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Discover the marvels of space via the Web
The recent tragic loss of the space shuttle Columbia has awakened the public's interest in space exploration. Even as we advance into the 21st century, the science of space remains a mystery to most. Images of past shuttle missions, biographies of the men and women of space, the history of astronomy and the future of space travel are among the many searchable topics on the World Wide Web.
Since 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, known by most as NASA, has accomplished many scientific and technological feats in air and space. For an in-depth look at these accomplishments, visit NASA's History Office online at http://history.nasa.gov/. Both scholars and the general public will find this site useful. The scope of information ranges from details about the Apollo program to how to prepare a space meal. This site is, indeed, the best place to find the latest details about the Columbia disaster, including transcripts of the congressional hearings surrounding the investigation and profiles of the crew members. Finally, ever wonder what a 3-D view of Mars looks like? You can access this image among thousands of other photos from GRIN, the Great Images in NASA online database.
Online exhibits featuring specific events in air-and-space history are a unique part of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum at http://www.nasm.si.edu/nasm/exh/NASMexol.htm. Through these online displays, one can recall the day that the sound barrier was broken, receive a hands-on demonstration of the principles of flight and get a glimpse at numerous artifacts from the early years of the former Soviet Union's space program.
Is time travel possible? Where is all the missing matter? The online companion to the PBS series "Stephen Hawking's Universe" http://www.pbs.org/wnet/hawking/html/home.html addresses these paradoxical questions. Renowned physicist Hawking invites students to explore the mysteries of cosmology, including the big bang theory, black holes and cosmic alchemy.
For free access to lengthy articles on space flight, use the online reference source Encyclopedia Astronautica http://www.astronautix.com/index.htm. Browse by topic or search by keyword this unique collection of information about rockets, manned space flights and satellites.
Last but not least, if you want to save time sifting through numerous newspapers for articles on space, simply go to Universe Today at http://www.universetoday.com/. This service gathers the top space news from around the Internet and presents it in an easy-to-read, daily updated newsletter. For additional reading material on astronomy and space, check out the impressive book list section.
Whether you dream of becoming an astronaut or just have a curious mind, these sites will introduce you to the many marvels of our universe.
—Stewart Brower and Laura Taddeo, University Libraries