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Contact: Sherry Nusbaum
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Utne Reader Examines New Space Age

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, (November 3, 2006) -- As President Bush was signing a new National Space Policy, Utne Reader was going to press with an in-depth examination of “The Promise and Perils of a New Space Age.”

The November/December issue of Utne Reader features a series of articles which addresses the myriad issues that surround the subject of the exploration, militarization, and commercialization of space. The exposé discusses in detail the very issues that both supporters of the president, and those who disagree, are bandying about. “Not so long ago, Americans followed the space program with a sense of hope, their starlit dreams fueled by visions of scientific discovery, technological advance, and spiritual enlightenment,” write Utne Reader's editors in the introduction to the November/December space package. “As this new Space Age dawns, we’ve chosen a collection of stories to remember the brilliant beginnings of space flight, consider the consequences of corporate exploration, and wonder over everything from UFOs to whether it’s our own planet, not the heavens above, that most deserves our awe and respect.”

“Infinity or Bust,” reported by Utne Reader assistant editor Hannah Lobel, tracks the triumphs and trials of NASA, and then examines the consequences of corporate exploration and commercialization. In a beautifully rendered first person essay excerpted from Cabinet magazine, writer Mark Dery examines President Kennedy’s space age and tracks the space program’s image over thirty years and seven presidents. In “Cosmic Questions,” Professor Patrick Lin considers the ethical quandaries that both the government and private industry must grapple with on the final frontier. One essayist argues that we ought to leave the moon to the stars and mind our own planet, and another wonders what it will take for the mainstream media to take the existence of extraterrestrial life seriously.

Articles may be viewed online through the links below:

Cosmic Questions, by Patrick Lin

Houston, We Have a Problem, by Keith Goetzman

Ancient Astronauts and Forgotten Dreams, by Mark Dery, from Cabinet

Infinity or Bust, by Hannah Lobel

Life in the Stars, by Martin Keller

Interviews and samples issues are available upon request.

ABOUT UTNE READER
Since 1984, Utne Reader http://www.utne.com has been a leading voice for independent thinkers, bringing readers an informed point-of-view on issues ranging from the environment to the economy and from politics to pop culture—the kind of stories you'll find in the mainstream media months or years from now. Reaching a total audience of nearly 600,000, Utne Reader taps into the pulse of what's emerging in the culture by engaging with the most visionary thinkers and doers of our time and by presenting the best articles and ideas from thousands of indie publications, websites, blogs, newly published books, films, and other off-the-beaten-path sources. Utne Reader is owned by Ogden Publications, Inc. In addition to Utne Reader, Ogden publishes several titles relating to sustainable and conscientious living. Those titles include Natural Home, Mother Earth News, Herbs for Health and The Herb Companion.