Sir Arthur C. Clarke, a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, has passed away. He’s been a key figure in shaping today’s science fiction movies. Clarke was among other things, the author of the novel that Stanley Kubrick adapted to the movie 2001: Space Odyssey; he wrote “The Sentinel” for a BBC competition in 1948 and though the story was rejected, it changed the course of Clarke’s career. Not only was it the basis for A Space Odyssey, but “The Sentinel” also introduced a more mystical and cosmic element to Clarke’s work.
Clarke has also been an influencial person in technological advancements. He was one of the first people to suggest that geostationary satellites would be ideal telecommunications relays. Clarke described this concept in a paper titled “Extra-Terrestrial Relays — Can Rocket Stations Give Worldwide Radio Coverage?”, published in October 1945. The geostationary orbit is now sometimes known as the Clarke Orbit or the Clarke Belt in his honour.
So Sir Arthur C. Clarke, we salute you. *cue 2001:Space Odyssey beginning theme*