Space Exploration Transforms our Knowledge of Columbus

Since time began, humankind has had an innate desire to discover and explore. Some have become obsessed with this desire and it has defined their lives. Christopher Columbus is one of the most famous examples of one for whom adventure and discovery consumed his every waking moment.

(PRWEB) March 1, 2004 --The breathtaking photographs of the Martian landscape have dominated the news in recent weeks. This remarkable glimpse of a previously unknown terrain sparks the imagination and leaves us wondering what else may be out there. Photographs like these give us a taste of what explorers in the past must have felt when they first sighted new land. Will we find life there? Will it be similar to what we already know? Since time began, humankind has had an innate desire to discover and explore. Some have become obsessed with this desire and it has defined their lives. Christopher Columbus is one of the most famous examples of one for whom adventure and discovery consumed his every waking moment. In an outstanding new book, An Ocean Too Wide, Erling Nielsen, Ph.D., recreates the challenges Columbus must have faced in convincing his contemporaries that his voyage through uncharted waters was worthwhile.    

Columbus more than likely had to write some form of a proposal to those who would be funding his journey. This proposal has never been found, and Dr. Nielsen has written An Ocean Too Wide as a well-researched attempt to recreate that proposal. Dr. Nielsen brings a unique perspective to this historical event because he is involved with exploration in this day and age. As part of the European Space Agency mission, Mars Express, Dr. Nielsen has frequently had to write proposals to funding agencies for support. His petitions for assistance have not always been met with acceptance. This was also true for Columbus. Dr. Nielsens experience and background make him well qualified to take a fresh new look at Columbus fight to obtain support for the journey that would eventually make him one of the most famous men in the world.

An Ocean Too Wide will appeal to historians, scientists and those of us who long to take part in an adventure of discovery. The story of Columbus is explored in an innovative way that will allow you to see the tenacity of an explorer and the rigidity of his opponents. If you have ever looked to the stars and yearned to know more, you will enjoy exploring An Ocean Too Wide, published by American Book Publishing and available at a discount online at the Publisher Direct Bookstore at http://www.pdbookstore.com.

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