This month´s cover ...

All of the publicity received by the Smithsonian Institution recently has centered - rightfully - on the opening of the spectacular Udvar-Hazy Annex of the National Air and Space Museum. On display are upto-now stored air and space items, as well as a number of flown-in exhibits such as the French Concorde. The Columbia space shuttle is currently there, but is not yet available for visitors. Little known outside of mid-America is another piece of the Smithsonian. As a member of the Smithsonian Affiliate Program, the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas, provides a unique experience for the visitor. After learning, training, and living as an astronaut, participants take a flight in the space simulator Falcon.