Space Facts II

A collection of thumbnail vignettes clearly designed to whet your appetite for more, Space Facts II covers a number of space exploration topics from the past, present, and future. Did you know that NASA is helping develop an "aerospace plane" capable of reaching orbit directly from a runway, without the need for special (and expensive) booster rockets or a Cape Canaveral-type launch? Also in development are programs to support life in space through innovative methods used to recycle air, water, and waste to help grow food and produce oxygen. While each segment is beautifully illustrated, with a combination of real and NASA-quality simulated footage, the pieces are over much too soon; just when I wanted to hear more, the tape moved on to the next segment. Given the brief treatments, the program would have really benefited from a bibliography and/or list of pertinent web sites to point those interested in learning more in the right direction. Still, as a classroom discussion starter, this is a strong, optional purchase. Aud: I, J, P. (C. Block)