Space.com Launches Space Illustrated And Acquires Space Industry Publication

Posted on September 6, 2000

Space.com has introduced Space Illustrated, a bi-monthly magazine dedicated to conveying the wonder of space exploration through spectacular space imagery and real and imagined content. Space Illustrated, which will be distributed by Hearst Distribution Group, is printed in an oversized format with an initial circulation of 150,000. The magazine cover price is $2.50. Space.com also announced the acquisition of Space Business International magazine, a business to business international space publication.

``Our mission is to popularize space by providing the most comprehensive and compelling coverage of the biggest story of our age,'' said Lou Dobbs, Space.com Chairman and CEO. ``We are delighted to extend the reach of our brand into print media with the launch of Space Illustrated.''

The magazine's first cover features an image of a young member of ``Gen S'' - the Space Generation - the first generation to live on Mars. Space visionary Robert Zubrin discusses what life will be like for these future children.

Space Illustrated's editorial team is led by Editor Andrew Chaikin (author of A Man on the Moon). The contents of the premiere issue include: an article by Ray Bradbury containing his views on why we should visit mars; another Mars features, The Mars We Never Knew, which explore the mysteries of Mars, including the evidence of liquid water; Sunrise, Sunset, 17,500 Miles an Hour -- Sally Ride, the first American woman in space and President of Space.com, shares her views of Earth from space; Walk on the Wild Side -- head into orbit with rookie shuttle astronaut Jeff Williams on his first space walk constructing the International Space Station; and Bullet with Our Name On It -- the dinosaurs couldn't save themselves from killer asteroids but thanks to new images and awareness, maybe we can

Space.com's new acquistion takes the Web company into the business-to-business arena. Based in London, Space Business International offers coverage of the space industry, with an in-depth focus on the satellite communications and aerospace businesses. Launched in 1997 by Managing Director Mike Robson, the quarterly magazine is edited by veteran space commentator Mike Blackwell. In addition to its London headquarters, Space Business International also has news bureaus in Washington, D.C. and Tokyo, Japan.

``We're thrilled to have Space Business International on the Space.com team,'' said Space.com Chairman and CEO Lou Dobbs. ``Space Business International is a premiere source of information on space and emerging technologies. With Space Business International's content, Space.com will further its mission to provide the best and broadest worldwide coverage of the space industry.''