Pictured on the right against the backdrop of the mountains near Yuma, AZ, the world's largest parafoil glides to Earth during a January 19 flight test conducted by the team developing NASA's X-38 prototype space station "lifeboat." The X-38 crew return vehicle would glide from orbit like the space shuttle and then descend to touchdown beneath a similar parafoil. The parafoil flown January 19 measured 7,500 square feet more than one and a half times the surface area of a 747 jet's wingspan. Atmospheric flight tests of the X-38 are being conducted this year and a space test is planned in 2002.
We enjoy the space program and have visited many different NASA sites around the country. We watched a night lift off at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It was spectacular up close in the viewing area. Check here to find out how to receive a   Car Pass  for up close launch viewing.
Houston, Stinnis and Huntsville are some of the other NASA locations that we have visited.
A schedule of listed launch dates here or call (321) 867-4636 for recorded anticipated launch information. For recorded infomation during a countdown, call (321) 867-0600

Check this map for off site viewing

   NASA newsand status reports

Shuttle archive information can be found here.

Find the Shuttle tracking elements here

You may calculate sightings at your home using this Skywatch program.

NASA's calendar of events for the next twelve months is especially Handy!

Press kits and subscription to Space News

Get the latest space news below.

   Kennedy Space Center and launch sites Map.

   Launch sites as seen from space

Click here for a link to the NASA web site.

Kennedy Space CenterVideo feeds

Find information on NASA Human Space Flight - divided by major project here.

Specific mission information can be found under each area.

Where are they now?

More of the NASA Gallery Photos, audio and video clips.

Earth Lights

Explanation: This is what the Earth looks like at night. Can you find your favorite country or city? Surprisingly, city lights make this task quite possible. Human-made lights highlight particularly developed or populated areas of the Earth's surface, including the seaboards of Europe, the eastern United States, and Japan. Many large cities are located near rivers or oceans so that they can exchange goods cheaply by boat. Particularly dark areas include the central parts of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The above image is actually a composite of hundreds of pictures made by the orbiting DMSP satellites.

Read up on the Future plans for space

It was June 8th 1998 at 8:07 AM CDT, with sadness that we watched the last closing of the hatch between the shuttle and MIR space station. With the undocking at 11:01 AM CDT, this signified the end of phase one. Now we have new adventures to look forward to so please read on...

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

WHY A SPACE STATION ?

The mission of the International Space Station is to enable long-term exploration of space and provide benefits to people on Earth. Get the facts and latest up to date information here
New! Take a tour of the International Space Station with "MC" robot The tour is informative and interesting.
International Space Station assembly sequence schedule
Find the ISS and HST Orbital elements here
See real time tracking of ISS, Hubble and other bright satellites with Java Tracker Online or you can select your own favorite satellites to track and read up on the latest happenings at NASA. Get Hubble pictures quickly by holding your shift key and clicking on HST. Visualize the global weather picture.
Load this new tracker toy See the positions of 500+ satellites and select one or more that you are interested in. Set the animation to update the orbits.

The program to let you use the following elements is STSPlus.
Use this link to access David Ransom Jr Shuttle website
Use this link to get the latest tracking elements for the latest launches and 100 brightest satellites.

Access Atlas Earth Photos taken during shuttle orbits.
See the latest satelite photos of the world at GlobeXplorer
View your neighborhood with satellite photos world view
NEW .. Live webcam Choose your favorite spot on Earth then see it from space
Earth sciences weather and images at Goddard Space Center
A Global View!! Scan the Atmosphere, oceans and land Loads slowly but well worth the wait!

We have been viewing the flares from the Iridium satellites as they go by in orbit. To find the information so you can see them too, start at the GSOC  (German Space Operations Center) satellite predictions page. Scroll down the page and select your location by state and town or manually input your own longitude and latitude. When completed, select the predictions for the flares. I like the 24 hour prediction. Good luck!

Terrific URL to manipulate the Solar System. Use your mouse to turn and examine the system! (courtesy of NASA JPL)
Sky and Telescope
Another informative web site is the Denver Astronomical Society My brother Andy Gassmann served a couple terms as president of the society. Andy used to teach astronomy at Denver University and when we visited a few years ago, he took us to view the night sky with the large telescope at the University Observatory.
Andy is available to answer astronomy questions
Visit Starhustler A weekly show on PBS designed for naked eye astronomy.
I found a nice link to Morehead Planetarium at U.N.C. You will find lots of information and keep up with what to see in the night sky. Morehead has many useful links to other astronomical and space sites.

SCIENCE, DINOSAURS and MORE!