Candidate Profile

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EXPERTISE
Air & Sea Safety Investigations
Astronomy & Space Science
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH:
BIOGRAPHY
Jonathan H. Ward is an American space historian and active astrophotographer. His four critically acclaimed books on the American space program--two of which are in development as motion pictures--have earned him respect within the space community and are recognized as the definitive books on his subjects.

Guests on the cruises on which he lectures have complimented his ability to relate his personal experience and his subject matter in an engaging, easily understandable, and thought-provoking manner. Literary critics and journalists have praised his balanced, compassionate, and unadorned telling of stories without the need to resort to sensationalism.

Jonathan's joy of bringing the space program to life for the general public began in high school, when he served as a volunteer tour guide at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. He worked for Boeing on the Space Station Program and has consulted to NASA and the Astronauts Memorial Foundation.

Jonathan is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, a NASA Solar System Ambassador, and a frequent speaker on space exploration topics to cruise guests, and at regional and national conferences on astronomy and space exploration.







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PRESENTATIONS
I have a general series of lectures on topics of general interest in space exploration, listed below. Following this list is an integrated series of four to six lectures, which can all be given on a single voyage, "Ad astra per ardua (A Difficult Path Leads to the Stars)", which examines some well-known and lesser-known accidents and near misses and their aftermaths, and how they either strengthened a nation's resolve or caused a country to abandon a program.


General topics in space exploration and astronomy:

All These Worlds – A Flight through the Solar System
Explore the familiar and exotic planets and moons of our solar neighborhood.

Planetary Defense: Protecting Our Planet from External Threats.
Can we prevent another “extinction event” like the one that killed the dinosaurs?

The New Space Race—Commercial Space Tourism & Colonization
Delve into the potential for private citizens to enjoy the wonders of space travel.

Searching for E.T.—Are You Out There?
Consider whether extraterrestrial life lurks within our solar system and where it may be found.

History & Fate of the Universe
Explore the universe’s enigmatic origins and future—appearing from nothing and possibly expanding forever.

Adventures in Weightlessness
Sense the exhilaration and challenges of training in zero-g as astronauts would.

Under Arctic Skies
Discover the myths and science of the night sky as seen by the world’s northernmost peoples.

Chasing The Northern Lights
Learn practical tips for observing and photographing one of nature’s grandest spectacles.

The James Webb Space Telescope
Examine the magnificent capabilities of the JWST—outshining NASA’s Hubble—launched in December 2021.

NASA’s Glory Days—Behind the Scenes of Apollo
Recall the lunar mission that ushered in a new era in space exploration more than 50 years ago.

Columbia’s Homecoming—A Story of Courage, Compassion & Commitment
Hear how a mammoth search operation enabled NASA to fly again after the 2003 Columbia accident.

Eileen Collins—First US Female Space Pilot & Commander
Meet the remarkable woman who broke barriers as an Air Force pilot and became the first woman to command a shuttle mission.

Indigenous Peoples and Observatories – Can They Coexist?
Consider the clash between astronomy and customs at the sites of the world’s premier observatories.

NASA and US Space Force: Cooperation and Conflict in Outer Space
Examine the possibilities and politics as international relations unfold in Earth orbit and beyond.

Cassini-Huygens Space Odyssey to Saturn
Reflect on the extraordinary mission to the Saturn system and see its enchanting rings and icy moons.

Our Moon—Past, Present & Future
Learn more about the science, influence, beauty and power of our nearest celestial neighbor.

Mercury—Secrets of the Innermost Planet
Explore the hostile environment of the smallest, densest and least-known of the terrestrial planets.

Sky Legends of the Inuit and Aleut Peoples
Envision the celestial realm as imagined by the inhabitants of the far North.

Legends of the Greek Skies
Marvel at the rich interplay between Greek myths and the stunning Mediterranean skies.

Astronomy and the Near East
Explore the enormous contributions of astronomers from Mesopotamia to the Arab world of the Middle Ages.

Polynesian Astronomy and Navigation
Learn the skies as seen by Pacific Islanders and how they used the stars for navigation across the ocean

Jupiter, King of the Planets
Discover the incredible neighborhood of our Solar System’s biggest planet and how it has shaped Earth’s history.


Lecture Series, "Ad Astra Per Ardua (A Difficult Path Leads to the Stars)"

Von Braun, Vengeance Weapons, & America’s First Astronauts.
Examine how the rockets that terrorized England put American astronauts into space 16 years later.

Apollo 1 and Apollo 13.
Hear why a fatal fire enabled Apollo to go on, but a successful rescue hastened the program’s end.

Russian Space Mishaps.
Examine the little-known failures of the Soviet and Russian space program and their repercussions.

Challenger: NASA’s Loss of Innocence.
Learn how breakdowns leading to the 1986 accident proved that spaceflight cannot be “routine.”

Columbia, the End of the Space Shuttle, & Commercial Crew.
Consider how the premature end of the Shuttle program led to the rise of commercial spaceflight.

Given the Risks, Do We Really Need People in Space?
Contrast the benefits and disadvantages of relying on machines to explore our solar system.
CRUISE HISTORY / EXPERIENCE
My lectures, dome (planetarium) shows, and on-deck stargazing sessions are consistently rated by cruise guests as exceeding or greatly exceeding expectations. I have been highly rated by cruise directors for my flexibility, willingness to step in with extra presentations at the last minute, providing additional enrichment opportunities, escorting excursions, and creatively problem-solving when itineraries change.
RECENT PAST CRUISES COMPLETED
The following recent Cruise History has been recorded for this candidate.
SHIP REF CRUISE DESCRIPTION NIGHTS SAILING FROM DEPARTURE DATE
Viking Jupiter JU240317 Southern Atlantic Crossing 21 Buenos Aires Sunday, March 17, 2024
Silver Shadow SS240115020 2024 World Cruise: Hawaii, Kiribati, Samoa & Fiji 20 San Francisco, California Monday, January 15, 2024
Silver Muse SM231108014 South East Asia Cruise 14 Singapore Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Silver Dawn DA231006014 Northern Lights 14 Copenhagen Friday, October 6, 2023
Silver Dawn DA230922014 Northern Lights 14 Copenhagen Friday, September 22, 2023
Queen Elizabeth Q329 Eastbound Transatlantic Crossing 13 Fort Lauderdale, Florida Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Viking Jupiter JU230522 Viking Shores & Fjords 7 Amsterdam Monday, May 22, 2023
Viking Jupiter JU230515 Viking Shores & Fjords 7 Bergen Monday, May 15, 2023
Viking Jupiter JU230501 Viking Homelands 14 Stockholm Monday, May 1, 2023
Viking Orion OR220920 North Pacific Passage 22 Vancouver Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Viking Jupiter JU220505 Viking Shores & Fjords 7 Bergen Thursday, May 5, 2022
Viking Jupiter JU220428 Viking Shores & Fjords 7 Amsterdam Thursday, April 28, 2022
Viking Jupiter JU211222 South America & the Chilean Fjords 17 Valparaiso (for Santiago) Wednesday, December 22, 2021
Viking Jupiter JU211205 South America & the Chilean Fjords 17 Buenos Aires Sunday, December 5, 2021
Viking Jupiter JU211114 Southern Atlantic Crossing 21 Barcelona Sunday, November 14, 2021