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 412 (Special Edition)	Listen to the show!
Aired on November 8th, 2005
Guest: Robert Zimmerman
Robert Zimmerman returned to The Space Show for this program. We began the discussion with Bob giving us his first hand report from the recent Frank Borman comments about Space Ship One being a stunt and the reaction to his comments, both from the audience (they applauded) and on www.spacepolitics.com. We then discussed the Lunar Robot Lander program scheduled as part of our Return to The Moon program for around 2010-2011. This took us into a rather detailed discussion about NASA, the vision, Dr. Griffin, space advocacy positions regarding the vision and the architecture being used to go back to the Moon and more. For sure you will want to hear what Bob has to say about these important subjects. We also talked about the ISS, the fact that the Russians are gearing their space program and their cheap access space vehicle, the Clipper, to supporting ISS and that they intend to use it for their space program and to sell on a commercial basis as they have been doing. Bob talked some about the Clipper vehicle being designed by the Russians and also about the Europeans intent to continue using ISS regardless of what the US does. We also talked about the militarization of space which Mr. Zimmerman downplayed to some degree. Mr. Zimmerman addressed many timely, important, and interesting subjects for this show. You will not want to miss it. If you have questions or comments for Bob, please forward them to drspace@thespaceshow.com and I will see to it that he receives them.

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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