Ad Astra The magazine of the National Space Society Volume 16, Number 4 "Winter 2005" Return to Back Issue Index

Note: Although this issue is designated "Winter 2005" it is actually the 4th issue of 2004.

ON THE COVER: NSS members Maria Thome, Grant Anderson, and Adam London aboard the inaugural NSS Zero-G charter flight on Sept 17, 2004. Thome is the chapter president from Brasilia, Brazil; Anderson and London are space entrepreneurs.

Featured Articles:

14
X-PRIZE ENDS IN DESERT DRAMA
A pair of suborbital spaceflights concludes an eight-year contest and heralds a new space age.
By John Kross

18
AN AFFORDABLE TRIP TO WEIGHTLESS SPACE
Can't wait for SpaceShipTwo? Zero-gravity ride will leave you head-over-heals.
By Frank Sietzen, Jr.

21
INSIDE THE MARS ROVER MISSIONS
A behind-the-scenes view from the field trip of a lifetime.
By Bill Farrand

28
FOR THE ARMCHAIR ASTRONAUT AND BEYOND:
THE 2004 AD ASTRA GIFT GUIDE
By Travis K. Kircher

Modules:

5
LAUNCH PAD
Facing a Cosmic Conundrum
By Greg Allison, Chairman of the Executive Committee

6
MISSION CONTROL

11
COUNTDOWN
When Dreams Take Wings
By Irene Mona Klotz, Editor in Chief

12
GUEST SPACE
Terraforming Earth's Evil Twin: The Floating Cities of Venus
By Randa Relich Milliron

33
SPACE COMMUNITY
Use It or Lose It, by Clifford R. McMurray
SEDS-USA Joins Forces with MIT, by Joshua Neubert
Letters
NSS Chapters and Projects

48
LIFTING OFF
NSS First to Zero-G
By George T. Whitesides, NSS Executive Director

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