During the years of the USSR, Ukraine was the most important republic outside the Russian Federation contributing to the vast Soviet space program. The National Space Agency of Ukraine (NKAU) was formed on 2 March 1992, but, despite Ukraine’s extensive space infrastructure and continuing support to the Russian Federation, the national space program has been slow to develop. By the end of 1994, Ukraine was anticipating the launch of its first domestic satellite and was rapidly forging bilateral and commercial agreements which could lead to a much stronger space program within the next few years.

Ukraine has sought to expand cooperative space programs not only with the Russian Federation but also with the US, India, Australia, and the International Space Station program. An agreement signed in 1994 with the US may lead to a Ukrainian cosmonaut on a STS mission in 1997, while another pact with India could result in the establishment of a Ukrainian-run Zenit launch facility in India. Zenit launchers have also been selected for support of the ISS, and space welding techniques developed by the Paton Institute of Electric Welding in Kiev are being considered by NASA for future construction projects in Earth orbit.

For more information, please visit http://www.fas.org

Earth Space Agency website is an information and communications environment where you can get in touch with Space Science and Space Business even while sitting with your laptop in your favorite couch. Here you can meet right people with whom to establish your Space Company, or you can join already existing company. You can share important thoughts with others, and you can read interesting and educational articles. Possibilities are endless, if you try to get your dreams true.

For scientists, Earth Space Agency is the right place where to find good job, meet with colleagues, or find financing for Space Projects. Metaphorically speaking, Earth Space Agency is a Space Agency with unlimited employment options. The only thing that matters is knowledge and ability to get to the results. For governments, Earth Space Agency is the right place where to announce tenders for Space Projects, and recruit scientists. Earth Space Agency is a private company, which must do the best it can to provide valuable services to you. One of these services is creating and maintaining this website.

For more information, please visit http://www.earthspaceagency.org

This special jubilee issue of the Journal of the Auckland Astronomical Society does not set out to be a formal history of the society. It is a story of how things happened during the first fifty years with some interesting look-backs into astronomy in New Zealand-in the words of the people involved. It has not been possible to locate everybody who has made a notable mark in the society or to interview everyone who may have something of interest or importance to contribute.

Nor has it been possible to avoid some discrepancies, because much of what is in this journal is based on the memory of people involved-and different people remember things in different ways. Thanks are due to many who have contributed to this publication, especially Tony Messenger who has spent hours bearing a tape recorder from home to home. And, as always, to our typist Margaret Caffell, who has tackled bravely the problem of setting out, with typewriter alone, a form of narrative to which a printer with a range of type would be hard put to do justice.

For more information, please visit http://www.astronomy.org.nz

The Chicago Astronomical Society (CAS) was founded by scholars and leaders in the arenas of business and politics in 1862 to advance the scientific knowledge of astronomy. The founders knew that a primary step in their mission was to build an observatory from which to conduct original research in the field. Inquires were made and the prime telescope maker in the United States was identified as Alvin Clark And Sons of Massachusetts. During negotiations Mr. Clark advised that he had completed and tested a lens of 18 inches diameterthe largest apochromatic lens in the worldfor the observatory of the University of Mississippi.

Previously, arrangements were made by CAS to acquire vacant land at 35th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue on the far south side of Chicago, actually on the campus of the first University of Chicago. Contracts were let for the construction of an observatory building and for the crafting of an equatorial mount and optical tube to hold the Clark lens. Professor Hans —, a renowned astronomer from Germany was hired to direct studies and research at the CAS observatory. Professor Hans made several discoveries of physical double stars. He began parallax studies of some of the brighter stars and was able to estimate their distances from Earth.

For more information, please visit http://www.chicagoastro.org

The Swedish National Space Board, SNSB, is a central governmental agency under the Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications. SNSB is responsible for national and international activities relating to space and remote sensing, primarily research and development. SNSB has three main tasks: to distribute government grants for space research, technology development and remote sensing activities, to initiate research and development in Space and Remote Sensing areas, to act as Swedish contact for international co-operation.

Basic research is financed via the Ministry of Education and Research. SNSB functions as a research council for Swedish research using equipment in space or at high altitudes in the atmosphere. The Swedish space programme is carried out by means of extensive international cooperation, in particular through Swedens membership of the European Space Agency, ESA. The Swedish National Space Board has recently launched a new web site, some pages are still under construction.

