James Cameron’s Atlantis Rising

The broader scientific community will probably always treat Atlantis as a myth—and I can’t say I blame them.  The legend arises from just a single source (Plato), making it hard to believe the story is anything more than ancient science fiction.  Perhaps more to the point, what serious archaeologist wants to lose his or her credibility over a wild goose chase that’s unlikely to produce significant discoveries after so many millennia?

Enter James Cameron, a filmmaker already known for his contributions to science fiction—Terminator, Avatar, the Abyss—with perhaps less academic credibility at stake.  Working the magic of Hollywood (in this case, the magic of big budget film financing), he has produced a serious 90-minute National Geographic documentary on the subject. Read the rest of this entry »

Twenty Years Ago…

Twenty years ago, an armada of city-sized alien spaceships nearly eradicated the human race… and they would have succeeded, if not for a cocky Air Force pilot, a stuttering computer repair man, and a down-in-the-polls U.S. President.  Oh, and let’s not forget the alcoholic crop duster pilot.

It’s hard to believe so much time has passed since the original Independence Day was released, almost as hard as it is to believe that the studios green-lit a sequel after so long.  Read the rest of this entry »

Interview with NASA Engineer

It is my privilege today to interview a man who has been a huge assistance to me as I wrote some of the technical aspects of Prometheus Rebound. Matt Rothgeb has been an engineer with NASA for more than ten years, but beyond that, he describes himself as a lifetime space enthusiast. Matt, thank you for making yourself available!

MR: It is my pleasure! Thank you for allowing me to participate in this experience. I am a space enthusiast / space advocate. It was a childhood dream to get a job working for NASA, and after 12+ years, the dream is still alive!

RLA: To start, could you please tell us a little more about your work for NASA, either currently or in the past? I understand if there are things you cannot share.

MR: I work for a group within NASA that looks at a variety of issues that affect the Agency. I should say a few things first. NASA is not “closed for business” as many think since the Shuttle Program ended. Read the rest of this entry »

Burning Questions about Spaceflight?

If you could ask any question about space flight, space habitation, or the space program, what would it be?

I may have one more chance to interview the NASA engineer who has provided me such great feedback on the technical passages in Prometheus Rebound. But this would be a Q&A session, just for fun, not book-related. So send me your questions — I’d love to pass them along!

Teaser on YouTube, Fan Page on Facebook

And so it begins: the marketing campaign for Prometheus Rebound kicks off with a muffled pop. (Don’t worry… there will be a crescendo!)

Read the rest of this entry »

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