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Earl Green is the creator, curator, and head writer of theLogBook.com.

Soyuz TMA-13 / ISS Expedition 18

Soyuz TMA-13The eighteenth full-time crew of the International Space Station lifts off from Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard Soyuz TMA-13. Yuri Lonchakov and Michael Fincke take up residence on the ISS for 199 days. Arriving with them on the ISS for a ten-day stay is space tourist and computer game mogul Richard Garriott (creator of the series of Ultima role-playing games, which feature his alter ego “Lord British” as their benevolent ruler), who returns to Earth aboard Soyuz TMA-11 with the Expedition 16 crew. Like other “space tourists” before him, Garriott pays for his own Soyuz seat and mission training. While aboard, Garriott films Apogee Of Fear, which he later calls “the first science fiction film actually filmed in space”, with the help of his crewmates; NASA later objects to the movie when it discovers that its astronauts were recruited as actors and crew. Obviously bitten by the space acting bug, Fincke would later guest star in an episode of Star Trek: Enterprise.

Tennant to take leave of the TARDIS

Doctor WhoSparking the biggest outcry since Tom Baker’s departure, actor David Tennant announces that the four special Doctor Who episodes in production for 2009 will be his last in the role, after which he’ll hand off the reins to a new actor. Likewise, Russell T. Davies has already announced that he will give up his position as Doctor Who showrunner to concentrate on non-genre projects, and will be succeeded by multiple-Hugo-winning writer Steven Moffat (who has penned such fan favorites as Blink and The Girl In The Fireplace). Naturally, speculation about the actor who will play the Doctor’s eleventh incarnation runs rampant.

Homesteading Space: The Skylab Story

Homesteading SpaceThe University of Nebraska Press publishes Homesteading Space: The Skylab Story, a comprehensive history of the American Skylab space station program written by David Hitt and Skylab astronauts Owen Garriott, Joe Kerwin, and Alan Bean. The book is part of University of Nebraska Press’ Outward Odyssey: A People’s History of Spaceflight series. Read more

STS-126

Space ShuttleSpace Shuttle Endeavour lifts off on a 15-day mission to the International Space Station, carrying more supplies and equipment than any previous shuttle flight bound for the station. Also on tap is a major spacewalk to repair part of the solar panel assembly on the station which allows it to track the sun. Aboard Endeavour for her 22nd flight are Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Eric Boe, and mission specialists Steve Bowen, Don Pettit, Shane Kimbrough, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Sandra Magnus. Magnus remains on the International Space Station, while ISS crewmember Greg Chamitoff returns from a six-month stint in space aboard the shuttle.

Doctor Who: Return Of The Krotons

Doctor WhoBig Finish Productions releases a bonus Doctor Who audio drama starring Colin Baker and India Fisher. (This title was initially exclusive to Big Finish’s subscription program, as an incentive for those whose subscriptions included The Raincloud Man.) Read more