Robert Z. Pearlman

Robert Z. Pearlman

Robert Pearlman is a space historian, journalist and the founder and editor of collectSPACE.com, an online 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. He previously developed online content for the National Space Society and Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin, helped establish the space tourism company Space Adventures and currently serves on the History Committee of the American Astronautical Society, the advisory committee for The Mars Generation and leadership board of For All Moonkind. 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.

Articles by: Robert Z. Pearlman

Apple TV+ is bringing the cast and crew of "For All Mankind" to San Diego Comic Con for panels about the new Season 3.

'For All Mankind' panels, mission patches landing at San Diego Comic Con

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

"For All Mankind" is heading to Mars by way of San Diego Comic Con. Between a pair of panels and a set of mission patches, the Apple TV+ alternate space history series will be well represented.

A full-size mockup of the International Space Station stretched over shoppers' heads at the former Fry's Electronics in Webster, Texas. Axiom Space has leased the building to support the engineering of its own commercial space station.

Shuttered full-scale space station mockup finds new use with Axiom Space

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Houston-based Axiom Space has found the perfect place to develop its commercial orbital outpost: a sprawling facility that comes pre-equipped with a mockup of the International Space Station.

Funko's new, limited edition NASA astronaut Soda figure is dressed in a white spacesuit and holds an American flag.

Funko to can NASA astronauts as limited-edition Soda vinyl figures

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

NASA astronauts are finally crossing into "Pop" culture. Funko, the collectibles company best known for its line of Pop! vinyl figures, has revealed its first product depicting a NASA astronaut.

Pulled from auction: Cockroach carcasses and the Apollo 11 moon dust extracted from their stomachs, the result of a 1969 NASA biological test in search of dangerous "moon bugs."

NASA halts sale of cockroach-eaten Apollo 11 moon dust

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

As it turns out, attempting to sell moon dust that was extracted from the stomachs of cockroaches does indeed bug NASA. So much so, that the space agency requested RR Auction halt its sale.

Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell poses with Tom Hanks after being presented the Congressional Space Medal of Honor by President Bill Clinton in the Oval Office on July 26, 1995. At far left, partially cropped, is Lori Garver, then-executive director of the National Space Society, standing next to Colin Hanks.

Former NASA deputy chief reveals story behind Apollo 13 astronaut's medal of honor

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Less than a month after "Apollo 13" opened, President Bill Clinton met with Jim Lovell to present one of the highest awards an astronaut can receive: the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

A statue of Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly into space, was unveiled outside the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island, New York on Friday, June 17, 2022.

Statue of Sally Ride, first American woman in space, unveiled at aviation museum

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

With the crowd cheering "Ride, Sally Ride," a monument to the first American woman to fly into space was unveiled outside of the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island, New York.

NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn poses beside a life-size statue of Buzz Lightyear at the world premiere of the feature film "Lightyear" at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California on June 8, 2022.

NASA astronaut helped Pixar find space ranger's new look in 'Lightyear'

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Tom Marshburn may not be the real-life Buzz Lightyear, but the space ranger — at least as he appears in the new movie "Lightyear" — would not be the same without the NASA astronaut.

Adam Savage's replica of ILC Dover's Ascent and Entry Suit (AES) for Boeing's CST-100 Starliner crew spacecraft is on display alongside a Starliner mockup and simulator in Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex's new attraction, "Gateway: The Deep Space Complex."

Boeing reveals new Starliner spacesuit with replica made by Adam Savage

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A never-before-seen spacesuit is making its debut with the public opening of a new NASA exhibit, but its reveal is not the only surprise: it was also made by Adam Savage of "Mythbusters" fame.

David Leestma, Sandra Magnus and Chris Ferguson stand with prior inductees after being enshrined into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida on Saturday, June 11, 2022. Behind them, from left to right: Tom Jones, Scott Altman, John Blaha, Charlie Precourt, Janet Kavandi, Pam Melroy, Bob Cabana, Dick Covey, Bonnie Dunbar, Charlie Bolden, Curt Brown, Kathy Thornton, John Grunsfeld, Eileen Collins, Jerry Ross, Susan Helms and Frank Culbertson.

Shuttle fliers enter Astronaut Hall of Fame with eye on future in space

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

At an event celebrating their past, the new inductees into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, David Leestma, Sandy Magnus and Chris Ferguson, looked to the future for the promise of space exploration.

Space Center Houston's new Artemis exhibit was inspired by NASA's moon exploration program.

Space Center Houston celebrates Artemis with new exhibit, Moon2Mars festival

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

NASA's Artemis program has inspired a new exhibit and annual Moon2Mars festival at Space Center Houston, the agency's Texas visitor center.

The Mars spaceships of For All Mankind Season 3

A once and future Mars: Finding the space history in 'For All Mankind' season 3

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Were it not for a difference in our timelines, the title of the season 3 opening episode of "For All Mankind" might have been a spoiler.

