Robert Z. Pearlman
Robert Pearlman is a space historian, journalist and the founder and editor of collectSPACE.com, a daily news publication and community devoted to space history with a particular focus on how and where space exploration intersects with pop culture. Pearlman is also a contributing writer for Space.com and co-author of "Space Stations: The Art, Science, and Reality of Working in Space” published by Smithsonian Books in 2018.In 2009, he was inducted into the U.S. Space Camp Hall of Fame in Huntsville, Alabama. In 2021, he was honored by the American Astronautical Society with the Ordway Award for Sustained Excellence in Spaceflight History. In 2023, the National Space Club Florida Committee recognized Pearlman with the Kolcum News and Communications Award for excellence in telling the space story along the Space Coast and throughout the world.
Latest articles by Robert Z. Pearlman
SpaceX flight-proven rocket hardware to go on display at Smithsonian
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
An engine used to launch an Israeli company's attempt at landing on the moon has landed in the Smithsonian. Along with a grid fin, it is one of the first SpaceX artifacts to join the collection.
NASA's OSIRIS-REx capsule just landed with samples of asteroid Bennu. Next stop: Texas
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
Hey NASA, you've just landed your first samples from an asteroid! Where are they going next? Houston, of course.
US Postal Service drops new OSIRIS-REx stamp ahead of asteroid sample return
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
NASA's first asteroid sample mission has landed at post offices two days before the spacecraft's return capsule is set to land on Earth. The USPS released a stamp celebrating the OSIRIS-REx probe.
Tom Hanks returns to the moon with 'The Moonwalkers,' a new visual experience
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
What do you get when you combine the firm that made the Washington Monument into a Saturn V, the imagery of 'Apollo Remastered' and the actor who made 'Houston, we have a problem' a household phrase?
'A Million Miles Away' director and astronaut José Hernández reveal cameo in new film from Amazon
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
José Hernández is humbled, but also loves "A Million Miles Away." The new film from director Alejandra Márquez Abella is based on the former NASA astronaut's life story.
Kennedy Space Center post office closing after 58 years of postmarks
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
The Kennedy Space Center post office has been cancelled. The contract facility will close permanently this month, after which there will be no more "Kennedy Space Center" postmarks.
Russian rocket launches 3 spaceflyers for up to yearlong stay on ISS (video)
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub have left Earth to spend a year aboard the International Space Station, flying on Russia's Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft with Loral O'Hara, who will return after six months.
The other astronauts in 'A Million Miles Away' react to the new film and its focus
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
They may not be the focus of 'A Million Miles Away,' but the crewmates who flew with José Hernández are happy to see him celebrated on the big screen, just as they were to accompany him into space.
'For All Mankind' needs recruits for Mars in 4th season on Apple TV+ (video)
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
Ed Baldwin wants you for Mars. The Apollo astronaut-turned-commander of a private mission to the Red Planet is in need of a few good Martians, as seen in the teaser for "For All Mankind," Season 4.
Not a fake, JFK 'choose the moon' lectern restored to public display
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
As it turns out, the lectern from which President John F. Kennedy proclaimed 'We choose to go to the moon' has been rightly on display for 30 years, contrary to a report that it was a fake.
'The Six' author Loren Grush: 1st female astronauts set example for picking woman to land on moon
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
Forty-five years after selecting its first six women, NASA has 16 female astronauts who could be the first woman on the moon. For Loren Grush, the best thing is they don't have 'the right stuff.'
Astronaut Frank Rubio breaks US record on way to spending a year in space
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
Frank Rubio didn't set out to break a record, but today on the International Space Station, he will do just that. Rubio, a NASA astronaut, will have flown the longest mission in U.S. history.
SpaceX's Crew-6 astronauts splash down after 6-month stay on ISS
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
The SpaceX Crew-6 astronauts Stephen Bowen, Woody Hoburg, Sultan AlNeyadi and Andrey Fedyaev are back on Earth, having each completed their first long-duration spaceflight on the ISS.
'Sasha' the sloth breaks speed records as SpaceX Crew-7 zero-g indicator (photos)
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
A new record may have just been set for the fastest-moving sloth in the world. And not just any sloth: a three-toed sloth named "Sasha" that served as the "zero-g indicator" for SpaceX's Crew-7.
NASA and Forest Service offer seedlings to grow Artemis 'moon trees'
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
NASA is seeking education and community organizations to help plant a practical forest of trees with a unique pedigree: the moon. The space agency and Forest Service want to grow Artemis moon trees.
Karol 'Bo' Bobko, former NASA astronaut who flew three shuttle missions, dies at 85
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
Karol 'Bo' Bobko, who was the only NASA astronaut to fly on the first launch of two space shuttle orbiters, has died at the age of 85. In total, Bobko logged 16 days, 2 hours and 3 minutes in space.
Bakery 'Kochs up' kolache to honor moon-bound Artemis astronaut
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
NASA astronaut Christina Koch's assignment to fly around the moon has already given launch to a tasty treat. Good Dough, a bakery in Galveston, Texas, has created the 'Koch it to the Moon' kolache.
Astronaut-artist Karen Nyberg unveils quilt portraits of first women to fly in space
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
The 50th woman to fly into space, Karen Nyberg has paid tribute to the first woman and first American woman to do so with a pair of original works celebrating the first 60 years of women in space.
'A Million Miles Away' trailer previews the true-life story of astronaut José Hernández
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
'Who better to leave this planet and dive into the unknown than a migrant farm worker?' Michael Peña, as José Hernández, asks and answers that question in 'A Million Miles Away,' coming to Amazon.
Greenland and Faroe Islands issue stamp for Danish astronaut's ISS mission
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen's upcoming 'Huginn' mission to the International Space Station has gotten the stamp of approval from the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
Cosmonaut Alexander Viktorenko, who flew to Mir space station four times, dies at 76
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
Russian cosmonaut Alexander Viktorenko has died at 76. Viktorenko's 19-year career included commanding four missions to the Mir space station.
Russian cosmonaut becomes first to ride European robotic arm on ISS spacewalk
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
Russian cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev completed the first test flight at the end of the European robotic arm as part of a successful spacewalk at the International Space Station on Wednesday (Aug. 9).
NASA Artemis moon rocket mockup to stand alongside historic boosters at Alabama space museum
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
A mockup of the engine section of NASA's new monstrous moon rocket will soon stand among historic boosters from the early years of the space program at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Alabama.
New Lego Technic Perseverance Mars rover was a 'thrill' says JPL advisor
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
Step 337 in assembling Lego's NASA Mars Rover Perseverance Technic model is to you install your name — assuming you were one of the nearly 11 million people who signed up to fly on the real rover.
The forgotten story of the real first Barbie to fly into space (on a still-secret mission)
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
As it turns out, the two Barbie dolls that recently went on display at the Smithsonian are not the first to have flown into space. Another Barbie made the trip aboard a classified mission.
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