Ad Astra 2015 Winter (Volume 27 Number 4)
Cover image: This lunar mining base is close to the Moon’s north pole, with crew habitats at left, power storage batteries and propellant depot at rear, and a lunar ferry taking off in the distance. The site is surrounded by tall solar power arrays, with a rocket propellant production plant in the right foreground and a trencher operating in the left foreground.
Image Credit: © Anna Nesterova
- 12
NEW HORIZONS VISITS PLUTO
By Clifford R. McMurray - 18
ISDC 2016:
SPACE BEYOND BORDERS: THE INSIDE SCOOP
By Luisa Fernanda Zambrano-Marin - 22
BACK TO THE MOON:
GETTING THERE FASTER FOR LESS
By Charles Miller and Sarah Preston - 28
’TIS NOT TOO LATE TO SEEK A NEWER WORLD:
Finding Planets Outside Our Solar System
By Lance Frazer - 32
A BREAKTHROUGH IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND EDUCATION HELPS STUDENTS REACH FOR THE STARS
By Lynne F. Zielinski, Fred J. Becker, and Alice M. Hoffman - 36
TWEETING FROM SPACE
By Travis K. Kircher - 38
HOW TO CHANGE A LIFE:
A Longstanding NSS Learning Program Inspires Young Minds to Seek Space-Focused Futures
By Mark Barthelemy - 40
KIP THORNE, SCIENCE STAR, WEIGHS IN ON ISDC 2015
By Alla Malko, PhD - 44
BECAUSE IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC
An Interview with Erik Wernquist, Space Animation Mastermind
By Mark Barthelemy - 47
NSS CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS OF NEW HORIZONS SPARK PUBLIC INTEREST
By Claire Stephens McMurray - 49
SPACE MINERAL RESOURCES
By Brad Blair
- 7
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
By Pat Silver - 8
NSS CORRESPONDENCE
NewSpace 2015 Conference
By Alla Malko, PhD - 10
NSS ANNOUNCEMENTS
ISDC 2015 Virtual Reality Blowout
By Al Anzaldua - 48
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Cost of Returning to the Moon Reduced by a Factor of Ten
By Mark Hopkins
- 50
BOOKS
Welcome to Mars, by Buzz Aldrin
Reviewed by Bart Leahy
Hubble’s Universe, by Terrence Dickinson
Reviewed by Claire S. McMurray - 52
CHAPTER LISTINGS - 55
SIGNING OFF
Preparing for the Journey Home
Ad Astra 2015 Winter (Volume 27 Number 4)
Cover image: This lunar mining base is close to the Moon’s north pole, with crew habitats at left, power storage batteries and propellant depot at rear, and a lunar ferry taking off in the distance. The site is surrounded by tall solar power arrays, with a rocket propellant production plant in the right foreground and a trencher operating in the left foreground.
Image Credit: © Anna Nesterova
- 12
NEW HORIZONS VISITS PLUTO
By Clifford R. McMurray - 18
ISDC 2016:
SPACE BEYOND BORDERS: THE INSIDE SCOOP
By Luisa Fernanda Zambrano-Marin - 22
BACK TO THE MOON:
GETTING THERE FASTER FOR LESS
By Charles Miller and Sarah Preston - 28
’TIS NOT TOO LATE TO SEEK A NEWER WORLD:
Finding Planets Outside Our Solar System
By Lance Frazer - 32
A BREAKTHROUGH IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND EDUCATION HELPS STUDENTS REACH FOR THE STARS
By Lynne F. Zielinski, Fred J. Becker, and Alice M. Hoffman - 36
TWEETING FROM SPACE
By Travis K. Kircher - 38
HOW TO CHANGE A LIFE:
A Longstanding NSS Learning Program Inspires Young Minds to Seek Space-Focused Futures
By Mark Barthelemy - 40
KIP THORNE, SCIENCE STAR, WEIGHS IN ON ISDC 2015
By Alla Malko, PhD - 44
BECAUSE IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC
An Interview with Erik Wernquist, Space Animation Mastermind
By Mark Barthelemy - 47
NSS CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS OF NEW HORIZONS SPARK PUBLIC INTEREST
By Claire Stephens McMurray - 49
SPACE MINERAL RESOURCES
By Brad Blair
- 7
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
By Pat Silver - 8
NSS CORRESPONDENCE
NewSpace 2015 Conference
By Alla Malko, PhD - 10
NSS ANNOUNCEMENTS
ISDC 2015 Virtual Reality Blowout
By Al Anzaldua - 48
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Cost of Returning to the Moon Reduced by a Factor of Ten
By Mark Hopkins
- 50
BOOKS
Welcome to Mars, by Buzz Aldrin
Reviewed by Bart Leahy
Hubble’s Universe, by Terrence Dickinson
Reviewed by Claire S. McMurray - 52
CHAPTER LISTINGS - 55
SIGNING OFF
Preparing for the Journey Home