Russian cosmonaut Valery Ryumin aboard the flight deck of space shuttle Discovery during the STS-91 mission to the Russian space station Mir in June 1998.

Valery Ryumin, cosmonaut who launched to Salyut and Mir space stations, dies at 82

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Russian cosmonaut Valery Ryumin, who launched on four space station missions including the final U.S. space shuttle flight to dock with the former Mir outpost, has died.

The crew of Blue Origin's NS-21 suborbital mission enjoys their time in space on June 4, 2022. From left to right: Victor Vescovo, Victor Correa Hespanha, Katya Echazarreta, Hamish Harding, Jaison Robinson and Evan Dick.

To space and back: Blue Origin's NS-21 crew wants to go again (and again)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Less than two hours after they landed from space, the six members of Blue Origin's fifth crewed mission were all sure of at least one thing: one flight into space was not enough.

Photo of a Blue Origin New Shepard rocket launching the NS-20 space tourist mission in March 2022.

Blue Origin space tourist launches: Live NS-21 mission updates

By Tariq Malik, Meghan Bartels, Robert Z. Pearlman published

Blue Origin will launch 6 passengers on the NS-21 space tourism mission on June 4, 2022. Here are live updates of the launch.

The new monument to NASA's fallen Apollo 1 crew is seen after its dedication at Arlington National Cemetery on June 2, 2022, in Arlington, Virginia.

Monument to NASA's fallen Apollo 1 crew dedicated at national cemetery

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A monument now stands at Arlington National Cemetery in memory of the Apollo 1 crew, the first astronauts to die in their spacecraft, 55 years after the fire took their lives.

Artist's rendering of one of the glass-floor platforms in the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, which will offer guests unique views of the space shuttle Endeavour.

Groundbreaking sets stage for space shuttle Endeavour launch-like display

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

It is a sight that gave astronauts a reason to pause, and soon it will be one that the public can see for themselves at the California Science Center: a space shuttle standing poised for launch.

A flown SpaceX Falcon Heavy booster hangs above a mockup of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft and other space artifacts in "Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex" opening June 15, 2022, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida.

1st look: NASA visitor complex to open 'Gateway' to future of space travel

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

If NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex serves as a theme park for the space set, then its newest attraction, "Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex," is its own take on "Tomorrowland."

Now up for bid: Cockroach carcasses and the Apollo 11 moon dust extracted from their stomachs, the result of a 1969 NASA biological test in search of dangerous "moon bugs."

Cockroach-eaten Apollo 11 moon dust goes up for auction

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

For sale: One small sample of the moon brought back to Earth in 1969 by the Apollo 11 astronauts. Condition: Well-traveled and once digested.

Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter's Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaut chronograph.

Mercury astronaut's long-lost space-flown watch found in Breitling archives

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The first Swiss watch worn in space has been found in time to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its mission. Breitling revealed the watch Scott Carpenter used on the second U.S. orbital spaceflight.

The UN Postal Administration's "Planet Mars" postage stamps celebrate human achievement at the Red Planet.

United Nations celebrates Mars missions on new postage stamps

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The United Nations Postal Administration is celebrating human achievement at the Red Planet with "Planet Mars," its latest release of postage stamps.

Jeb, an alien from the video game Kerbal Space Program, is seen in plush form on board Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft as the "zero-g indicator" for the Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) mission to the International Space Station.

Video game character becomes real 'Kerbalnaut' on Boeing Starliner

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

In the game Kerbal Space Program, if the rocket you design does not reach its destination, you correct its problems and launch again. The first real Kerbalnaut is on Boeing's second Starliner test.

The California Science Center in Los Angeles is set to begin of construction of a new museum that will display NASA's retired space shuttle Endeavour poised for launch.

Groundbreaking set for launchpad-like display of retired space shuttle Endeavour

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

NASA's space shuttle Endeavour is soon to be the focus of a groundbreaking. The California Science Center is set to begin of construction of a museum that will display Endeavour poised for launch.

An astronaut on Mars in of "For All Mankind" season 3 poster.

'For All Mankind' season 3 trailer sets up three-way space race to Mars

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A three-way race to Mars is set to lift off with the return of the critically-acclaimed "For All Mankind." Apple TV Plus released the trailer for the third season.

Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, holds up a model of the space shuttle as the statue sculpted in her honor depicts. The monument will be unveiled at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, New York on June 17, 2022.

Statue of Sally Ride, first American woman in space, to be unveiled at Cradle of Aviation

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A statue of the first American woman to fly into space will soon stand near where the first lunar landing spacecraft were built, just as NASA works toward landing the first woman on the moon.

Top Chef: Houston cheftestant Buddha Lo fills molds with coconut cream to form golf balls as part of his Apollo 14-inspired "Apavlova 14" winning space food dish.

Meringue on the moon: Top Chef winning dish to fly on NASA mission

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Buddha Lo's pavlova will someday travel "miles and miles" on a NASA mission. Lo, a cheftestant on the Bravo competition "Top Chef: Houston," won the show's space food challenge.