Les Johnson

Les Johnson is a physicist, author, and NASA technologist. He is anelected member of the International Academy of Astronautics, a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Societyand a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, the National Space Society,and MENSA.Publisher’s Weekly noted that “The spirit of Arthur C. Clarke and his contemporaries is alive and well...” when describing Les’s2018 novel, Mission to Methone. His 2018 non-fiction book,with co-author Joe Meany,Graphene: The Superstrong, Superthin, and Superversatile Material That Will Revolutionize the Worldwas reviewed in the journal Nature, excerpted in American Scientist,and on Salon.com. His latest anthology, Stellaris: People of the Stars, coedited with Robert Hampson, was published by Baen Books in September 2019.In his day job, Les isa Principal Investigator of two interplanetary solar sail space missionsat the NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.The first, Near Earth Asteroid Scout, scheduled for spaceflight in 2021, will use a 925 square foot solar sail to propel a small spacecraft to rendezvous with an asteroid. The second, Solar Cruiser, will demonstrate the ability of an 18,000 square foot solar sail-propelled spacecraft to perform scientific observations of the sun if it selected for flight in 2024. During his career at NASA, Lesserved as the Manager for the Space Science Programs and Projects Office, the In-Space Propulsion Technology Project, and the Interstellar Propulsion Research Project.

Broadcast 2415 (Special Edition)

Guest: Les Johnson. Topics: Solar sails, advanced propulsion, HSF, science fiction books & movies, and more. Please direct all comments and questions regarding Space Show programs/guest(s) to the Space Show blog, http://thespaceshow.wordpress.com. Comments and questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright and are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use.

Broadcast 1299 (Special Edition)

Guest: Les Johnson. Topics: Environmentalists and space advocates, using space to improve condition on Earth now. Les Johnson returned to The Space Show to discuss his new book, "Paradise Regained: The Regreening of Earth." This book is available at the One Giant Leap Foundation book website, http://www.amazon.com/dp/0387799850?tag=onegialeafou-20. Remember, if you buy it through OGLF, Amazon makes a contribution to The Space Show.

Broadcast 1132 (Special Edition)

Guest: Les Johnson. Topics: solar sail, space propulsion, interstellar space travel, environmental organizations. Les Johnson was our guest for this program for our discussion of solar sail technology and deployment, interstellar space travel and propulsion ideas, and the space advocacy community relationship with environmental organizations. Our first segment focused on solar sail technology and the efforts so far to have a successful solar sail demonstration flight.

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