Some scientists are convinced life is common in the universe, but intelligence rare; as for how long civilisations last — and stay detectable — few are willing to hazard a guess. An interview with Frank Drake, half a century listening for ET. Grand designs for interstellar travel: What would it take for humans to reach the stars within a lifetime? From The Space Review, an article on space fetishism, space activism’s obsession with technological and ideological saviors (and a response); instruments of God’s creation: Every field has its holy relics, imbued with almost holy significance — space is like that; Jeff Foust on the future of science and human spaceflight; to reach ever further: An article on a mission and a vision for NASA (and more on thinking a little differently at NASA); and why should humans go to Mars? While the aerospace community waits for February when President Obama will announce the 2011 budget, aerospace engineer Robert Zubrin agitates for a manned mission to Mars. Inside Astronaut Boot Camp: What does it take to prep humans for a trip to an asteroid or a martian moon? Why we should not return to the Moon: NASA recently slammed a probe into the Moon and found "abundant" water — but a return to the Moon is pointless. Learning to love the Moon: Emily Bazelon on how to appreciate astronomy. A review of Space Travel and Culture: From Apollo to Space Tourism. The first chapter from Space Exploration For Dummies by Cynthia Phillips and Shana Priwer. Secret Space Shuttles: When you’re 200 miles up, it’s easy to hide what you’re up to.
