The Space Show hosted by: Dr. David Livingston

Dr. David Livingston

The Space Show focuses on timely and important issues influencing the development of outer-space commerce and space tourism, as well as other related subjects of interest to us all.

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Broadcast 208 (Special Edition)	Listen to the show!
Aired on March 30th, 2004
Guest: Robert Zimmerman
Robert Zimmerman returns to The Space Show to provide us with an in-depth analysis of the Bush space policy program. In exploring this policy, Zimmerman talked at length about NASA management and its management methodology over the need to be more engineering focused. In addition to the Bush space policy program, we discussed the situation regarding the Hubble Space Telescope and the stated plans by NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe to let Hubble decay and return to Earth rather than risk the lives of astronauts to repair, modernize, and maintain the telescope in its orbit. Zimmerman goes into the background of this decision, focusing on what the astronomical community itself suggested to NASA over the past few years. Zimmerman, like most thoughtful people, wants to see the Hubble continue operating and he discussed a few options that might allow Hubble to continue in service. We talked about what the loss of Hubble would mean to the United States as well as the world and in fact all of humanity. During the Special Edition portion of the interview with Robert Zimmerman, we discussed weapons in space in light of articles hitting the news earlier in the day about the United States actually starting to deploy space-based weapons as part of a satellite system. Mr. Zimmerman pointed out that these programs with the military have been part of the space program since it began and not just with the United States. Zimmerman said that it was important to keep space commercial and civilian oriented, thus not allowing space to become the dominated by the military. As always, Robert Zimmerman provides Space Show listeners with important information and insights regarding our move toward expanding space commerce, developing space tourism, and becoming space-faring.

About our guest...

Robert Zimmerman
Robert Zimmerman is a well known and respected space historian and author. He posts regularly at his new website, http://behindtheblack.com, on space, science, and other matters relating to cultural and political issues. Mr. Zimmerman is also an award winning author. His most recent book, THE UNIVERSE IN A MIRROR: THE SAGA OF THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE AND THE VISIONARIES WHO BUILT IT (Princeton University Press) was just released in paperback. The book tells the poignant tale of the men and women behind the telescope, and how many had to sacrifice careers and family to get it built. It also describes in detail the importance of Hubble both scientifically and culturally. More than any other instrument sent into space, the Hubble Space Telescope reshaped the human perception of our place in the universe. Robert's previous book, LEAVING EARTH: SPACE STATIONS, RIVAL SUPERPOWERS, AND THE QUEST FOR INTERPLANETARY TRAVEL, is a must read! It describes in detail the history of manned space flight, post Apollo. Thus, it includes a lot of information about the Soviet/Russian space program that is unknown to most Americans. In 2003 American Astronautical Society awarded LEAVING EARTH the Eugene Emme Award as that year's the best space history for the general public. Mr. Zimmerman has also authored GENESIS, THE STORY OF APOLLO 8 (published by Four Walls Eight Windows in 1998), telling the family and political tale behind the first human journey to another world, and THE CHRONOLOGICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF DISCOVERIES IN SPACE (published by Oryx Press, now ABC-CLIO, 2000), a detailed reference book describing what was accomplished on every space mission beginning in October 1957 with Sputnik and continuing through December 1999. His work is published regularly in such magazines as SCIENCE, ASTRONOMY, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, INVENTION & TECHNOLOGY, FORTUNE, AD ASTRA, AMERICAN HISTORY, STARDATE, and many other major magazines. In 2000 he was co-winner of the David N. Schramm Award, given by the High Energy Astrophysics Division of the American Astronomical Society for Science Journalism. He can be reached at zimmerman at nasw dot org.

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