Robert Zimmerman is a science journalist and historian. He has written four books and numerous articles on science, engineering, and space. In the first half of the interview, he talked about the history of space exploration, shared the latest about SpaceX, and the global developments in the space race. Although he acknowledged that the International Space Station (ISS) is disappointing in that it has not helped develop interplanetary spacecraft, he believes that NASA is moving in the right direction to encourage private companies to develop space technology and rockets. He enthused that “there are currently four commercial space stations being built privately in the United States alone,” which will create multiple options for not only NASA and the United States, but also many private companies that want to conduct research in space.
Zimmerman highlighted SpaceX’s achievements in developing the reusable rocket Starship. Starship is the largest rocket ever made, potentially even more powerful than Saturn V, and so far, most of its test flights have been very successful. However, he said that China has the best space program at the moment. The country is conducting engineering research to build spacecraft that can carry astronauts to other planets, in addition to which it has conducted sample return missions to the moon and has a Mars orbiter. He also mentioned the recent death of Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders, who participated in the first manned space flight mission to orbit the moon. He died at the age of 90 in a plane crash during an antique airplane race. Regarding Mars, Zimmerman commented that the Red Planet is not a desert world, and future settlers would not have difficulty finding water there.
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Jacob Cooper is a clinical social worker, Reiki Master, and certified hypnotherapist specializing in past-life regression therapy. In the second half of the talk, he talks about near-death experiences (NDEs), grief, tools for mental health, and the synergy between mental health and spirituality. His near-death experience, which happened at a young age, had a profound effect on him, during which he met many angels and spirit guides and realized he was a soul inhabiting a child’s body. He explains that spirit guides are with us before we come into this world, and are with us at every stage of our lives, “they are the innermost part of us” and know all about our deepest core.
Cooper described God as rooted in the inner connection between ourselves and all life, the creative force of eternal love. There is a self beyond our bodies, thoughts and emotions, but it is often difficult to overcome these barriers, he noted. He recommended practicing gratitude and finding beauty in everyday life. Living this “lens of God” — each moment as a prayer — increases spiritual awareness and connection to God, he suggested. Regarding grief, he noted that it is important to recognize that our lost loved ones are not lost, but still exist in another world. “When there is great love, we feel great loss, but ultimately, when we allow ourselves to feel what we are feeling, we can heal,” he noted. And this can transform tragedy into meaning, and “when we find meaning, we go from being a victim of the situation to being a victor of the situation.”
News Corner Guest: Lauren Weinstein, Steve Cates
