news - 10.11.05

Arthur C. Clarke Foundation Honors 60th Anniversary of “Extra-Terrestrial Relays” and Clarke Award Winners

(Washington, D.C., Tuesday, October 11, 2005) – The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation, in honor of the 60th anniversary of the landmark publication of Sir Arthur Clarke’s seminal treatise, “Extra-Terrestrial Relays,” hosted the annual Clarke Lecture and Awards Ceremonies at The Cosmos Club here this week. The event featured a spectacular space art exhibit titled “The Moon, Mars & Early Astronomical Concepts,” rare plus studio photos from “2001: A Space Odyssey” and historic Clarke first editions and related books.

Featured speakers at The Cosmos Club included Steven J. Dick, NASA Chief Historian, Bob Seidel of CBS, FCC official Karl Kensinger, Tom D. Crouch of the National Air and Space Museum, 2001: A space Odyssey technical consultant Fred Ordway III, and Scott Pace, Associate NASA Administrator for Program Analysis & Evaluation.

The annual Arthur C. Clarke Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Ben Bova, prolific futuristic author of 100 fiction and nonfiction books, “For Fueling Mankind’s Imagination Regarding the Wonders of Outer Space.” The Arthur C. Clarke Innovator Award was presented to Bradley Edwards for “Pioneering Development of the Space Elevator Concept.”

Speaking from his home in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sir Arthur said, “I want to extend a special welcome to Ben Bova, the Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Ben has been major voice in the development of imagination as it relates to space exploration and the future of humankind. I've enjoyed reading many of his books.” Regarding the ground-breaking work and advocacy of the space elevator concept by Bradley Edwards, Clarke said, “This has been a favorite topic of mine for many years, and as its most enthusiastic promoter, I am often asked when I think the first space elevator might be built. My answer has always been about 50 years after everyone has stopped laughing. I am hoping that Brad’s work will make it a practical reality much sooner.”

The Arthur C. Clarke Lecture and Award is administered by the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation (www.clarkefoundation.org), based in Washington, D.C. Sponsors of the 2004 Clarke Lecture and Awards ceremony at The Cosmos Club included SES Americom, Intelsat, and Orbital Sciences Corporation.

The ACCF was formed in 1983 during the International Telecommunication Union’s World Communications Year. For additional information, please see www.clarkefoundation.org or contact ACCF Secretary Scott Chase at 301-879-1613 or scott.chase@clarkefoundation.org.

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