Robert Zubrin (born 19 April 1952) is an American aerospace engineer and author, best known for his advocacy of manned Mars exploration. Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Aerospace engineering is the branch of Engineering behind the design construction and science of Aircraft and Spacecraft. An author is defined both as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created Advocacy Advocacy is the pursuit of influencing outcomes –including public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political economic and social systems He was the driving force behind Mars Direct—a proposal intended to produce significant reductions in the cost and complexity of such a mission. Mars Direct is a proposal for a relatively low-cost manned mission to Mars with current rocket technology The key idea was to use the Martian atmosphere to produce oxygen, water, and rocket propellant for the surface stay and return journey. Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. Rocket propellant is mass that is stored usually in some form of Propellant tank prior to being used as the propulsive mass that is ejected from a rocket engine in the form A modified version of the plan was subsequently adopted by NASA as their "design reference mission". The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA, ˈnæsə is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program
Disappointed with the lack of interest from government in Mars exploration, and after the success of his book "The Case for Mars" as well as leadership experience at the National Space Society, Zubrin formed the Mars Society in 1998. The exploration of Mars has been an important part of the Space exploration programs of the Soviet Union (later Russia) the United The Case for Mars The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must is a nonfiction science book by Robert Zubrin, first published in 1996 The National Space Society (NSS is an international nonprofit 501(c(3, educational and scientific organization specializing in Space advocacy. The Mars Society is an international Space advocacy Non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging the exploration and settlement of Mars. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) This is an international organization advocating a manned Mars mission as a goal, by private funding if possible. The exploration of Mars has been an important part of the Space exploration programs of the Soviet Union (later Russia) the United
Zubrin lives in Indian Hills, Colorado, with his wife, Maggie Zubrin, and two daughters. Maggie Zubrin long served as the executive director of the Mars Society, departing in late 2007.
Contents |
Qualifications and professional experience
Zubrin holds a B. A. in Mathematics from the University of Rochester (1974), and a masters degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics, a masters degree in Nuclear Engineering, and a Ph. Mathematics is the body of Knowledge and Academic discipline that studies such concepts as Quantity, Structure, Space and The University of Rochester ( U of R UR) is a private, nonsectarian Coeducational Research University located in Rochester Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Aeronautics (from Greek aero which means air or sky and nautis which means sailor i Astronautics, or Astronautical Engineering is the branch of Engineering that deals with machines designed to exit or work entirely beyond the Earth's atmosphere. Nuclear engineering is the application of the breakdown of atomic nuclei and/or other sub-atomic physics based on the principles of Nuclear physics. D. in Nuclear Engineering — all from the University of Washington[1]. See Washington (disambiguation for other uses The University of Washington, founded in 1861, is a public research University He has developed a number of concepts for space propulsion and exploration, and is the author of over 200 technical and non-technical papers and five books. Spacecraft propulsion is any method used to change the velocity of Spacecraft and artificial Satellites There are many different methods He was a member of Lockheed Martin's scenario development team charged with developing strategies for space exploration. Lockheed Martin ( is a large multinational Aerospace manufacturer and advanced technology Company formed in 1995 by the merger of History First orbital flights The first successful orbital launch was of the Soviet unmanned Sputnik He was also "a senior engineer with the Martin Marietta Astronautics company, working as one of its leaders in development of advanced concepts for interplanetary missions" (The Case for Mars 1996). He is also President of both the Mars Society and Pioneer Astronautics, a private company that does research and development on innovative aerospace technologies. Zubrin is the co-inventor on a U. S. design patent and a U. S. utility patent on a hybrid rocket/airplane, and on a U. S. utility patent on an oxygen supply system (see links below). He was awarded his first patent at age 20 in 1972 for Three Player Chess. Three-handed chess is a family of Chess variants specially designed to be played by three people His inventions also include the nuclear salt-water rocket. A nuclear salt-water rocket (or NSWR is a proposed type of Nuclear thermal rocket designed by Robert Zubrin that would be fueled by Water bearing
Books
- The Case for Mars: The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must (1996), with Richard Wagner. The Case for Mars The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must is a nonfiction science book by Robert Zubrin, first published in 1996 This outlines the Mars Direct plan along with speculation about the economic, social and technical viability of future Mars colonization. Mars is the focus of much speculation and serious study about possible human colonization which might be possible
- Entering Space: Creating a Spacefaring Civilization (1999). Entering Space Creating a Spacefaring Civilization is a nonfiction book by Robert Zubrin, published in 1999 This ranges from the current status quo and innovative startups of the aerospace industry, through exploration and colonization of Mars, to a more futuristic look at humanity's possible colonization of the solar system and the feasibility of interstellar travel with known physics. The Solar System consists of the Sun and those celestial objects bound to it by Gravity. Interstellar space travel is unmanned or manned Travel between Stars The concept of interstellar travel in Starships is a staple in Science fiction
- Mars On Earth: The Adventures of Space Pioneers in the High Arctic (2003). Zubrin recounts the origins and progress of the Mars Society's Mars Analog Research Station project, including a variety of perils, both mundane and adventurous, that were overcome in establishing the first analog Mars habitat on Devon Island in the high Arctic. He offers highlights of what has been learned so far through that effort.
