Forty Years After Space Race, What's Next?
A Small Step To The Moon, A Giant Leap To Mars()
July 20, 2009 The first astronauts — swaggering test pilots and fighter jocks — set NASA's original can-do tone. But after NASA reached the moon, senior people left and were replaced by management types. NASA's dynamic has slowed, but the sheer distance to Mars is not to be underestimated.
Charting NASA's Future: To The Moon And Beyond()
July 21, 2009 Forty years ago, the Cold War pushed the United States to the moon. Now, NASA hopes to return to the moon to further scientific exploration, technology development and economic expansion. But some groups think instead of focusing on the moon, NASA should invest in traveling to places like near-Earth asteroids.
Aldrin Reflects On Life After Moon Mission()
July 20, 2009 Forty years after walking on the moon, Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin talks with NPR about preparing for the Apollo 11 mission, and how his life has changed since splashing down back on Earth.
Vacation In Space? It's Possible ... For The Rich()
July 17, 2009 We missed the deadline set by 2001: A Space Odyssey, but private companies are trying to realize the potential for space tourism. One firm hopes to offer safe, regular flights within the next three years. But the price remains out of reach for most.
Books We Like
Suspenseful, Surprising Space Race History()
July 17, 2009 Rocket Men supplies a superb survey of the Cold War origins of the space race, and a scintillating "you are there" account of the mission that brought America to the moon. The Apollo 11 program has found its historian in Craig Nelson.
One Small Town's Big Role In The Apollo Missions()
July 16, 2009 More than 40 years ago, NASA sent the Apollo 11 astronauts to the small town of Flagstaff, Ariz., to prepare for their mission. The desert terrain and a meteor crater just east of town were much like what they would encounter on the moon.
Houston, We Erased The Apollo 11 Tapes()
July 16, 2009 After three years of painstakingly thorough searching, NASA has concluded that the original tapes of the first manned moon landing are most likely lost forever. However, with the help of tape restoration experts, the agency has refurbished the existing footage.
