George Clayton Johnson, writer, dies
Writer George Clayton Johnson, who co-wrote the 1967 novel Logan’s Run with William F. Nolan and wrote episodes of both The Twilight Zone and Star Trek, dies at the age of 86. As part of the legendary “Green Hand” collective of golden-age SF writers, Johnson penned his stories in the company of such fellow southern California writers as Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, Richard Matheson, Jerry Sohl, Robert Bloch, and Rod Serling (who paid Johnson for his first produced television work). For The Twilight Zone, Johnson wrote such memorable stories as The Four Of Us Are Dying, A Penny For Your Thoughts and Kick The Can, and for Star Trek he wrote a monster story called The Man Trap, which became that series’ first aired episode. Logan’s Run was adapted into a glitzy big-screen romp – arguably the last major theatrical SF event before the age of Star Wars – in 1976.
SpaceX sticks the landing from orbit
For the first time since a failed Dragon capsule launch to the International Space Station in June, SpaceX launches its Falcon 9 rocket with a payload of 11 OrbComm mini-satellites. After the second stage separates to go on to successfully deploy the OrbComm satellites, the first stage performs three engine burns to return for a stable landing. For the first time (after two previous attempts on oceangoing unmanned barges), the Falcon 9 drops to a gentle landing at a designated landing zone at Cape Canaveral, potentially paving the way for rockets whose first stages can return home for refurbishing and relaunch.
The Force Awakens loudly
Disney Music releases John Williams’ soundtrack from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, breaking with tradition by not making the soundtrack available until after the film’s premiere. For the first time in the history of the Star Wars film series, the soundtrack has been recorded with Los Angeles studio musicians rather than the London Symphony Orchestra (partly to accommodate composer Williams, now in his ’80s).
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The first Star Wars movie to be produced since Lucasfilm’s 2012 sale to Disney, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, premieres. Co-written and directed by J.J. Abrams, The Force Awakens stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver and Oscar Isaac, alongside original trilogy stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill, all reprising their roles. Seemingly universal anticipation for the continuation of the saga propels the movie’s box office take past a half-billion dollars within half a month of release.
The Expanse: Remember The Cant and CQB
The third and fourth episodes of the science fiction series The Expanse, based on the series of novels by James S.A. Corey (a pseudonym for writers Ty Franck and Daniel Abraham), is broadcast on cable channel Syfy. Kenneth Welsh and Chad L. Coleman (The Orville) guest stars.
The Expanse: The Big Empty
The second episode of the science fiction series The Expanse, based on the series of novels by James S.A. Corey (a pseudonym for writers Ty Franck and Daniel Abraham), is broadcast on cable channel Syfy. François Chau (Lost) guest stars.
Arrow: Dark Waters
The 78th episode of Arrow, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ Green Arrow superhero starring Stephen Amell, airs on the CW. Neal McDonough (Boomtown) guest stars.
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Star Wars Rebels: Legacy
Cable channel Disney XD premieres the 24th episode of the series Star Wars: Rebels, a CGI animated storyline falling between the original and prequel trilogies of the Star Wars saga. Clancy Brown (Highlander, Earth 2) guest stars.
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Star Wars: Rebels now streaming on Amazon Prime
The Flash: Running To Stand Still
The 32nd episode of The Flash, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ superhero starring Grant Gustin, airs on the CW. Mark Hamill (Star Wars, The Flash) guest stars.
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AKATSUKI arrives at Venus
The Japanese space probe AKATSUKI, launched in 2010 but left in an orbit around the sun by an engine glitch, catches up with its original target, the planet Venus, and fires its attitude control thrusters. The lengthy engine burn slows AKATSUKI enough to be captured by Venus’ gravity, in an elliptical 13-day orbit that brings the probe within 250 miles of the Venusian clouds it was sent to study at its closest, and nearly a quarter million miles away from the planet at the furthest. Another engine burn is planned for March 2016 to circularize and shorten AKATSUKI’s orbit so it can begin its observations of the planet’s weather patterns.
Arrow: Legends Of Yesterday
The 77th episode of Arrow, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ Green Arrow superhero starring Stephen Amell, airs on the CW. Grant Gustin (The Flash) guest stars.
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Star Wars Rebels: The Future Of The Force
Cable channel Disney XD premieres the 23rd episode of the series Star Wars: Rebels, a CGI animated storyline falling between the original and prequel trilogies of the Star Wars saga.
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Star Wars: Rebels now streaming on Amazon Prime
The Flash: Legends Of Today
The 31st episode of The Flash, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ superhero starring Grant Gustin, airs on the CW. Neal McDonough (Boomtown), Stephen Amell (Arrow), and John Barrowman (Torchwood, Doctor Who) guest star in part of a crossover event designed to launch another DC Comics TV adaptation, Legends Of Tomorrow.
