The Planetary Report • March/April 2003

View from Columbia

On the Cover: In this cross section of the sky, a partial Moon hangs in the dark space above Earth’s horizon and airglow. A digital still camera on board the space shuttle Columbia captured this oblique view on January 26, 2003. The image, as well as other pictures from Columbia in this issue, was transmitted to Earth during the mission.

Features

4 How Will We Go? The Future of Human Spaceflight: Louis Friedman considers the future post-Columbia.

8 A Shuttle Mission Like No Other: Amir Alexander tells the story of the Society's astrobiology experiment that flew aboard Columbia on its last flight.

12 Stand by! We're Landing on Titan: Chris McKay gives a preview of the Cassini-Huygens mission.

Departments

3 Members' Dialogue On Columbia's loss

10 World Watch Changes to NASA's human spaceflight program; ESA cometary missions

18 We Make it Happen! A quick trip through the Society's various ongoing projects

20 Q&A Why are the Pioneer spacecraft subject to different forces than the Voyagers?

22 Society News Future of human spaceflight workshop; two new contests

The Planetary Report • March/April 2003

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