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Tag: engineers

An engineer’s guide to cat yodeling

June 24, 2011 8:01 pm Robert Zimmerman

An evening pause:

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Now available as a hardback, paperback, and ebook!

In this ground-breaking new history of early America, historian Robert Zimmerman not only exposes the lie behind The New York Times 1619 Project that falsely claims slavery is central to the history of the United States, he also provides profound lessons about the nature of human societies, lessons important for Americans today as well as for all future settlers on Mars and elsewhere in space.

Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space is available everywhere at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all book vendors. All editions can also be purchased directly from the ebook publisher ebookit, thus giving the author a bigger percentage much sooner.

“Zimmerman’s ground-breaking history provides every future generation the basic framework for establishing new societies on other worlds. We would be wise to heed what he says.”
— Robert Zubrin, founder of the Mars Society

From the moment he is handed a possibility of making the first alien contact, Saunders Maxwell decides he will do it, even if doing so takes him through hell and back. Unfortunately, that is exactly where that journey takes him.

A riveting new science fiction book by Robert Zimmerman that captures the heart of the human spirit, willing to push forward no matter the odds, no matter the cost.

Available everywhere for $3.99 before discount at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, all ebook vendors, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit.

So now I stand on earthside shore,
And wonder what I am.
I must go out and find my home.
The journey’s what I am.

Chorus:
O Pioneer! O Pioneer!
Where do you go from here?
O Pioneer! O Pioneer!
The stars are far too near.

The new edition of Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8 includes a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.

The print edition can be purchased at Amazon, from any other bookseller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 before discount at Amazon, or direct from the publisher, ebookit. If you buy from ebookit the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.

The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.

“Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America’s quest for the moon… Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America’s greatest human triumphs.”
— San Antonio Express-News

Leaving Earth is available as an inexpensive ebook!

Leaving Earth: Space Stations, Rival Superpowers, and the Quest for Interplanetary Travel can be purchased as an ebook everywhere for only $3.99 before discount at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, all ebook vendors, or direct from ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit, the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.

“Leaving Earth is one of the best and certainly the most comprehensive summary of our drive into space that I have ever read. It will be invaluable to future scholars because it will tell them how the next chapter of human history opened.”
— Arthur C. Clarke

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The Ten Most Recent Essays & Commentaries

SpaceX’s IPO sets the stage for the colonization of the solar system — by private enterprise June 13, 2026
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Isaacman before Congress: Speaking the truth to power April 23, 2026
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The battle of Gettysburg as seen by those who lived it March 23, 2026

Conscious Choice:
The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space
Pioneer
Genesis, the Story of Apollo 8
Capitalism in Space
Leaving Earth
The Chronological Encyclopedia of Discoveries in Space
The Universe in a Mirror
Circuit Hikes of Southern Arizona

Recent And Upcoming Appearances

Radio: every Wednesday and Friday on the John Batchelor Show, syndicated nationally. Appearance times and days may vary, depending on events.

Radio: June 3, 2026, the John Batchelor Show, syndicated nationally and available here and here.
Radio: June 3, 2026, 10:00 pm to 12:00 am (Pacific), Coast to Coast with George Noory.
Radio: June 5, 2026, the John Batchelor Show, syndicated nationally and available here and here.
Radio: June 10, 2026, the John Batchelor Show, syndicated nationally and available here and here.
Radio: June 12, 2026, the John Batchelor Show, syndicated nationally and available here and here.
Radio: June 16, 2026, 6:00-8:00 pm (Pacific), The Space Show with David Livingston.
Radio: June 17, 2026, the John Batchelor Show, syndicated nationally and available here and here.

Radio: July 28, 2026, 6:15 to 8:00 pm (Pacific), The Night Hawk with Kelly Powers, KSCO Santa Cruz (1080 AM, 104.1 FM) and 1340 AM KOMY. If you wish to call in instructions can be found here.

Past Appearances

Comment Rules

I welcome all opinions, even those that strongly criticize my commentary.

However, name-calling and obscenities will not be tolerated. First time offenders who are new to the site will be warned. Second time offenders or first time offenders who have been here awhile will be suspended for a week. After that, I will ban you. Period.

Recent Comments

Dick Eagleson on SpaceX’s IPO sets the stage for the colonization of the solar system — by private enterprise Jun 18, 12:23
Cotour on Airplane crash that killed four blamed on Pentagon test of GPS jamming Jun 18, 12:13
Robert Zimmerman on SpaceX’s IPO sets the stage for the colonization of the solar system — by private enterprise Jun 18, 12:12
Dick Eagleson on SpaceX’s IPO sets the stage for the colonization of the solar system — by private enterprise Jun 18, 12:05
Dick Eagleson on SpaceX’s IPO sets the stage for the colonization of the solar system — by private enterprise Jun 18, 12:02
COL BEAUSABRE on Airplane crash that killed four blamed on Pentagon test of GPS jamming Jun 18, 11:54
Dick Eagleson on SpaceX’s IPO sets the stage for the colonization of the solar system — by private enterprise Jun 18, 11:54
Dick Eagleson on SpaceX’s IPO sets the stage for the colonization of the solar system — by private enterprise Jun 18, 11:53
Robert Zimmerman on The suborbital spaceplane company Dawn Aerospace raises million in private capital Jun 18, 11:46
COL BEAUSABRE on The suborbital spaceplane company Dawn Aerospace raises million in private capital Jun 18, 11:25
Dick Eagleson on SpaceX’s IPO sets the stage for the colonization of the solar system — by private enterprise Jun 18, 11:13
Ronaldus Magnus on The suborbital spaceplane company Dawn Aerospace raises million in private capital Jun 18, 11:08
Dick Eagleson on SpaceX’s IPO sets the stage for the colonization of the solar system — by private enterprise Jun 18, 11:03
Robert Zimmerman on France changes the companies to use its old Diamant shared launchpad Jun 18, 10:48
Dick Eagleson on France changes the companies to use its old Diamant shared launchpad Jun 18, 10:36
Jeff Wright on June 17, 2026, No quick links today Jun 18, 09:37
Jeff Wright on The suborbital spaceplane company Dawn Aerospace raises million in private capital Jun 18, 09:30
Ray Van Dune on Gwynne Shotwell: Starship flight 13 in about a month, flights monthly thereafter Jun 18, 09:03
AO1 on June 17, 2026, No quick links today Jun 18, 04:18
Saville on June 17, 2026, No quick links today Jun 18, 03:45

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