The National Space Society mourns the loss of legendary author and visionary, Ray D. Bradbury, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 91.
The author of more than 50 books, Bradbury’s works encompassed many genres, including science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. He is most widely known for his novels, The Martian Chronicles (1950), The Illustrated Man (1951), and Fahrenheit 451 (1953).
Through his vivid writing style and great imagination, many readers have been introduced to concepts such as human settlement on Mars. This has inspired great interest in that topic, stirring the imaginations of many NSS members, and has certainly contributed to the start of many careers in the sciences, and in the aerospace field in particular. His writing has helped us to better understand what it is to be human, as well as the pressing need for us to be ever mindful stewards of the future that is yet to unfold.
In appreciation and recognition of his lifetime body of work in fantasy writing, including a significant amount of science fiction, such as The Martian Chronicles, Bradbury was awarded the NSS’s prestigious Space Pioneer Award for Mass Media in 2010.
The entire NSS membership mourns his loss, and extends its condolences to the Bradbury family.
