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 221 (Special Edition)	Listen to the show!
Aired on May 11th, 2004
Guest: Robert Zimmerman
Robert Zimmerman returned to The Space Show for this program to discuss a variety of timely topics including updates on the new space policy initiative proposed by President Bush last January, possible directions to take to implement the policy with or without NASA, and the status of the Hubble Space Telescope. In addition, we drew upon Mr. Zimmerman's vast knowlege and expertise about the former Soviet and now Russian space program and examined their contributions to space development, exploration and our global efforts to become space-faring. Mr. Zimmerman highlight important facts for all the Soviet/Russian space stations, their space station methodology, and their space science developments and contributions. Mr. Zimmerman told us about his recent experience with several NASA people at a conference and his asking about their drawing on knowledge gleaned from Russian experiments. He was told by NASA representatives at this conference that they don't normally do this because they don't trust Russian data, yet the Russian record in space speaks for itself. Mr. Zimmerman concludes that there must be a genuine massive reorganization of NASA for the newly proposed space policy initiative to succeed and he states why he supports disbanding the manned space flight program with the funding for the program going toward fueling the private sector to operate in this arena. Mr. Zimmerman stressed the importance of the private sector and noted the likely success of the X Prize later this year and of Space X which is the company founded by Elon Musk. Mr. Zimmerman's perspectives are important, and they are given added weight and credibility due to his superb historical knowlege of all aspects of space exploration. He is also a space visionary firmly grounded in reality.

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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