The two volume Encyclopedia of Space Science and Technology represents an ambitious collection of the underlying physical properties of rockets, satellites and space stations, what is known by astronomers about the sun, planets, galaxy and universe, and the effect of the space environment on human and other biological systems. The Encyclopedia also provides a state-of-the-art summary of the engineering involved in launching a rocket or satellite, the control systems involved on the ground, in orbit or in deep space, and on manufacturing in space from planetary and other resources. A quick study of a number of basic topics in space science for researchers in optics, materials processing and telecommunications, this Encyclopedia is also an indispensable resource for physicists, astronomers, engineers and materials and computer science.

The first ever collection of Iain Banks's short fiction, this volume includes the acclaimed novella, The State of the Art. This is a striking addition to the growing body of Culture lore, and adds definition and scale to the previous works by using the Earth of 1977 as contrast. The other stories in the collection range from science fiction to horror, dark-coated fantasy to morality tale.

The prevalent on-demand services that are available in other walks of life must be adapted to the education and learning field if training departments are to be successful in the new millennium. As our affinity for technology and on-demand service and satisfaction grows, this culture will permeate itself in other parts of life. In particular, learners will demand equal capability for their personal and professional development.