For more information, please visit http://www.snsb.se

The Cotswold Astronomical Society serves amateur astronomers in the Cotswold area centered on Cheltenham and Gloucester. Local membership reaches to Swindon, Evesham and Worcester too. Their members come from all walks of life and range from beginners just starting out to experienced amateurs with a wealth of knowledge. Members have varied interests from cosmology to telescope making, from lunar and planetary observing, to supernova hunting. Not all members are active observers, and the society caters equally well for the armchair or internet astronomer.

Their main event is a monthly meeting; in the first half a guest speaker talks on a topic of astronomical interest, followed by a break for tea or coffee and biscuits. The second half is generally open house often with a “whats up in the sky” talk, display of members photographs, or discussions about equipment or observing techniques. Mercury is the societys newsletter published every two months. Mercury includes articles written by members and covers a wide range of topics written by members, and a regular column of astronomical events over the following two months. The Cotswold Astronomical Society is a member of the Federation of Astronomical Societies (FAS).

For more information, please visit http://cotswoldas.org.uk

The Italian Space Agency came into being in 1988. Its purpose was to coordinate all of Italy’s efforts and investments in the space sector that had begun in the 1960s. Within twenty years’ time, ASI became one of the most significant players in the world in space science, satellite technologies and the development of mobile systems for exploring the Universe. Today, ASI has a key role at the European level where Italy is the third contributor country to the European Space Agency.

It also is involved at the international level. For example, ASI has a close working relationship with NASA, which has led to its participation in many of the most interesting scientific missions of recent years. One of the most fascinating projects has been the construction and activities of the International Space Station where Italian astronauts are by now at home. In addition to providing the means to study the Universe, from space you can observe Earth to predict and prevent environmental disasters, ensure rapid intervention in crisis-stricken areas and measure the effects of climate change.

For more information, please visit http://www.asi.it

The Amarillo Astronomy Club (based in Amarillo, Texas) was founded in 1981 and currently has about 45 members. Membership is open to anyone age 16 or older with a genuine interest in astronomy. Most club members own telescopes or binoculars, but ownership is not necessary to be in the club. A one-year membership is $15 per family. Members receive a monthly club newsletter and the quarterly newsletter of the Astronomical League (Reflector). The club meets once a month, usually at the Don Harrington Discovery Center, from September through May. Meetings are held on the Friday closest to the full moon and begin at 7:30 PM. The first part of the meeting is normally a program pertaining to astronomy.

Other activities include an annual Christmas party and a picnic at Buffalo Lake in August. Sometimes there is a picnic on the Fourth of July as well. The club has an observing site on private property about 17 miles south of Claude, TX. At least one observing session a month is scheduled at this site. If the weather permits, additional sessions are often held. The club’s other activities have included the design, building, and modification of telescopes. There have also been classes on mirror grinding.

For more information, please visit http://aacstars.org

Since its launch on July 23, 1999, the Chandra X-ray Observatory has been NASA’s flagship mission for X-ray astronomy, taking its place in the fleet of “Great Observatories.” NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory is a telescope specially designed to detect X-ray emission from very hot regions of the Universe such as exploded stars, clusters of galaxies, and matter around black holes. Because X-rays are absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere, Chandra must orbit above it, up to an altitude of 139,000 km (86,500 mi) in space.

Chandra carries four very sensitive mirrors nested inside each other. The energetic X-rays strike the insides of the hollow shells and are focussed onto electronic detectors at the end of the 9.2- m (30-ft.) optical bench. Depending on which detector is used, very detailed images or spectra of the cosmic source can be made and analyzed. NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, which was launched and deployed by Space Shuttle Columbia on July 23, 1999, is the most sophisticated X-ray observatory built to date. Chandra is designed to observe X-rays from high-energy regions of the universe, such as the remnants of exploded stars.

For more information, please visit http://chandra.harvard.edu

The ACA has been a distinguished northeast Ohio organization since 1949. The purpose of the ACA is to further an interest in and promote the study of the subject of Astronomy and related sciences. The ACA will promote public interest in these sciences through the use of lectures, forums, discussion groups, publications, programs, research, instruction, and other relevant educational, scientific and literary activities. The ACA will educate the general public through monthly programs and star parties. These programs, lectures and events cover such astronomical phenomena as the planets, solar/lunar observing, seasonal constellations, comets, meteor showers, and deep sky objects.

The club also offers an annual telescope seminar on the selection, use and care of binoculars, refractors, reflectors, mounts and photographic equipment. The ACA activities provide opportunities for its general membership to get together and participate in a variety of general astronomy related issues. There are a number of services for members. They have their own observing site and club telescope located at Portage Lakes State Park. We own a number of telescopes available for use. Many club members donate their time and services to local schools, church groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the YMCA, as well as to the general public.

For more information, please visit http://www.acaoh.org