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

A spacewalk scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021 outside of the International Space Station was postponed after NASA received a notification of a possible debris threat to the orbiting complex.

NASA postpones spacewalk at space station due to space debris warning

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A scheduled spacewalk by two NASA astronauts outside of the International Space Station has been postponed after a debris warning for the orbiting outpost caused NASA to act on the side of caution.

Space Diamonds, as offered by The Space Collective, will spend six months on the exterior of the International Space Station before being returned to Earth.

Memorabilia dealer to fly diamonds, personal photos on space station

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

"Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky." How do you make a diamond more precious than it already is? Like the nursery rhyme says, fly it high. The Space Collective is doing just that.

"The Infinite," a virtual reality tour of the International Space Station is set to open in Houston on Dec. 20, 2021.

'The Infinite' VR space station tour to premiere spacewalk in Houston

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Houston, home of the training facilities and mission control for NASA's operations on the International Space Station, will host the U.S. premiere of a virtual reality adventure to the outpost.

Blue Origin's third crewed New Shepard flight, NS-19, will be the first to launch with all six of the spacecraft's seats filled. Laura Shepard Churchley (at right), the eldest daughter of first American in space Alan Shepard, will fly with "Good Morning America" anchor Michael Strahan (at left) and paying passengers Dylan Taylor, Evan Dick and parent-child pair Lane and Cameron Bess.

Blue Origin to fly 1st astronaut's daughter, GMA host Michael Strahan on New Shepard spaceflight

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Sixty years after watching her father launch on the first American spaceflight, Laura Shepard Churchley will fly with GMA host Michael Strahan and four paying passengers on Blue Origin's New Shepard.

FUTURES, a new Smithsonian exhibition and festival, explores the next horizons for humanity in the Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

Smithsonian FUTURES exhibit examines space artifacts of the future

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A solar sail that tacked into the light, a keyboard used to navigate to the moon and a spacesuit-clad android are among the "artifacts of the future" in the new exhibit FUTURES at the Smithsonian.

The Advanced Plant Habitat aboard the International Space Station is an example of the technology sought by NASA and the Canadian Space Agency through the Deep Space Food Challenge.

Martha Stewart helps NASA pick Deep Space Food Challenge winners

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

NASA and the Canadian Space Agency have named the winners of the first Deep Space Food Challenge, a contest that sought novel food technologies.

U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame inductees Michael Lopez-Alegria; Pam Melroy, who currently serves as NASA deputy administrator; and Scott Kelly at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021.

Astronaut Hall of Fame adds three space station-era astronauts still making history

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Michael Lopez-Alegria, Pamela Melroy and Scott Kelly are the 100th, 101st and 102nd astronauts to enter the hall.

Snoopy, in plush form, will launch as the zero-g indicator on board NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission in 2022.

Snoopy to fly on NASA's Artemis 1 mission in one-of-a-kind spacesuit

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Snoopy is bound for the moon, again. The intrepid space explorer, who in 1969 became the world's first beagle to land on the lunar surface, is set to fly on NASA's Artemis 1.

Snoopy and Woodstock blast off for new adventures in the second season of "Snoopy in Space" on Apple TV+.

'Snoopy in Space' season 2 blasts off on Apple TV Plus with 'The Search for Life'

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

What does the first beagle to land on the moon do for an encore? Explore the rest of the universe, of course. Snoopy, the comic strip dog and NASA mascot, is back for season two of "Snoopy in Space."

A sequined sea turtle floats above Crew-3 astronaut Kayla Barron's head aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft "Endurance." The doll served as the mission's "zero-g indicator" and signaled the flight of the first members of "The Turtles" in space.

Outside of Earth's 'shell,' SpaceX's Crew-3 reveal turtle as zero-g indicator

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Just moments after entering Earth orbit, SpaceX Crew-3 astronaut Kayla Barron released a sparkling sea turtle to float above her head. The "zero-g indicator" showed she and her crew were weightless.

Heinz Tomato Ketchup Marz Edition is made using tomatoes grown under Mars-like conditions at the Aldrin Space Institute.

Heinz debuts 'Marz' Edition ketchup made with tomatoes grown in Mars conditions

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Good news, future Mars' explorers! When humans set up camp on the Red Planet, they will be able to flavor their foods with a Mars-grown version of Earth's best-selling red condiment.

Space Craft, a new special release from Samuel Adams, was made using hops flown on the Inspiration4 mission.

Samuel Adams brews 'Space Craft' beer with Inspiration4-flown hops

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

'Who wouldn't order a beer brewed with space hops?'

