Sad News

by Damon Gambuto     Department: Culture

Legendary science fiction author and luminary Sir Arthur C. Clarke has died at age 90.  The impact his work had on me personally certainly affords the motivation to use the word 'hero' when describing him, but it's his impact on society broadly that demands the use of 'heroic' modifiers when remembering the man.

At first blush you might think that it was Clarke's work 2001: A Space Odyssey (and the Kubrick film adaptation) that has had the greatest impact on our lives, but it was his visionary conceptualization of a simple idea that has really made the biggest difference in your life.

In 1945 Clarke was the first to conceptualize and understand the importance of a geosynchronous orbit for satellite communication.  The orbit itself is now known as the Clarke orbit.  (But wait, you know that already because you watched our segment "Satellite Shopping," right?).  It would only be 12 years later that Sputnik would soar into orbit and usher in the satellite age.

Okay, so that's a really big deal, but this entry is about paying tribute.  How best to do that? While bouncing around the internet looking for some interesting tidbits about this amazing fellow, I stumbled upon an answer in one of his obituaries.  Clarke was recently quoted as saying:

"Sometimes I am asked how I would like to be remembered.  I have had a diverse career as a writer, underwater explorer and space promoter. Of all these I would like to be remembered as a writer."

And so we shall.

 

Tags: Arthur C. Clarke, science fiction, science fiction friday

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