Astronomer and former NASA/ASEE scientist Neil F. Comins has written the go-to book for anyone interested in space exploration, including potential travelers. He describes the joys and the dangers travelers will face—weightlessness, unparalleled views of Earth and the cosmos, the opportunity to walk on or jump off another world, as well as radiation, projectiles, unbreathable atmospheres, and potential equipment failures. Although many challenges to space travel are technical, Comins outlines these matters in clear language for all readers.

An inside look at the experience of space travel and the destinations we may one day visit as space tourists.

Neil F. Comins is professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Maine. His books include Discovering the Universe, tenth edition (2014), What If the Earth Had Two Moons? (2010), Heavenly Errors: Misconceptions About the Real Nature of the Universe (Columbia, 2003), and What If the Moon Didn't Exist? (1993).

The Traveler's Guide to Space is a delight... don't leave Earth without it.

This makes an excellent primer for anyone, especially astronomy enthusiasts and budding astronauts, who can't afford a ticket to space and wish to visit in spirit.

Neil F. Comins has written the go-to book for anyone interested in space exploration.

Andrew West, astronomer:
The Traveler's Guide to Space takes you on an amazing adventure and gives you the perspective that only a seasoned scientist can. Neil Comins presents a thorough and timely account of the incredible sights that await any solar system traveler, as well as scientific insight into the sensations, pitfalls, and wonders both geological and astronomical that he or she will encounter along the way.

Robert Geller, University of California, Santa Barbara:
There is no other book for the popular reader that addresses the many serious challenges involved in deep space travel. Understanding these issues is essential for anyone with an interest in space exploration. The Traveler's Guide to Space does an excellent job at looking at the whole picture, from space tourists to one-way colonization; from physical to psychological challenges.