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Sunday 4 May 2014

Arthur C Clarke

During World War II, as a RAF officer, Arthur C Clarke (1917-2008) was in charge of the first radar talk-down equipment, the Ground Controlled Approach, during its experimental trials.

In 1945 Arthur C Clarke published the technical paper "Extra-terrestrial Relays" laying down the principles of the satellite communication with satellites in geostationary orbits - a speculation released 25 years later.

Clarke's invention brought him numerous honors, such as 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.

Clarke was one of the best-known science fiction authors of his day. He is most famous for his science fiction novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, and for working with director Stanley Kubrick on the movie of the same name.

He emigrated to Sri Lanka in 1956 largely to pursue his interest in scuba diving.

In 1956 Clarke discovered, while scuba diving, the underwater ruins of the ancient Koneswaram temple in Trincomalee.

He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 and was awarded Sri Lanka's highest civil honor, Sri Lankabhimanya, in 2005.

Sir Arthur C. Clarke at his home in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2005

Arthur C. Clarke died in Sri Lanka on March 19, 2008 after suffering from respiratory failure. He was buried in Colombo in traditional Sri Lankan fashion three days later. His younger brother, Fred Clarke, and his Sri Lankan adoptive family were among the thousands in attendance.

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