Category Archives: Space books

Education, Living in Space, Space books

Story Time from Space – ISS astronauts read children’s space books

In the new Story Time From Space (STFS) project, ISS crew members will read from a selection of books aimed at kids. There is a  a Kickstarter campaign to fund STFS publicity and distribution of their materials.

Story Time From Space
Now Available to the Children of Earth

Stories read by astronauts on the International Space Station now available online.

HOUSTON, TX, May 7, 2014 – In another space flight first, Story Time From Space (STFS), partnered with Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), has debuted the first children’s book reading from the International Space Station on www.storytimefromspace.com.

“What you cannot imagine, you cannot do,” said Alvin Drew, NASA Astronaut and co-founder for STFS. “It is incredible to see this exciting concept finally debut online. The videos paired with the cross content curriculum will be a powerful tool for educators and families”

Five books by astrophysicist and author Jeffrey Bennett launched to the International Space Station on January 9 aboard the Cygnus spacecraft. The first book making an appearance on the website is “Max Goes to the International Space Station” read by astronaut Mike Hopkins from the space station’s seven window observatory known as the Cupola. The story follows Max the dog as he learns about life on the space station and explores the unusual effects of microgravity.

The books were selected by the founders Alvin Drew and space educator Patricia Tribe for their solid science and inspirational stories. The content makes the books a perfect spring board for the coming science demonstrations that will be flown in the fall. Nine experiments designed by veteran astronaut Bjarni Tryggvason will be conducted on the space station then used to develop curriculum to complement the science concepts in each book.

“The equipment we are building to fly to the space station is fairly sophisticated,” said Bjarni Tryggvason, veteran astronaut and lead science developer for STFS. “For instance, we are flying a spectrometer that will measure wavelengths of light as the sun rises and sets through the Earth’s atmosphere. This information gives us fantastic data on the atmosphere’s composition and has interesting applications for understanding climate change.”

Story time From Space is a project of the Global Space Flight Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and plans to make the STFS content available for free to families, schools and libraries. To fund the distribution and program expenses, STFS has launched a Kickstarter campaign.

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About Story Time From Space:
Story Time From Space (STFS) is a project of the Global Space Flight Education Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit. The group has partnered with NASA and CASIS to have books read in space as part of an innovative program to combine science and literature. For more information visit www.storytimefromspace.com

About CASIS:
The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) was selected by NASA in July 2011 to maximize use of the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory through 2020. CASIS is dedicated to supporting and accelerating innovations and new discoveries that will enhance the health and wellbeing of people and our planet. For more information, visit www.iss-casis.org.

About the ISS National Laboratory:
In 2005, Congress designated the U.S. portion of the International Space Station as the nation’s newest national laboratory to maximize its use for improving life on Earth, promoting collaboration among diverse users, and advancing STEM education. This unique laboratory environment is available for use by other U.S. government agencies and by academic and private institutions, providing access to the permanent microgravity setting, vantage point in low Earth orbit, and varied environments of space.

Living in Space, Mars, Space books

“The Martian” – Andy Weir’s debut novel becomes a best seller

Andy Weir‘s book, The Martian: A Novel, has become an unexpected hit and there is already a movie in the works: A Survival Guide to Mars: A Computer-Scientist-Turned-Novelist Explores Life on Mars in Debut Thriller – WSJ.com

What if you were the last person on Mars?

That is the dizzying premise of Andy Weir’s meticulously researched debut novel, “The Martian.” The novel, which began as a self-published science-fiction serial, is shaping up to be an international hit, with publication rights sold in 21 countries and a movie in the works.

The story opens as astronaut Mark Watney, the lowest-ranking crew member of NASA’s third manned mission to Mars, wakes, aching and fuzzy headed, from an unconscious stupor in his space suit. He is stranded on Mars, after his crew got hit with an unexpectedly powerful sand storm six days into their monthlong mission. He was presumed dead and left behind when the crew evacuated. Satellite radio communications with NASA blew out. The next scheduled Mars mission is four years away, and Watney only has enough food to last 300 days.

 

Asteroids & Comets, Space books

New book: Fury of the Fifth Angel

Chris Hoffman writes to tell me about the book Fury of the Fifth Angel written by him and his father, Albert. Here is a description of the book:

Summary: Nights skies reveal something is on its way that could affect the entire world, but nobody is talking about it in this new book released by Dog Ear Publishing. Two authors turn their experiences with electricity into a thriller of epic proportions.

