Back to the Moon
Travis S. Taylor—“Doc” Taylor to his friends—has earned his soubriquet the hard way:  He has a doctorate in optical science and engineering, a master's degree in physics, a master's degree in aerospace engineering, a master's degree in astronomy, and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Dr. Taylor has worked on various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for the past sixteen years.  He's currently working on several advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space-based beamed energy systems, and next generation space launch concepts. He has appeared in several episodes of the History Channel’sUniverseseries. He lives inAuburn,ALwith his wife Karen and their daughter. Les Johnsonis a NASA physicist, manager, author, husband and father.  By day, he serves as the Deputy Manager for the Advanced Concepts Office at the NASAGeorgeC. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, one of the coolest jobs in the universe.  In the early 2000s, he was NASA’s Manager for Interstellar Propulsion Research and later managed the In-Space Propulsion Technology Project. He was technical consultant for the movieLost in Spaceand has appeared on the Discovery Channel series, “Physics of the Impossible” in the “How to Build a Starship” episode.He has also appeared in three episodes of the Science Channel series,ExodusEarth. In his spare time he writes popular science books and articles, includingSolar Sails: A Novel approach to Interplanetary Travel,Living Off the Land in Space: Green Roads to the CosmosandParadise Regained: The Regreening of Earth.