Ad Astra
The magazine of the National Space Society
Volume 21, Number 4 Winter 2009
Return to Back Issue Index
On The Cover: Hubble drifts over Earth after its release on May 19, 2009, by the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis.
Featured Articles:
14
HUBBLE’S EXCITING SCIENTIFIC FUTURE
After its last repair mission, Hubble still has promise for future science.
By Malcolm B. Niedner
18
HUBBLE’S REDEMPTION
After a rocky start, Hubble has become a beloved part of our space history.
By Clifford McMurray
22
HUBBLE: THE EYES OF THE UNIVERSE
A new IMAX movie takes you inside Hubble.
By Brandon Fibbs
26
LCROSS: FINDING WATER AT THE LUNAR SOUTH POLE
Developing the mission that found water on the Moon.
By Brian H. Day
30
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE?
Recent discoveries of water on the Moon and Mars are making waves in the space community
By Mark Williamson
34
THE MOON AND MARS—STPPING STONES TO LIFE IN SPACE
The findings of water on the Moon and Mars will help NSS achieve its
long-term goals
By Gordon Woodcock
36
BLOWN AWAY: THE UNVEILING OF SPACESHIPTWO
By Jeff Foust
38
THAT’S ONE SMALL FLIGHT FOR A ROCKET…ONE GIANT LEAP FOR NEWSPACE
The Lunar Lander X-Prize Challenge
By William Pomeranz
40
SPACE CANADA: MAKING SPACE-BASED SOLAR POWER A REALITY
by George B. Dietrich
41
SPACE SOLAR POWER ACTIVITY AT THE NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
by Paul Jaffe
Departments:
8
LETTER FROM
HEADQUARTERS
By Brett Silcox
9
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
By Alix Shutello
11
NSS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Konrad Dannenberg Tribute in Huntsville
12
CORRESPONDENCE
We Want OUR Future
42
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR
The Space Ambassadors Program: The Reinvention of Storytelling
By Gary Barnhard
43
SPACE SETTLEMENT
Space Settlement and the Environment
By Al Globus
44
BOOKS
Secrets of the Universe, by Paul Murdin
Reviewed by Charles Brusso
Another Science Fiction: Advertising the Space Race 1957-1962, by Megan Prelinger
Reviewed by Frederick I. Ordway III
46
CHAPTER LISTINGS
64
SIGNING OFF
NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)