(January 2014) NOBLESVILLE, Ind. – When well-respected astronomer Ben Cohen confirms his suspicions about an impending meteorite storm, even the president of the United States sits up and takes notice. That storm, which will have a catastrophic effect on the world, begins its work quietly at first, but eventually people start to notice, including electric power grid control operator John Halloran working in upstate New York. This new thriller draws on the authors’ insider knowledge of electricity, meshing technical know-how with a realistic story about the human instinct to survive.

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In “Fury of the Fifth Angel,” the president must make tough decisions about how to handle the threat of the storm. His task is made more difficult thanks to Rev. Randall Davis, a believer in signs who follows his heart and a heavenly authority who begins talking about end times. As John works to puzzle out what is happening to the power grid, he has help from a new acquaintance, Devon Grant of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As the government moves in to cover up the severity of what the celestial sightings mean, John will need all of his instincts to prove what’s going on and what to do about this news that could signal the end of the world.

“The authors will open many eyes to both how a power system operates and the vulnerabilities of these systems,” writes O-T-S owner Mike Terbrueggen in the book’s forward.” “This is the first book I have ever read that combines a complex technical field (power systems), deep personal relationships, political intrigue, and old-time religion into one fast-paced story.” In a second forward, Edward Rhoads, an astrophysicist lecturer at Indianapolis University Purdue University in Indianapolis warns of the real-life dangers of objects from space. “It is not a matter of if but when, where, and how much damage. The events portrayed in this book will occur someday,” he writes, adding that readers need to choose leaders who will invest in equipment to detect space objects on a path to Earth.

Father-son writing team Albert James “Pat” Hoffman and Chris Hoffman both worked in the electric utility industry as well as visiting and working for many electric companies and organizations. Pat, now retired, lives with his wife in upstate New York during the summer and central Florida in the winter. Chris lives in central Indiana with his wife and four children. They already are working on a sequel to “Fury of the Fifth Angel.”

Activism, Solar Sci-Fi, Space books

Geoffrey Landis wins the 2014 Robert A. Heinlein award

Congratulations to Geoffrey Landis on winning the Robert A. Heinlein Award for 2014:

Geoffrey A. Landis to Receive 2014 Robert A. Heinlein Award 

Geoffrey A. Landis, science fiction author and scientist working for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is the 2014 winner of the Robert A. Heinlein Award. The award is bestowed for outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings that inspire the human exploration of space. This award is in recognition of Mr. Landis’ body of work including five books, 83 short stories and 76 poems in the SF field as well as over 353 science fact publications.

The award will be presented on Friday, May 23, 2014 at opening ceremonies during Balticon 48, the Maryland Regional Science Fiction Convention. Balticon and the Robert A. Heinlein Award are both managed and sponsored by The Baltimore Science Fiction Society.

The Robert A. Heinlein Award is a sterling silver medallion bearing the image of Robert A. Heinlein, as depicted by artist Arlin Robbins. The medallion is matched with a red-white-blue lanyard. In addition, the winner receives two lapel pins for use when a large medallion is impractical, and a plaque describing the award, suitable for home or office wall display.

The Robert A. Heinlein Award selection committee consists of science fiction writers and was founded by Dr. Yoji Kondo, a long-time friend of Robert and Virginia Heinlein. Members of the committee were originally approved by Virginia Heinlein. The current Chairman of the Committee is Michael F. Flynn.

Virginia Heinlein authorized multiple awards in memory of her husband, including the Heinlein Prize, which is fully funded by Virginia Heinlein’s estate, and a National Space Society award for volunteer projects.

More information on the Robert A. Heinlein Award, including past winners, can be found at http://www.bsfs.org/bsfsheinlein.htm

More information on Geoffrey A. Landis can be found at http://www.geoffreylandis.com/

More information on Balticon can be found at www.balticon.org

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Rockets, Solar Sci-Fi, Space books

The Rocket Company: Final chapters and epilogues

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In the final installment in the serialization of the updated version of the book The Rocket Company by Patrick J. G. Stiennon and David M. Hoerr, with illustrations by Doug Birkholz, you can obtain the last four chapters and the two epilogues:

Download these within the next week or so.

See also the electronic version of the updated book is available at  The Rocket Company eBook by Patrick Stiennon, David Hoerr, Peter Diamandis, Doug Birkhol: Kindle Store/Amazon.com