A Tribute to Arthur C. Clarke - December 16, 1917 to March 19, 2008

We tip our hats and offer a moment of silence for one of the greatest science fiction writers of all time, Arthur C. Clarke, who died on March 19, 2008 at the age of 90.

Clarke was a visionary in the fields of space science. He is credited with the concept of communications satellites decades before they became a reality. The geosynchronous orbits that keep satellites in a fixed position relative to the ground, are even sometimes called Clarke orbits. In 1983, Clarke founded The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation to encourage mankind's obligation to comprehend and confront its responsibility to the future.

Mr. Clarke's passion in the fields of space science and exploration drove him to pen countless short stories, novels and screenplays related to space exploration, discovery and travel. His ground-breaking work, 2001: A Space Odyssey written both as a novel and a screenplay simultaneously with Stanley Kubrick was at its heart, a terrifying commentary on the technological revolution and its dangers. Clarke is also known for some of the greatest science fiction novels every written, including Childhood’s End, 1953; Rendezvous with Rama, 1973; and Imperial Earth, 1975.

We bid you a fond farewell, Sir Arthur C. Clarke. Your legacy lives on through your works, deeds and foundation. Humanity thanks you for all that you've done and continue to do.