
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

Q&A: Astronaut Garrett Reisman guest stars on 'For All Mankind'
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
Veteran astronaut Garrett Reisman was reviewing the script for an episode of "For All Mankind" when he came across a familiar name — his own.

Apollo 13 astronauts statue touches down at Space Center Houston
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
NASA's Apollo 13 astronauts have been immortalized as a new bronze statue now on display at Space Center Houston.

Special postmark will mark Perseverance on Mars, if rover survives landing
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
The U.S. Postal Service plans to mark the landing of NASA's next spacecraft on Mars, if indeed the Perseverance rover makes it down to the surface of the Red Planet.

'For All Mankind: Time Capsule' AR app augments alt space history series
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
A new augmented reality app serves as a bridge between the first and second seasons of the Apple TV+ alternate history series "For All Mankind."

SpaceX’s Crew-1 capsule breaks US spacecraft record set in 1974
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
SpaceX's Crew-1 space capsule has just broken a U.S. spaceflight record set in 1974 by NASA's Skylab 4 mission.

Mock space shuttle Pathfinder lowered to ground for first time in 30 years
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
An early mockup-turned-model of NASA's space shuttle orbiter, the Pathfinder, is headed for a multi-million-dollar restoration in Alabama.

Artist adds touch of moon (tree) dust for Apollo 14 50th anniversary
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
A new tribute to the 50th anniversary of NASA's Apollo 14 lunar landing mission has grown out of a collaboration between two artists and a touch of moon dust, of sorts.

Northrop Grumman names spacecraft for NASA 'Hidden Figure' Katherine Johnson
By Robert Z. Pearlman last updated
A NASA mathematician whose calculations helped send the first American into orbit is the namesake for a resupply craft that will support the astronauts circling Earth today.

Millie Hughes-Fulford, NASA's first female payload specialist in space, dies at 75
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
The first American woman to launch into space who was not a professional astronaut but a working scientist, Millie Hughes-Fulford, has died at the age of 75.

Roscosmos selects four new candidates, all men, to begin cosmonaut training
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
Russia has chosen four new candidates to begin cosmonaut training after an extended one-and-a-half-year selection process.

US Mint marks 35 years since Challenger with 'Teacher in Space' coin
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
A new U.S. coin honoring Christa McAuliffe, NASA's first "Teacher in Space," will help continue her educational mission 35 years after she and her six astronaut crewmates were tragically lost.

Hot Wheels Perseverance lands in stores ahead of rover on Mars
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
NASA's six-wheeled Mars rover Perseverancer, which remains on track to touch down on Mars on Feb. 18, has been reproduced by Mattel as a Hot Wheels toy.

A moon rock in the Oval Office: President Joe Biden's lunar display
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
Joe Biden was three weeks from taking office as a freshman U.S. senator when the moon rock that is now on display in the White House was collected by astronauts on the lunar surface.

Out of space, NASA is demolishing Apollo and space shuttle launch platform
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
One of the three large steel platforms that supported the launch of NASA's Apollo and space shuttle missions is being demolished — due to a lack of space.

'Sun Science' postage stamps will feature NASA solar observatory images
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
A new set of postage stamps will shine light on a NASA mission exploring our nearest star.

Astronaut William Thornton, who invented space shuttle treadmill, dies at 91
By Robert Z. Pearlman last updated
Former NASA astronaut William "Bill" Thornton, who used his own inventions to measure and combat the ill-effects of microgravity while on board two space shuttle missions, has died at the age of 91.

Cold War heats up on the moon in 'For All Mankind' season 2 trailer for Apple TV+
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
Space shuttles fly to the moon and astronauts take up arms in the new trailer for the second season of "For All Mankind." The series returns to streaming on Apple TV+ on Feb. 19.

After 'Apollo 11': New short film goes into 'Quarantine' after first moon landing
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
The documentary will be released exclusively in IMAX theaters beginning Jan. 29 in select locations.

Omega debuts next generation of NASA-qualified Speedmaster moonwatches
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
A new generation of the first watch worn on the moon carries on its iconic Apollo-era look while introducing the highest level of precision available from a modern Swiss-made chronograph.

Boeing to boost space station power supply with new solar arrays
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
The International Space Station will soon be augmented with six new arrays to power its continued and expanded use.

NASA Plum Brook test facility renamed for astronaut Neil Armstrong
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
A remote Ohio facility used to test NASA's new moon-bound spacecraft has been renamed for the first astronaut to step foot on the lunar surface.

New law is first to protect Apollo sites from future moon missions
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
Protecting and preserving the historic sites where the Apollo astronauts first landed on the moon is now not only a good idea, it is also the law.

'ISS Experience' puts viewers aboard the space station in 3D 360-degree VR
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
You could be the next crew member on the International Space Station with the VR app "Space Explorers: The ISS Experience."

Silver dollar unveiled for fallen 'Teacher in Space' Christa McAuliffe
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
The design of the first U.S. coin to honor a teacher has been formally unveiled, showing the first educator to launch towards space.

First 'Guardian' in space: NASA astronaut on ISS enters Space Force
By Robert Z. Pearlman published
Col. Michael Hopkins, who has served for 27 years in the Air Force, voluntarily transferred to the Space Force while aboard the International Space Station on Dec. 18, 2020.
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