what NASA knows about space rocks / by Kenneth Chang - Chapter 5: Life on Mars, human and otherwise -- A far-flung possibility for the origin of life / by Carl Zimmer -- In a dome in Hawaii, a mission to Mars / by Kenneth Chang -- Looking to Mars to help understand changing climates / by Dennis Overbye -- Mars shows signs of having flowing water, possible niches for life, NASA says / by Kenneth Chang -- Visions of life on Mars in Earth's depths / by Kenneth Chang -- Can the U.S. really get astronauts to Mars by 2030? / by Kenneth Chang and Daniel Victor -- Earthlings, unite: let's go to Mars / by Tim Kreider -- Life on Mars? Rover's latest discovery puts it 'on the table' / by Kenneth Ghang.