After flying into space on three New Shepard suborbital flights, Blue Origin's Mannequin Skywalker anthropometric test device has been put on exhibit at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Alabama.

Blue Origin's 'Mannequin Skywalker' goes on display at Space Camp

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The first passenger to fly with Blue Origin on not just one, but multiple flights into space has retired to the home of Space Camp. Mannequin Skywalker was revealed at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

NASA and National Geographic are partnering to visually document the Artemis 2 mission.

NASA to fly National Geographic cameras on first crewed return to moon

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

When NASA returns astronauts to the moon, National Geographic will be aboard to share the journey with the public. The agency chose the media company to help tell the story of the Artemis 2 mission.

European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Matthias Maurer gives a thumbs up from his seat aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon "Endurance."

L+600 and counting: ESA astronaut to be 600th person in space on SpaceX Crew-3 launch

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A German astronaut is set to become the 600th person to enter space and he will do so flying with a U.S. astronaut who once came close to being number 500.

The International Space Station Expedition 66 patch, as designed by NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn and artist Blake Dumesnil. The insignia derives its shape from a Route 66 highway shield and celebrates a Marvel comic book artist.

New space station 'Route 66' patch hides nod to Marvel 'The Eternals' artist

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

You can now "get your kicks" and Marvel comic book fix with a new mission patch for the International Space Station crew.

Workers on a cherry picker unveil the new sign naming NASA's Hangar 276 at Ellington Field in Houston as the "Capt. John Young Hangar" in honor of the late legendary astronaut.

Newly-named 'Capt. John Young Hangar' honors legendary NASA astronaut

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

NASA's longest-serving astronaut now has his name on one of the agency's longest-serving structures. Johnson Space Center director Vanessa Wyche led a ceremony to name Hangar 276 for John Young.

Chris Hadfield, former Canadian Space Agency astronaut, holds up a copy of his first novel, "The Apollo Murders."

Astronaut Chris Hadfield found space for 'The Apollo Murders' in real history

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Many writers have looked back at the moon landings and found chances to ask "what if?" For Chris Hadfield, he saw the makings of "The Apollo Murders," a thriller set within the real events of 1973.

Russian actress Yulia Peresild (left), cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy (center) and director Klim Shipenko are welcomed back to Earth after their successful Soyuz capsule landing on the steppes of Kazakhstan on Oct. 17, 2021.

That's a wrap! Soyuz lands with film crew after space station movie shoot

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The first film crew to fly into space has returned to Earth after 12 days shooting scenes for a movie on the International Space Station. Yulia Peresild and Klim Shipenko landed with Oleg Novitskiy.

"Orbital Planes: A Personal Vision of the Space Shuttle" by Roland Miller documents the end of the space shuttle program through the eyes of a photographer.

Photographer offers visual slant on space shuttle in 'Orbital Planes'

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

For more than 30 years, Roland Miller has used photography to bring new light to the space program. Now, Miller is preparing to release his third collection, this one focused on the winged orbiters.

William Shatner, seen here preparing for his spaceflight with Blue Origin, revealed the limits put on the crew's carry-ons.

Spaceflight companies set limit on carry-ons: souvenirs not for sale

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

"You can't sell it," says William Shatner.

The United States Mint has revealed the revised final design for the 2022 Sally Ride American Women quarter dollar coin.

US Mint reveals final design for astronaut Sally Ride 2022 quarter

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The United States Mint has finalized the design of a new coin that when released next year will honor America's first woman to fly into space.

Mattel's new ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti Barbie doll was sent on a zero-g parabolic flight to mark World Space Week and its theme this year of "Women in Space."

Barbie doll styled after ESA astronaut on sale for World Space Week

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

New Barbie Signature Role Model Samantha Cristoforetti celebrates women in space.

Russia's Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft, specially decorated to be filmed for a movie, launches for the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, on Oct. 5, 2021.

3, 2, 1 ... action! Russia launches film crew to shoot movie on space station

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Russian actress Yulia Peresild, producer Klim Shipenko and cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov have launched on a 12-day mission to the International Space Station to film a feature-length movie in space.

Skittles is giving away a zero-g flight for two and 99 bags of limited edition Zero-G Skittles to lucky fans who purchase Skittles products on Amazon from Sept. 30 to Oct. 14, 2021.

Skittles is giving away a zero gravity flight to test out limited 'Zero-G' candies

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Three months after certifying that their candies are "guaranteed to actually float while in space," Skittles is offering one fan the chance to test it out for themselves.