The achievements of Arthur C. Clarke, unique among his peers, bridge the arts and sciences.
His works and his authorship have ranged from scientific discovery to science fiction, from
technical application to entertainment, and have made a global impact on the lives of present
and future generations.
Arthur C. Clarke was the son of an English farming family, born in the seaside town of
Minehead, Somerset, England on December 16, 1917. In 1998, his lifetime work was
recognized by H.M. The Queen when he was honored with a Knighthood – formally conferred
by Prince Charles in Sri Lanka two years later. He passed away in Sri Lanka on March 19,
2008.
After attending schools in his home county, Arthur Clarke moved to London in 1936 and
pursued his early interest in space sciences by joining the British Interplanetary Society. He
started to contribute to the BIS Bulletin and began to write science fiction.
As with so many young men at the time, World War II interrupted in 1939 and he joined the
RAF, eventually becoming an officer in charge of the first radar talk-down equipment, the
Ground Controlled Approach, during its experimental trials. Later, his only non-science-fiction
novel, Glide Path, was based on this work. After the war, he returned to London and to the
BIS, becoming its president in 1947-50 and again in 1953.
In 1945, a UK periodical magazine “Wireless World” published his landmark technical paper "Extra-terrestrial Relays" in which he first set
out the principles of satellite communication with satellites in geostationary orbits - a speculation realized 25 years later. During the
evolution of his discovery, he worked with scientists and engineers in the USA in the development of spacecraft and launch systems, and
addressed the United Nations during their deliberations on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
Clarke's work, which led to the global satellite systems in use today, brought him numerous honors including the 1982 Marconi International
Fellowship, a gold medal of the Franklin Institute, the Vikram Sarabhai Professorship of the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad,
the Lindbergh Award and a Fellowship of King's College, London. Today, the geostationary orbit at 36,000 kilometers above the equator is
named The Clarke Orbit by the International Astronomical Union.
After leaving the RAF in 1946, he resumed his formal studies and was awarded a Fellowship at King's College, London where he obtained
first class honors in Physics and Mathematics in 1948.
In 1954, Clarke wrote to Dr. Harry Wexler, then chief of the Scientific Services Division, U.S. Weather Bureau, about satellite applications
for weather forecasting. From these communications, a new branch of meteorology was born, and Dr. Wexler became the driving force in
using rockets and satellites for meteorological research and operations.
At the same time, Clarke has been the author of many books, articles and papers. The first story he sold professionally was "Rescue
Party", written in March 1945 and appearing in Astounding Science in May 1946. He went on to become a prolific writer of science fiction,
renowned worldwide and with more than 70 titles to his name. Among his many non-fiction works, “Profiles of the Future” (1962) looked at
the probable shape of tomorrow's world and stated his “Three Laws”.
In 1964, he started to work with the noted film producer Stanley Kubrick on a science fiction movie script. Four years later, he shared an
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Oscar nomination with Kubrick at the Hollywood Academy Awards for the film version of “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Then, in 1985, he
published a sequel, “2010: Odyssey Two” and worked with Peter Hyams on the movie version. Their work was done using a Kaypro
computer and a modem, linking Arthur in Sri Lanka and Peter Hyams in Los Angeles, leading to a book “The Odyssey File - The Making of
2010.”
In television, Clarke worked alongside Walter Cronkite and Wally Schirra for the CBS coverage of the Apollo 12 and 15 space missions.
His thirteen-part TV series Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World in 1981 and Arthur C. Clarke's World of strange Powers in 1984 has been
screened in many countries and he has contributed to other TV series about space, such as Walter Cronkite's Universe series in 1981.
Clarke first visited Colombo, Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon) in December 1954 and has lived there since 1956 pursuing an enthusiasm for
underwater exploration along that coast and on the Great Barrier Reef. In recent years, he has been largely confined to a wheelchair due
to post-polio syndrome, but his output as a writer has continued undiminished.
His works and his authorship have ranged from scientific discovery to science fiction, from
technical application to entertainment, and have made a global impact on the lives of present
and future generations.
