Is Earth the only planet that is home to forms of life? NASA would like to discover the answer to that huge question. Planet Quest, at planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov, is the site with details on just exactly how they plan to explore that exciting possibility.
The StarLight mission, to launch in 2006, will use precision formation flying. The Space Interferometry Mission will measure the distances and positions of stars with unprecedented accuracy.
Lastly, the Terrestrial Planet Finder will build upon the information gathered by the exploration that preceded it. While these may not mean diddly to you, when you visit the site you will find specifics on each of the technological tools that will be used in this task. If you download a special program and have ActiveX enabled, you can actually have a go at flying precision spacecraft in a simulation of the StarLight mission.
You can also take a virtual tour of the W.M. Keck Observatory, the world's largest and most powerful observatory, located atop an extinct volcano in Hawaii.
You might want to make sure your welcome mat is out in 2006.
Science News, January 19, 2002
Need help in tracking discoveries of planets orbiting stars beyond our solar system? NASA's new Planet Quest Web site offers one-stop shopping for planet discovery news.
Check out the latest findings, search an atlas of extrasolar planets, and learn about NASA's proposed missions to search for new worlds, particularly those that might harbor life.
Interactive features include a three-dimensional model of an extrasolar planetary system and an extensive multimedia gallery of animations and virtual-reality tours.