In other space news: Today is Stephen Hawking’s birthday. He is 65. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, he told them that one of the things he plans on doing this year is taking a ride on the Vomit Comet (the zero-G airplane), and then, in 2009, to go into space via Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo. Sir Richard Branson is picking up the tab for his ride.
The normal retirement age at Cambridge is 76, but the good Professor has no plans to stop teaching. He’s currently also working on two books, George’s Secret Key To The Universe, a children’s book, to be published this fall, and The Grand Design (on the philosophy of science), which will likely be out in ’08. God speed, Stephen Hawking. And Happy Birthday.
Thanks, Ron!
