Sterling Gates plans deep-space epic with “Captain Victory”
Tulsa-born comic-book writer Sterling Gates is headed to deep space in his next assignment, a revamp of the Jack Kirby character Captain Victory for Dynamite Entertainment.
Captain Victory, created by Kirby, was one of the first hits in the direct-market comic-shop environment of the early 1980s, and of course Kirby is perhaps comics’ most prolific creator, responsible for creating or co-creating concepts including the Fourth World, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four and Captain America.
Science Museum Oklahoma hosts Space Day
Science Museum Oklahoma will host “Space Day” tomorrow at the museum, with hands-on lunar and space-related activities. “Space Day” lasts from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with most activities from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Science Museum Oklahoma is located at 2100 NE 52.
- Matt Price
Science Museum to show NASA launch abort system
The NASA launch abort system for the Orion rocket system will be on display at Science Museum Oklahoma this weekend. The system is en route to White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.Oklahomans can see the system from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd Street.
Known as the LAS pathfinder, this nearly 45-foot-long launch abort system mock-up of NASA’s Orion launch abort system represents the size, outer shape and specific mass characteristics of the Orion crew exploration vehicle’s abort system. It will be used to help prepare for the Pad Abort 1 flight test scheduled later this year.
Ground crews at White Sands will practice lifting and stacking the launch abort system on the launch pad, which will help ready the crew in handling the actual flight test hardware that will be launched later this year.
For more information on Orion, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion.
Ben Bova talks “Mars Life”
Hugo Award winner Ben Bova has a new novel, “Mars Life,” which follows up on his two previous Mars novels, “Mars” and “Return to Mars.” Jamie Waterman, the first man to step foot on Mars, still is the head of the Mars program, which is funded partially by the U.S. and other governments, but mostly by private funding.
However, facing pressure from religious conservatives, the U.S. government pulls funding from the Mars program. With Earth facing fallout from global warming at home, private funding is getting harder to come by as well. Waterman thinks his scientists are on the verge of several breakthroughs to find out more about life on Mars — but even harder than the battle against the Martian elements is Waterman’s battle against political opportunism.
Bova answered a few questions for Nerdage about space, politics and Mars.
Matt Price: In what ways has science fiction predicted what we now know about Mars?
Ben Bova: It’s been the other way around: science fiction stories about Mars have depended pretty heavily on current astronomical thinking about what conditions on the red planet might be. For example, Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Barsoom” novels were based (loosely) on Percival Lowell’s very popular descriptions of what he thought Mars was like. Stanley Weinbaum also used current knowledge for his “A Martian Odyssey.” Ray Bradbury – well, Ray based his Mars on nostalgic memories of the American midwest. My own Mars novels are solidly based on what NASA spacecraft have shown us about the planet.
MP: Do you think it’s important for humans to attempt a Mars landing?
BB: Hell, yes! For years I would argue with Carl Sagan that robotic spacecraft can’t possibly tell us all we want to learn about Mars. Human explorers can do much more than pre-programmed machines. Carl eventually came around to my way of thinking, once he began to realize how limited – and frustrating – the robots can be.
MP: How do you think further space travel should be financed?
BB: Scientific explorations should be financed by government and/or private grants. Space efforts aimed at making profits – from tourism, mining, manufacturing, erecting permanent settlements, etc. – should be privately funded.
MP: A push and pull between science and politics takes place in “Mars Life.” What type of space policy would you like to see out of politicians, today?
BB: Think about how we settled the western frontier in the 19th century. Jefferson sent out scouts such as Lewis and Clark, Zebulon Pike, et al. Scouting out the new territory is a legitimate government responsibility, in my view, and the taxpayers should be willing to pay for it. When people move into the new territory to make homes for themselves or to start business ventures, the government should provide a certain level of information and protection, and allow enough freedom of action for private citizens to prosper.
Comics vodcast: Secret Invasion Frontline 1, Station 1
Meet an astronaut at Science Museum Oklahoma’s “Space Day”
Space Day activities are included in the museum’s general admission price.
Cmdr. John Herrington (USN, Ret.), former NASA astronaut and first American Indian in space, will be present for Space Day activities after 11 a.m.
About 3,000 students are pre-registered for Space Day, and the programs are designed to inspire children of all ages to explore space and to pursue careers in the field.
Antihero Comics web site relaunches
A message from writer David Hopkins, who wrote the excellent “Astronaut Dad” and “Emily Edison.”
The website is finally finished. I’m now ready to take over the world with my charm, my even temperament, and my impeccable taste in comics.
I say this every year, but this next year is going to be great. Astronaut Dad Vol. 2 and Karma Incorporated Vol. 2 are scheduled for a summer release. Also, I have a few other projects in the works, which I’m very excited about.
I highly recommend “Astronaut Dad.” The first volume, out now, examines the human cost of the space race from the perspective of the families of several astronauts.
Publisher Silent Devil has a preview of “Astronaut Dad” here.
– Matt Price