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Star Wars Rebels: Stealth Strike
Cable channel Disney XD premieres the 22nd episode of the series Star Wars: Rebels, a CGI animated storyline falling between the original and prequel trilogies of the Star Wars saga.
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Star Wars: Rebels now streaming on Amazon Prime
The Expanse: Dulcinea
The first episode of the science fiction series The Expanse, based on the series of novels by James S.A. Corey (a pseudonym for writers Ty Franck and Daniel Abraham), premieres on cable channel Syfy.
Blue Origin NS-2
Commercial spaceflight operator Blue Origin, owned by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, launches its second New Shepard flight. The uncrewed (but human-rated) capsule and its single-stage suborbital booster come in for soft landings near Blue Origin’s Texas launch facility, after refinements are made to the system of aerodynamic fins designed to keep the booster upright as it returns to the ground for a survivable landing. This is the first intact return of a space-flown booster to Earth. This is the first flight for the second New Shepard reusable capsule, as well as the first flight for the second New Shepard reusable booster; both will be reused again.
Alan Parsons Project: Friendly Card 35th anniversary
The Alan Parsons Project’s 1980 album, The Turn Of A Friendly Card, is re-released in an expanded form spanning two CDs, including the hit singles “Time” and “Games People Play”, and adding new demo material from the archives of the late Project co-founder and songwriter, Eric Woolfson. This is the album’s second re-release, having already been remastered as a single-disc release in 2009.
Arrow: Brotherhood
The 76th episode of Arrow, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ Green Arrow superhero starring Stephen Amell, airs on the CW. Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) and Neal McDonough (Boomtown) guest star.
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Star Wars Rebels: Blood Sisters
Cable channel Disney XD premieres the 21st episode of the series Star Wars: Rebels, a CGI animated storyline falling between the original and prequel trilogies of the Star Wars saga. Gina Torres (Firefly, Cleopatra 2525) guest stars.
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Star Wars: Rebels now streaming on Amazon Prime
The Flash: Gorilla Warfare
The 30th episode of The Flash, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ superhero starring Grant Gustin, airs on the CW.
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Jodorowsky’s Dune soundtrack
Cinewax Records releases, both digitally and on physical media, Kurt Stenzel’s score from the documentary film Jodorowsky’s Dune. Concerning an abortive 1970s attempt to commit Frank Herbert’s seminal SF novel to film, the music is done in an analog, 1970s style.
Arrow: Lost Souls
The 75th episode of Arrow, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ Green Arrow superhero starring Stephen Amell, airs on the CW. Caity Lotz (Mad Men, Legends Of Tomorrow), Brandon Routh (Superman Returns), and Neal McDonough (Boomtown) guest star.
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Star Wars Rebels: Wings Of The Master
Cable channel Disney XD premieres the 20th episode of the series Star Wars: Rebels, a CGI animated storyline falling between the original and prequel trilogies of the Star Wars saga.
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Star Wars: Rebels now streaming on Amazon Prime
The Flash: Enter Zoom
The 29th episode of The Flash, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ superhero starring Grant Gustin, airs on the CW.
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Arrow: Haunted
The 74th episode of Arrow, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ Green Arrow superhero starring Stephen Amell, airs on the CW. Caity Lotz (Mad Men, Legends Of Tomorrow) and Matt Ryan (Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior) guest star.
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Star Wars Rebels: Brothers Of The Broken Horn
Cable channel Disney XD premieres the 19th episode of the series Star Wars: Rebels, a CGI animated storyline falling between the original and prequel trilogies of the Star Wars saga.
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Star Wars: Rebels now streaming on Amazon Prime
The Flash: The Darkness And The Light
The 28th episode of The Flash, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ superhero starring Grant Gustin, airs on the CW. Teddy Sears (Masters Of Sex) guest stars.
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Star Trek re-re-generated
Ten years after the last Star Trek TV project left broadcast television, CBS (corporate heirs to the television rights to Star Trek) announces that a new series is in preparation for a January 2017 premiere on CBS. But current plans call for only the pilot to air on CBS; future episodes will be streamed exclusively on CBS’ paid streaming service. (Territories outside the United States will get to see the new show on television and not just the web.) The new series is being overseen by Alex Kurtzman, co-producer of the two “reboot” movies to date, though CBS is quick to distance the new TV/streaming project from those movies.
Arrow: Beyond Redemption
The 73rd episode of Arrow, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ Green Arrow superhero starring Stephen Amell, airs on the CW. Caity Lotz (Mad Men, Legends Of Tomorrow) and Neal McDonough (Boomtown) guest star.
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Star Wars Rebels: Always Two There Are
Cable channel Disney XD premieres the 18th episode of the series Star Wars: Rebels, a CGI animated storyline falling between the original and prequel trilogies of the Star Wars saga. Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy: The Vampire Slayer) makes her first appearance as Seventh Sister.
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Star Wars: Rebels now streaming on Amazon Prime