Open Space - by David Ariosto (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

An exclusive, deeply reported look at the next space race happening right before our eyes--driven by rival nations, billionaire-funded ventures, and breakthrough technologies once thought impossible--all vying to steer the future of humankind.

In 2024, the Odysseus lander touched down near the south pole of the Moon to become the first American lunar landing in more than half a century--and the first by a private company. "Odie" embodied the ambitions of a new generation of space entrepreneurs, as well as Washington's bid to rival a revanchist Beijing. A stepping-stone to Mars, and from Mars perhaps to interstellar travel, the Moon is not only a gateway to a new era of exploration, contest, and conquest, but it is also now open for business. It is where settlements, mining operations, nuclear power plants, and data centers are all set to coalesce with the makings of an AI and quantum-powered revolution that promises to fundamentally alter the balance of power.

The race to level up technology, secure resources, build off-Earth infrastructure, and nurture the next generation of Oppenheimers, Fermis, and Einsteins is now underway. First place isn't just a symbolic win, but rather a strategic path to unprecedented influence and control. America, although turbocharged by tech elites, is at risk of being outpaced by Chinese leadership, who increasingly align commercial enterprise with national security. Not far behind are Russia, India, Japan, and the European Union.

But what do these missions look like? What emerging technologies will prove decisive? Who will arrive and build first? And what can everyday people expect when surveillance states and profit-driven companies compete in orbit?

In Open Space, journalist and space industry analyst David Ariosto gives us a front-row seat to the future. With unprecedented access, he recounts the split-second decisions in mission control and hold-your-breath moments on the launch pad. He travels from research labs orchestrating our planetary defense to antimatter factories and Mars Desert Research Stations, where scientists prepare for how an off-world colony might survive (it involves a diet of bugs). Then, he probes inside the Chinese space sector itself, meeting with key figures and companies and traveling to a remote military station, the prize of Beijing's space investments in South America. In this global odyssey, we meet the visionaries who are dreaming up the future and the engineers and physicists who are making science-fiction a reality.

After millennia of gazing up at the stars, humanity is now forging the tools to travel among them, all while setting in motion the next chapter of our species. Propulsive, awe-inspiring, and poignant, Open Space charts this epic journey to the final frontier and looks for our place within it.

Review Quotes

"Ariosto's account of these intersections of space science, business, and global politics is deeply reported and well written." --Kirkus Reviews

"Captivates with suspenseful storytelling. . . . Space aficionados will find much of interest." --Publishers Weekly

"Ariosto cuts through the noise to show what actually matters in the new space age: who builds the architecture, who stays long enough to shape the environment, and who defines the rules others must live with. This isn't just a book about rockets. It's about power, institutions, and the future map of the solar system." --Dr. Bhavya Lal, former NASA associate administrator for Technology, Policy, and Strategy and professor of Space Policy at the RAND School of Public Policy

"A delightful and compelling story-driven map for our future. It's one that delves into not only our own endeavors in space, but also those of potential adversaries. But in the end, it is about our shared--and inevitable--human journey beyond our planet." --Lieutenant General (Ret.) John Shaw, U.S. Space Force, and former deputy commander of U.S. Space Command

"Open Space transports you into the new space age: a world of high-stakes moon shots, geopolitical ambitions, and bold engineering, fueling humanity's drive beyond Earth. With sharp insights and compelling storytelling, it's a rare book that makes the future of space feel close enough to touch and too fascinating to ignore." --Dr. Namrata Goswami, professor of Space Security, United States Space Force, Johns Hopkins University

"Open Space illuminates the high-stakes contest unfolding above us--and the people quietly steering it. A breathtaking glimpse into the breakthroughs and choices that will define humanity's next chapter." --Dr. Mamta Patel Nagaraja, former NASA associate chief scientist for Exploration and Applied Research

"A rare achievement: a book that captures not only the drama of rockets and landers, but the deeper human story of why we reach for the stars at all. It is also a sweeping, deeply reported account of how the new space race will shape the world's balance of power, its energy systems, data networks, and democratic resilience. Ariosto reminds us that exploration isn't escapism; it's agency--a deliberate choice to keep reaching outward when the world below feels small, divided, and inward-looking. This isn't science fiction; it's the blueprint for the world we're about to inherit." --Ali Velshi, NBC News senior economic and business correspondent and anchor for MS NOW

"Open Space calls upon us to learn from history and choose a different future together--one built on collaboration over competition and mutual survival instead of tribal positioning. David Ariosto shows us that humanity is at its best when exploring and thriving, rather than turned inward and stumbling, offering plenty to ponder as today's space race hits warp speed." --Ashley Fieglein Johnson, president and CFO of Planet Labs

"Like the great space books of the last 50 years, Open Space spotlights the human stories--not just the missions--shaping the next iteration of the space industry." --Mike Gruss, Space News Chief Content and Strategy Officer

"A must-read. Ariosto connects the dots well beyond moon landings and delves into a future where we're not only exploring and competing in space, but also creating a new home for AI." --Sunny Hostin, Co-Host of ABC's "The View"

"A great read. Ariosto takes a complicated complex of topics--technology, history, big power competition, the physics of the stars and planets-- and turns them into a narrative about a contest among nations, one that reads like a spy thriller. Indeed, spies are part of the story. For anyone who wants to catch up on where the space race has been--and even more where it's going--Open Space delivers the whole story with a contagious sense of wonder about what is possible and probably inevitable." --John Donvan, host of NPR's "Open to Debate"

About the Author

DAVID ARIOSTO is a seasoned journalist, space industry analyst, and co-host of the podcast Space Minds on SpaceNews. He is also a columnist at Aerospace America, SpaceNews, and Noema Magazine and a visiting scholar at Arizona State University's Interplanetary Initiative. His debut book, This Is Cuba: An American Journalist Under Castro's Shadow, was published in 2018 by St. Martin's Press and was highly acclaimed by The Washington Post and USA Today. He resides in Arizona with his daughter, Rosie, and their dog, Cali.