- First Landing (2001), a fictional tale about a near-future Mars flight using the Mars Direct plan. First Landing is a 2002 Science fiction novel by Robert Zubrin that tells the story of the first manned space expedition to Mars.
- The Holy Land (2003). This is an "SF satire on the Middle East crisis and the War on Terrorism, and concerns what happens when the liberal Western Galactic Empire relocates the oppressed Minervan sect to their ancient homeland of Kennewick, Washington, in the midst of a U.S. ruled by Christian fundamentalist fanatics. Satire is often strictly defined as a literary genre or form; although in practice it is also found in the graphic and Performing arts In satire human There have been many conflicts in the Middle East since the time of the Ancient Near East up until Modern times. The War on Terrorism (also known as the War on Terror) is the common term for the military political and legal, and ideological conflict and specifically for U Liberalism is a broad array of related ideas and theories of Government that consider individual Liberty to be the most important political goal Western culture (sometimes equated with Western Civilization) are terms which are used to refer to Cultures of European origin Galactic empires are a common theme in Science fiction. Many authors have either used a Galaxy -spanning Empire as background or written about In the Sociology of religion a sect is generally a smaller religious or political group that has broken off from a larger group for example from a Kennewick is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Fundamentalist Christianity, also known as Christian Fundamentalism or Fundamentalist Evangelicalism, is a movement that arose mainly within British and Fanaticism is an Emotion of being filled with excessive uncritical Zeal, particularly for an extreme religious or political cause or in "[2]
- Benedict Arnold: A Drama of the American Revolution in Five Acts (2005). This is an effort to humanize and show the multiple dimensions of Benedict Arnold, and to contrast the democratic values embodied in the spirit of the Revolution with the socially bankrupt classism embodied in the British subjects who won Arnold to their side. Benedict Arnold V ( – June 14, 1801) was a General during the American Revolutionary War who originally fought for the American Continental
- Energy Victory: Winning the War on Terror by Breaking Free of Oil (2007). Energy Victory Winning the War on Terror by Breaking Free of Oil is a 2007 book by Robert Zubrin. An expansion on his recent articles criticizing both reliance on oil and the potential for hydrogen energy, while highlighting the benefits of switching more toward methanol and ethanol. An oil is a substance that is in a viscous Liquid state ( "oily") at ambient temperatures or slightly warmer and is The hydrogen economy is a proposed method of deriving the Energy needed for Motive power (cars boats airplanes buildings or portable electronics by reacting Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, carbinol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha or wood spirits, is a Chemical compound It carries an endorsement from former CIA director James Woolsey. near as long as it used to be several months ago It has been actively summarized and split into sub-articles and there is a dynamic talk page discussion of all Robert James Woolsey Jr (born September 21, 1941) is a foreign policy specialist and former Director of Central Intelligence and head of the Central
Books edited or co-authored
Zubrin has also edited or co-edited the following books, most of which include contributions he wrote:
- Islands in the Sky: Bold New Ideas for Colonizing Space (1996), co-edited with Stanley Schmidt. Islands in the Sky Bold New Ideas for Colonizing Space (Stanley Schmidt and Robert Zubrin, eds This is a collection of fifteen selected non-fiction entries that had been published in Analog magazine over the years; it includes five articles authored or co-authored by Zubrin, including "The Hypersonic Skyhook", "Mars Direct: A Proposal for the Rapid Exploration and Colonization of the Red Planet" (co-authored with David A. Analog Science Fiction and Fact is an American Science fiction Magazine. Baker), "Colonizing the Outer Solar System", "Terraforming Mars" (co-authored with Christopher McKay), and "The Magnetic Sail". Christopher McKay can refer to Christopher McKay (planetary scientist, planetary scientist at NASA Ames Research Center Christopher McKay (footballer Notable additional contributors include Robert L. Forward and the godfather of terraforming, Martyn J. Fogg, each of whom contributed two articles. This is about the physicist and science fiction writer You may be looking for his son Robert D Martyn J Fogg (born July 3 1960 is a widely acknowledged expert on Terraforming.
