Arthur C Clarke 1917 - 2008

I must admit I wasn't sure whether he was still alive until I saw this. I've read a couple of his books, they were pretty good.

On the topic of geostationary satellites, which he invented, along with solar sails*, from the point of view of somebody standing on The Moon, Planet Earth is a geostationary satellite. Not many people know that!

* He had a bit part in inventing radar as well.