Arthur C. Clarke was the son of an English farming family, born in the seaside town of
Minehead, Somerset, England on December 16, 1917. In 1998, his lifetime work was
recognized by H.M. The Queen when he was honored with a Knighthood – formally conferred
by Prince Charles in Sri Lanka two years later. He passed away in Sri Lanka on March 19,
2008.
After attending schools in his home county, Arthur Clarke moved to London in 1936 and
pursued his early interest in space sciences by joining the British Interplanetary Society. He
started to contribute to the BIS Bulletin and began to write science fiction.
As with so many young men at the time, World War II interrupted in 1939 and he joined the
RAF, eventually becoming an officer in charge of the first radar talk-down equipment, the
Ground Controlled Approach, during its experimental trials. Later, his only non-science-fiction
novel, Glide Path, was based on this work. After the war, he returned to London and to the
BIS, becoming its president in 1947-50 and again in 1953.
In 1945, a UK periodical magazine “Wireless World” published his landmark technical paper "Extra-terrestrial Relays" in which he first set
out the principles of satellite communication with satellites in geostationary orbits - a speculation realized 25 years later. During the
evolution of his discovery, he worked with scientists and engineers in the USA in the development of spacecraft and launch systems, and
addressed the United Nations during their deliberations on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
Clarke's work, which led to the global satellite systems in use today, brought him numerous honors including the 1982 Marconi International
Fellowship, a gold medal of the Franklin Institute, the Vikram Sarabhai Professorship of the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad,
the Lindbergh Award and a Fellowship of King's College, London. Today, the geostationary orbit at 36,000 kilometers above the equator is
named The Clarke Orbit by the International Astronomical Union.
After leaving the RAF in 1946, he resumed his formal studies and was awarded a Fellowship at King's College, London where he obtained
first class honors in Physics and Mathematics in 1948.
In 1954, Clarke wrote to Dr. Harry Wexler, then chief of the Scientific Services Division, U.S. Weather Bureau, about satellite applications
for weather forecasting. From these communications, a new branch of meteorology was born, and Dr. Wexler became the driving force in
using rockets and satellites for meteorological research and operations.
At the same time, Clarke has been the author of many books, articles and papers. The first story he sold professionally was "Rescue
Party", written in March 1945 and appearing in Astounding Science in May 1946. He went on to become a prolific writer of science fiction,
renowned worldwide and with more than 70 titles to his name. Among his many non-fiction works, “Profiles of the Future” (1962) looked at
the probable shape of tomorrow's world and stated his “Three Laws”.
In 1964, he started to work with the noted film producer Stanley Kubrick on a science fiction movie script. Four years later, he shared an
Home | News | Links | Contact
1 of 2 4/19/2011 12:30 PM
Home | About the Foundation | Arthur C. Clarke | Projects | The Center | Clarke Orbit Anniversary | Scholarships & Awards | Archives | News | Contact
Copyright © 2004-2008 The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation info@clarkefoundation.org
Oscar nomination with Kubrick at the Hollywood Academy Awards for the film version of “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Then, in 1985, he
published a sequel, “2010: Odyssey Two” and worked with Peter Hyams on the movie version. Their work was done using a Kaypro
computer and a modem, linking Arthur in Sri Lanka and Peter Hyams in Los Angeles, leading to a book “The Odyssey File - The Making of
2010.”
In television, Clarke worked alongside Walter Cronkite and Wally Schirra for the CBS coverage of the Apollo 12 and 15 space missions.
His thirteen-part TV series Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World in 1981 and Arthur C. Clarke's World of strange Powers in 1984 has been
screened in many countries and he has contributed to other TV series about space, such as Walter Cronkite's Universe series in 1981.
Clarke first visited Colombo, Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon) in December 1954 and has lived there since 1956 pursuing an enthusiasm for
underwater exploration along that coast and on the Great Barrier Reef. In recent years, he has been largely confined to a wheelchair due
to post-polio syndrome, but his output as a writer has continued undiminished.
NOTE: the authorized biography by Neil McAleer - Arthur C. Clarke - The Authorized Biography - was published by Contemporary Books,
Chicago, in 1992.
Chicago, in 1992.
You can get more details from .....
About Sir. Clarke
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