Born in Japan, Yoji Kondo has lived in the U.S.A. since 1960 and is now an American citizen. He holds his Ph.D. in astronomy and astrophysics from the University of Pennsylvania, and has been with NASA since 1965. At the time of the Apollo missions to the moon, he was head of the Astrophysics Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center. He currently serves as director of the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite observatory at Goddard Space Flight Center. He has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma, the University of Houston, the University of Pennsylvania, and George Mason University.

Dr. Kondo served as president of the IAU (International Astronomical Union) Commission on “Astronomy from Space,” and is currently president of the IAU Commission on “Close Binary Stars.” A recipient of the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement, he has published over 130 papers in refereed scientific journals, and has edited eight books in astronomy and astrophysics. He holds a black-belt in judo and aikido, and his favorite pastimes include teaching and practicing martial arts.
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Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988), often called the Science Fiction Grand Master, was the author of such ground-breaking novels as STARSHIP TROOPERS, RED PLANET, STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND and THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS. He is generally considered the greatest and most influential science fiction writer of the twentieth century. In addition to being a bestselling author, Heinlein’s novels won 4 Hugo awards, 3 “retro Hugo” awards, and the first “Grand Master Award” from the Science Fiction Writers of America.