Ad Astra
The magazine of the National Space Society
Volume 17, Number 2 Summer 2005
Cover image: Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO)
Featured Articles:
14
RETURNING TO FLIGHT
Q and A with Shuttle Commander Eileen Collins and Steven Lindsey
By Tariq Malik
16
MARS METHANE:
THE MYSTERY OF LIFE?
By Robert Roy Britt
21
NASA AND THE STATE OF RISK
Introduction by Anthony Duignan-Cabrera
22
DECONSTRUCTING JIMO
Today the nuclear-powered Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter is on the back burner with the flame turned low.
By Brian Berger
28
THE MOTHER OF INVENTION
Problems of in-flight maintenance and repair.
By James Oberg
30
A RENAISSANCE OF RISK-TAKING
Griping abut NASA’s missed opportunities is a favorite topic at conferences.
By James A. Muncy
32
TAKING SERIOUS CHANCES:
RISKY MISSIONS NASA SHOULD DO
“If we die, we want people to accept it. We’re in a risky business…” Gus Grissom, March 1965
By Dave Brody
34
NUCLEAR POWER:
NOW MORE THEN EVER, OR NEVER?
By Leonard David
40
OF RAG-TAG FLEETS AND OFF-THE-SHELF TECHNOLOGIES
Science fiction depicts various types of space transportation.
By Bill Christensen
Departments:
5
LETTER FROM
HEADQUARTERS
A new NASA administrator.
By George Whitesides, NSS Executive Director
18
OPINION
Risky Business
By Burt Rutan
38
REVIEWS
Astro Turf: The Private Life of Rocket Science
Reviewed by John F. Kross
Strange Angel: The Otherworldly Life of Rocket Scientist John Whiteside Parsons
Reviewed by Robert Z. Pearlman
44
COMMUNITY
Factoring the Future
By Gary Barnhard, Chairman of the Executive Committee
45
CHAPTER LISTINGS
48
SIGNING OFF
Two Who Dared: Woman Space Pioneers
By Laura S. Woodmansee