- From Imagination to Reality: Mars Exploration Studies of the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society : Precursors and Early Piloted Exploration Missions (1997).
- From Imagination to Reality: Mars Exploration Studies of the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society : Base Building, Colonization and Terraformation (1997).
- Proceedings of the Founding Convention of the Mars Society (1999), co-edited with Maggie Zubrin. This contains articles corresponding to talks presented at the founding convention of the Mars Society in Boulder, Colorado in August 1998; it includes contributions from Zubrin, Buzz Aldrin, Martyn Fogg, and many others. Buzz Aldrin (born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr, January 20, 1930 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey) is an American Aviator
- On to Mars: Colonizing a New World (2002 Apogee Books), co-edited with Frank Crossman. Frank Crossman is an engineer and a member of the prestigious National Research Council, where he served on the National Materials Advisory Board This contains articles corresponding to talks presented at the annual conventions of the Mars Society in Boulder in 1999, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 2000, and at Stanford University, Palo Alto, California in 2001. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly known as Stanford University or simply Stanford, is a private Research university located in Palo Alto (ˌpæloʊˈæltoʊ from Spanish: palo: "stick" and alto: "high" i California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean.
- On to Mars 2 : Exploring and Settling a New World (2005 Apogee Books), co-edited with Frank Crossman. This contains over 130 articles corresponding to talks presented at the annual conventions of the Mars Society in Boulder in 2002, in Eugene, Oregon in 2003, and in Chicago, Illinois in 2004. The city of Eugene ( "yoo-JEEN") is the County seat of Lane County, Oregon, Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union.
The ethics of terraforming
Dr. Zubrin is noted as an advocate of a moderately anthropocentric position in the ethics of terraforming. Anthropocentrism (from Greek άνθρωπος anthropos, "human being" and κέντρον kentron, "center" Anthropos (the term The ethics of terraforming has constituted a philosophical debate within Biology, Ecology, and Environmental ethics as to whether Terraforming Discussions of the ethics of terraforming often make reference to a series of public debates Zubrin has held with his friend Christopher McKay, who advocates a moderately biocentric position on the ethics of terraforming. The terraforming (literally "Earth-shaping" of a Planet, moon, or other body is the hypothetical process of deliberately modifying its Christopher McKay can refer to Christopher McKay (planetary scientist, planetary scientist at NASA Ames Research Center Christopher McKay (footballer Biocentrism (from Greek βίος bio, "life" and κέντρον kentron, "center" is a term that has several meanings but is commonly defined For example, a written account of some of these debates is available in On to Mars: Colonizing a New World, as a joint article, "Do Indigenous Martian Bacteria have Precedence over Human Exploration?" (pp. 177-182)
Cultural References
An aging Robert Zubrin also appears as a background character in The Martian Race (1999) by Gregory Benford, a science fiction novel depicting early human explorers on Mars in the very near future. Gregory Benford (born January 30, 1941 in Mobile Alabama) is an American science fiction author and Astrophysicist who is on the Benford, who is also an astrophysicist, is a longtime member of both the board of directors and the steering committee of the Mars Society.
Robert Zubrin was also recently featured in a documentary by CBC Television documentary special The Passionate Eye dubbed "The Mars Underground". [3]
The songwriter and musician Frank Black (alias Black Francis of the Pixies) penned an homage to Zubrin, "Robert Onion", on the album Dog in the Sand. Dog in the Sand, Frank Black's third album with backing group the Catholics was released by the Cooking Vinyl Record label in 2001 and was produced The lyrics form an acrostic spelling "Robert The Case For Mars Zubrin". [4]
References
External links
- The Mars Society
- Pioneer Astronautics
- Robert Zubrin at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- "The Political Economy of Very Large Space Projects"
- An Energy Revolution article by Robert Zubrin in The American Enterprise
- Getting Space Exploration Right article by Robert Zubrin in The New Atlantis
- Review of Zubrin's book Benedict Arnold
- The Hydrogen Hoax article by Robert Zubrin in The New Atlantis
Patents
- U.S. design patent D405,750, "Reusable rocket airplane"
- U.S. Patent 6,119,985, "Reusable rocket-propelled high altitude airplane and method and apparatus for mid-air oxidizer transfer to said airplane"
- U.S. Patent 6,347,627, "Nitrous oxide based oxygen supply system"
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic