Launch Pad 2010 open for, um, launch

Last year, I attended the NASA-sponsored Launch Pad Workshop, a week-long camp in Laramie, Wyoming, to help science fiction authors learn astronomy. That way, they can get ideas and write more accurate stories! It was a lot of fun, and I had a fantastic time.

Registration is open again for Launch Pad 2010, with guest speaker Kevin Grazier, who is a planetary scientist and science advisor for TV shows, including Battlestar Galactica.

Launch Pad will be from July 11 – 18, 2010, and if you’re a science fiction author you can apply to attend from now until March 31. And if you are an author, I urge you to go. It’s more than just getting the science right; it’s about inspiration, and there’s plenty to be had in astronomy. Launch Pad is a great way to meet it head on.

March 9th, 2010 12:17 PM by Phil Plait in Astronomy, NASA | 8 comments | RSS feed | Trackback >

8 Responses to “Launch Pad 2010 open for, um, launch”

1. DTdNav Says:
March 9th, 2010 at 1:19 pm

Will it be in Laramie, WY again this year?
2. Matt G. Says:
March 9th, 2010 at 1:44 pm

This is the first time I’ve heard of this, what a fantastic idea!
3. Tangofish Says:
March 9th, 2010 at 2:46 pm

Speaking of authors and science;

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1571437/

is it?
Heres hoping
4. Jya Jya Binks Killer Says:
March 9th, 2010 at 3:05 pm

Great idea – but will TV /movie SF follow suit?

Most SF novels and short stories I’ve read are reasonable science wise but movies and TV shows not-so much.

Plus whatever the medium, there’s always some room for “artistic licence” isn’t there?
5. George Martin Says:
March 9th, 2010 at 7:14 pm

@4 was wondering about movies and television. Last year the National Academy of Sciences established The Science and Entertainment Exchange.

The Science & Entertainment Exchange is a program of the National Academy of Sciences that provides entertainment industry professionals with access to top scientists and engineers to help bring the reality of cutting-edge science to creative and engaging storylines.

The wonderful Jennifer Ouellette, of Cocktail Party Physics, is its director. How much use Hollywood will make of this resource is anyone’s guess. You can read more here:

http://www.scienceandentertainmentexchange.org/

George
6. Jay Lake Says:
March 10th, 2010 at 4:21 am

I did Launch Pad two years ago. It was awesome. Highly recommended, if you’re eligible to apply.
7. JB of Brisbane Says:
March 12th, 2010 at 4:57 am

How far is Laramie from Devil’s Tower?
(Cue “Close Encounters” music – “Doo-doo-doo-doo-DOOOOO…”)
8. March 13th – On This Day In Beatles History | The Beatles Place Says:
March 13th, 2010 at 9:57 am

[...] Launch Pad 2010 open for, um, launch | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine [...]

About Bad Astronomy

Phil Plait, the creator of Bad Astronomy, is an astronomer, lecturer, and author. After ten years working on Hubble Space Telescope and six more working on astronomy education, he struck out on his own as a writer. He's written two books, dozens of magazine articles, and 12 bazillion blog articles. He is a skeptic and fights the abuse of science, but his true love is praising the wonders of real science.

The original BA site (with the Moon Hoax debunking, movie reviews, and all that) can be found here.

Contact me: The Bad Astronomer "at" gmail "dot" com




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