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 The Sun is indeed our nearest star, a mere 8 light minutes away, compared to 4.5 light years for the next star, the Alpha Centauri system. A nuclear furnace generating prodigious amounts of energy, the Sun provides the conditions necessary for life on Earth. It is a matter of practical importance that we know how the Sun works, as well as a matter of theoretical importance, since its proximity gives us the best information on how other Sun-like stars work.
12.02.05 - Voyages to the Sun
Humanity's epic voyages to the Moon are well known, the stuff of history. But what about voyages to the Sun?
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 Great Images at NASA: Orion
09.29.05 - Discovering New Worlds
In October 1995 - ten years ago this month - two Swiss astronomers announced the discovery of the first planet around a Sun-like star outside of our solar system.
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 Risk and Exploration Revisited
08.30.05 - Risk and Exploration Revisited
Exploration is necessary for a creative society and risk is the inevitable companion of exploration.
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 Cosmic evolution is depicted in this image from the exobiology program at NASA Ames Research Center, 1986. Cosmic evolution begins (upper left) with the formation of stars and planetary systems, proceeds (bottom) to primitive and complex life, and culminates with intelligence, technology and astronomers (upper right) contemplating the universe.
07.21.05 - Our Place in the Universe
The study of cosmic evolution allows us to see the universe as it really is, to reflect on our place in it, and to "know the place for the first time."
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 First picture clearly showing craters on Mars
06.27.05 - The Search for Life
Why do we explore? Since the beginning of the Space Age one of the chief drivers has been the search for life beyond Earth.
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 Image of Mars from Spirit rover
06.01.05 - Exploration and Science
Human exploration is more than the sum of all science.
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 Jesco von Puttkamer, Boris Chertok, and Steven J. Dick
05.02.05 - International Cooperation
One of the benefits of space exploration is international cooperation.
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 Capture of Intelsat VI
04.04.05 - Societal Impact of the Space Age
As controversies swirl about funding, resources, motives and methods for spaceflight, it is well to consider the consequences of exploring space – and of choosing not to do so.
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 Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 1300 - image by the Hubble Space Telescope
03.01.05 - Voyages of Discovery
At the core of the Age of Space are the voyages themselves, and not by accident have spacecraft been named Mariner or Voyager.
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 Sailing ship replicas sail by the Shuttle Endeavour
02.04.05 - Conditions for Exploration
Both the Age of Discovery and the Age of Space had ships, heroic explorers and navigators, but very different motivations.
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 President Kennedy at Rice University in 1962
01.06.05 - The Age of Space
A continuous story of voyages further and further from the home planet.
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 Viking on Mars in 1976
12.03.04 - Reflections from the Past
Recalling the ideas of previous thinkers.
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 Neil Armstrong
11.12.04 - Knowns and Unknowns
Then and Now
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 Earthrise
10.29.04 - Consequences of Exploration
Learning From History
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 Astronaut John Grunsfeld on Hubble servicing mission
10.15.04 - Risk and Exploration
How do we balance risk and rewards?
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 Footprint on the Moon
10.01.04 - Historical Perspectives
The Importance of Exploration
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