Omnivores In Space

when I read, I notice what people are eating. This is one of those little clues that can tell you a lot about how a fictional world is constructed and how its author sees it.

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Somewhere to Call Home?

Scientists thought they’d find a pattern very similar to what occurred in our own solar system. In fact, they’ve uncovered a number of surprises that are changing our ideas about how worlds are formed.

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Drake on Drake’s Equation

I’ve seen our knowledge of exoplanets go from nothing to thousands in less than two decades. I’m optimistic that within the next two we’ll know if there is life out there.

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The Apollo Program, A Personal Journal: Briefing The Crew

I was pretty proud of myself by then. Barely three years out of school and here I was teaching the Apollo astronauts how to pilot their spacecraft, for God’s sake. As I was to discover many times over in my career, smugness invites its own reward. This one arrived while I was briefing an Apollo astronaut for an upcoming mission.

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Review: Starship Century

Starship Century is a book that needs to be read. It is a sad state of affairs when we need to be discussing the importance of space exploration. Yet here we are, pleading to the masses for what should be the obvious. Why go to the stars? – Because if we don’t, who will?

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