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Les Johnson is a NASA scientist and author of both popular science and science fiction books. He lives in Huntsville Alabama, and works at the Marshall Space Flight Center, one of NASA’s main field centers. Les is a knowledgeable and fascinating speaker, with the experience to back it, and this shows in his writing as well. To many attendees of science fiction conventions, particularly in the Southeastern USA, he IS “Mr. Rocket Scientist.”

Tell me a little about yourself and your background. What are your education and career like? What’s your favorite subject?

I am a physicist and project manager working for NASA at the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.  I am currently the Deputy Manager of the Advanced Concepts Office and a Co-Investigator of the Japanese T-Rex Tether Experiment.  I managed the Science Programs and Projects Office, the In-Space Propulsion Technology Project, and the Interstellar Propulsion Research Project.  I was the Principal Investigator of the ProSEDS Tether Experiment.  I’ve twice received NASA’s Exceptional Achievement Medal and I have 3 patents.

I am a Christian.  I am married and have two wonderful children.

I am the co-author of three popular science books and one soon-to-be published science fiction novel.

Space was my hobby before it became my career!

Where are you from? Has it had any influence on who you are as a writer?

I was born in Ashland, Kentucky and still consider myself to be a Kentuckian living in Alabama.  My family and friends certainly influenced my career, and that includes my love for books – reading and writing them.

In High School, I worked part-time in a bookstore (20 hours per week).  In a small Eastern Kentucky town, that’s where you meet the most interesting people – those who have an education beyond high school and those who are interested in things beyond the day-to-day.  Working at The Book Rack was probably the most influential non-family experience in my life.

Mac or PC?

PC

Tell us about your latest book.

Utopia or dystopia?  Humanity is at an environmental crossroads and whether our legacy is one of prosperous abundance or mere subsistence will depend upon the choices we make in this generation.  With an ever-increasing share of the human population making the transition to the “developed” world will come increasing stress on the Earth’s environment, natural resources, and her ability to produce enough food.

The modern environmental movement is tackling these problems head-on by promoting energy efficiency, recycling, and renewable resources.  While these strategies and technologies are vital, they will be woefully insufficient to provide for a prosperous, long-lived global society with a moderate-to-high standard of living.

The laws of physics prohibit recycling from being 100% efficient – there will always be wasted energy and a loss of materials after the recycling is complete.  Increasing energy efficiency will reduce the rate at which our energy consumption is growing, but it will nonetheless grow – eventually outstripping the ability of terrestrial resources to meet the demand.  And renewable resources will undoubtedly contribute to reducing the overall strain on the environment; but they, too, will be net consumers of energy.  What then, shall humanity do when the inevitable depletion of Earth’s resources occurs?  Our civilization will either collapse (through wars, economic decay, or gradual social anarchy) or, if we take advantage of a currently untapped INFINITE set of resources, we may prosper and thrive.

Where are these untapped INFINITE resources?  They are all around us – we merely have to move a few hundred kilometers straight up into space to access them.  Once there, a literal universe of energy, raw materials and real estate is the province of humanity.

A future in which the environmental movement embraces space exploration, space resource utilization, and eventually space settlement will not only preserve humanity, but potentially all the life forms and habitats that make the Earth our home – and the only place in the known universe that support life of any kind.  Our home is worth preserving and the book, Paradise Regained, suggests how we might transform our world civilization so that we can enable our home to re-green and be a park on Earth.

Paradise Regained -  The Book

The book Paradise Regained, to be published in the fall of 2009, describes how humanity might use the plentiful resources of space to provide for a prosperous future—though it will not be without challenges. 

What’s the weirdest fact you learned while researching for your book?

The existence of the “Little Ice Age” that occurred when there were few, if any, sun spots between 1645 and 1715.  It produced long, cold winters and unusually short and cold summers – resulting in decreased crop yields throughout the world.

What inspires you?

The thought of doing in space what no one has done before.  Going new places.  Flying new technologies.  Seeing new things.

What compels you to write in this genre?

As I said, space was my hobby before it became my career.  It is still my hobby.  I also believe the development of space is the only way to assure a prosperous and sustainable future for the human race.  Without space development, we face a world of scarcity, conflict, and inevitable decline.

When did you first start writing?

2005 – for my first book, Living Off the Land in Space

When did you start writing your current book, and what gave you the idea?

2008 – I didn’t see that policy makers were aware of how space development could help solve current, real-world problems and I wanted to get the idea out in the domain of public opinion for a fair hearing.  Writing a book on the subject seemed like the right way to do so.

How did you get involved in professional writing?

Well, I am still not involved in ‘professional writing.’  It is more of a hobby within a hobby.  I am not ready to give up my day job!

My first book, Living Off the Land in Space, written with Greg Matloff and C Bangs, came about as a result of a NASA workshop held in about 2002.  The topic of the workshop was Space Manufacturing.  Greg, C and I wrote a paper about using space resources for off-Earth manufacturing – which led to our book about how we should explore the solar system using the resources of space instead of only those resources we carry with us from Earth.

Who is your greatest champion?

Carol, my wife.

Who is your favorite author in your genre, and why?

For popular science, my favorite author would be Carl Sagan.  Sagan was the “king” of bringing an understanding of space to the general public.  There have been none better.

Who is your favorite author outside your genre, and why?

My (current) favorite science fiction writer is Stephen Baxter.  Baxter has a knack for being able to write an interesting story, with believable characters, in a fantastic science fictional setting with totally believable science. 

What is your favorite genre outside your own?

History.  I very much enjoy reading about the Founding Fathers and the Revolutionary War era of American history.

What are you doing now, besides writing?

I am quite busy as the Deputy Manager of NASA’s Advanced Concepts Office at the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL.  I am also totally dedicated to my wife and my children.

Will there be a sequel?

There will be more popular science books, but none will really be a sequel.

Do you have any other books in work?

Of course! Paradise Regained: The Regreening of Planet Earth will be released in October.  (With co-authors Gregory Matloff and C Bangs) & Back To the Moon is a science fiction novel I am writing with Dr. Travis S. Taylor.

Where can we find your books?

All of my books are available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Borders.

Where can we find you on the web?

My website is www.lesjohnsonauthor.com
My NASA website: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/capabilities/people.html
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Les-Johnson/91916935147
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lesjohnson1
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Solar_sail_material.jpg