Discovering Earth S Final Frontier

Star Trek was right — there is only one final frontier, and that is space... Human beings are natural explorers, and nowhere is this frontier spirit stronger than in the United States of America. It almost defines the character of the US. But the Earth is running out of frontiers fast. In Brian Clegg's The Final Frontier we discover the massive challenges that face explorers, both human and robotic, to uncover the current and future technologies that could take us out into the galaxy and take a voyage of discovery where no one has gone before... but one day someone will. In 2003, General Wesley Clark set the nation a challenge to produce the technology that would enable new pioneers to explore the galaxy. That challenge is tough — the greatest we've ever faced. But taking on the final frontier does not have to be a fantasy. In a time of recession, escapism is always popular — and what greater escape from the everyday can there be than the chance of leaving Earth's bounds and exploring the universe? With a rich popular culture heritage in science fiction movies, books and TV shows, this is a subject that entertains and informs in equal measure.

On June 12, 2000, Pres. Clinton ushered in a new era of Ocean Exploration by convening a panel of America's finest ocean explorers, scientists, and marine educators to develop a nat. strategy for ocean exploration. Chapters of this report by the Ocean Exploration Panel include: motivation for exploration; ocean exploration objectives and priorities; ocean exploration partnerships; technology required for ocean exploration; realizing the potential of our discoveries and protecting new resources; ocean exploration directive; Marine Protected Areas EO; Sec. Mineta's Remarks to the Ocean Exploration Panel; and agency summaries of ocean exploration activities. Illustrated.

An analysis of NASA's plans for continuing human spaceflight after retiring the space shuttle / Congressional Budget Office -- The budgetary implications of NASA's current plans for space exploration / Congressional Budget Office -- NASA : assessments of selected large-scale projects / U.S. Government Accountability Office -- NASA cost management hearing : Scolese testimony / Christopher Scolese -- National Aeronautics and Space Administrations : overview, FY2009 budget, and issues for Congress / Daniel Morgan and Carl E. Behrens -- U.S. civilian space policy priorities : reflections 50 years after Sputnik / Deborah D. Stine.

Freedom of the seas and passage rights is a highly topical subject for the international community that cuts across a broad spectrum of scholarly disciplines and maritime operations. The contents of the book include in-depth analysis of current international and regional approaches to freedom of navigation, transit passage through straits used for international navigation, archipelagic sea lanes passage, scientific research and hydrographic surveys in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), military surveys in the EEZ, as well as vessel source pollution and protection of the marine environment. Many of the chapters describe measures in place at multilateral and regional levels to improve information sharing and operational coordination. This collection will especially appeal to those concerned with freedom of the seas and passage rights. The CD accompanying the volume includes important documents such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as well many PowerPoint presentations delivered at the conference. It also includes a draft index to the multi-volume series "United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982: A Commentary." This book contains the edited papers and associated documents from the 32nd annual Virginia conference held in Singapore, January 9-10, 2008. Presentations were delivered by government officials, senior naval and coast guard commanders as well as by leading jurists and academics with impressive expertise in the law of the sea.