We’re launching another issue of RocketSTEM to celebrate the start of our organization’s fifth year. While half a decade has been quite a journey for us, it is nothing compared to the 50-plus-year history of Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A. From racing the Russians to the Moon during the Apollo program, through the construction of the International Space Station during the Space Shuttle program, and now the most recent launch of the Falcon 9 rocket by SpaceX, the world-famous launch pad has quite a story to tell. Speaking of SpaceX, the private space firm is also preparing to launch its biggest ever rocket – the Falcon Heavy – from Pad 39A later this year. But the company’s founder, Elon Musk, is already laying the groundwork for an even bigger rocket – the Interplanetary Transport System – that will allow humanity to colonize Mars and explore even further out into the solar system. In the meantime, a fleet of orbiters and rovers from three space agencies are busy checking out the Red Planet, while NASA’s Dawn spacecraft has been been analyzing a dwarf planet named Ceres.

All that – and more – in this issue of RocketSTEM magazine.

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Table of Contents

America’s gateway to space: LC-39A

ITS: SpaceX’s bold vision for crewed exploration of the solar system

Helo, Mars!

Remembering Gene Cernan

Remembering John Glenn

Word Find • March 2017

NGC 6357: A cosmic ‘winter’ wonderland

India lofts 104 satellites to set single-launch record

Why did Schiaparelli crash during landing?

Skimming an alien atmosphere

Record number of missions at the Red Planet

SpaceX set to debut Falcon Heavy this year

Dawn’s rich harvest as Ceres gives up secrets

RocketSTEM • March 2017 • Vol. 5 No. 1 Issue 14 (ISSN: 2326-0661)  © 2017 All Rights Reserved

We hope you will continue to be inquisitive about this universe we all inhabit. Educators and students may reuse the magazine’s material in their classrooms, however, no commercial use or other reproduction is allowed.

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RocketSTEM Media Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established for the purpose of fostering science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education via the promotion of the wonders of space exploration. If you enjoy this magazine, please consider making a donation to our organization. One-time donations may be made via PayPal on the Donations page of our website.

RocketSTEM Media Foundation is registered with the IRS as a tax-exempt charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code. Donations are fully tax deductible as allowed by law.

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