Travis S. Taylor

Travis Shane Taylor (born 24 July 1968 in Decatur, Alabama) is an aerospace engineer, optical scientist, science fiction author, and star of National Geographic Channel's Rocket City Rednecks. Taylor has written more than 25 technical papers, 14 science fiction novels and two textbooks, and has appeared in multiple television documentaries, including NGC’s recently highly rated special When Aliens Attack.

Taylor grew up in rural North Alabama alongside his older brother Gregory, a Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Reserves. As a boy, Taylor read science fiction and dismantled household electronics. In the eighth grade, he wrote a novella about a post-nuclear-war America featuring an aerospace engineer who carried a bullwhip and used a little flying wing that he had invented to spy on the Soviets. His father, Charles Taylor, worked as a machinist at Wyle Laboratories, which subcontracted for National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the 1960s, wherein he built America's first satellites directly with Wernher von Braun. While in high school, Taylors' family moved to Sommerville, near Huntsville, next door to an Army scientist. At 17 years old, with the help of his neighbor, he built a radio telescope that won the state science fair and placed sixth in the nation. This led the Army to offer Taylor a job working at Redstone Arsenal on direct energy weapons systems directly out of high school as well as a scholarship. Taylor is a black belt martial artist, a private pilot, a SCUBA diver, races mountain bikes, competed in triathlons, and has been the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of several hard rock bands. Taylor lives near Huntsville with his wife Karen, daughter Kalista Jade, two dogs Stevie and Wesker, and his cat Kuro.

Taylor has worked on various programs for the United States Department of Defense and NASA for over sixteen years. He is currently working on several advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space-based beamed energy systems, high-energy lasers, and next generation space launch concepts. Taylor is also involved with multiple Human intelligence (HUMINT), Imagery intelligence (IMINT), Signals intelligence (SIGINT) and Measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) concept studies.

Education

His scientific background includes:

• B.E.E. Electrical Engineering, Auburn University (1991)
• M.S. Physics, University of Alabama, Huntsville (1994)

Thesis: Rewriteable magneto-optic compact disk based optical processor

• Ph.D. Optical Science and Engineering, University of Alabama, Huntsville (1999)

Dissertation: Laboratory simulation of atmospheric turbulence induced optical wavefront distortion

• M.S.E. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Alabama, Huntsville (2001)

Thesis: Advanced solar and laser sail propulsion concepts for interstellar space travel

• Master of Astronomy, University of Western Sydney, Nepean (ca. 2004)
• Ph.D. Aerospace Systems Engineering, University of Alabama, Huntsville (2012)

Dissertation: Implementing planetary meteor impact craters as high gain radio frequency dish reflector antennas

To obtain his accredited online master's degree in astronomy from the University of Western Sydney in Australia, he built an extrasolar planet imaging instrument in his backyard using a plastic pipe, telescopic camera, and $200 computer.

Selected Publications

• Introduction to Rocket Science and Engineering (ISBN 1420075284).CRC Press.
• Preliminary analysis of light sail systems engineering concepts.AIP.
• In-space propulsion: connectivity to in-space fabrication and repair.NASA.
• Solar sail application to comet nucleus sample return.NASA.
• Long-Pulse Narrow-Linewidth Dispersive Solid-State Dye-Laser Oscillator.OSA (co-authored with physicist Frank Duarte).
• SPIE Digital Library (The world's largest collection of optics and photonics applied research) Journal and Proceedings Articles for Travis S. Taylor.SPIE.

Selected Patents

• Method for distinguishing between objects using mace filters
• Real-time analog creation of holographic fourier transform matched filters
• Device and method for object identification using optical phase conjugation
• Optically transmissive Faraday cage
• Spinning mine with concentrated projectiles
• Atmospheric contaminant detector

• ^
• ^ Taylor, Travis S.; Boan, Bob; Contributing:Anding, R.C.; Powell, T. Conley (2006). An Introduction to Planetary Defense: A Study of Modern Warfare Applied to Extra-Terrestrial Invasion (Paperback). BrownWalker Press. p. 9. ISBN 1-58112-447-3. Retrieved 24 September 2012. 
• "Video Interview with Travis S. Taylor- Baen Books". Baen.com. Retrieved 8 October 2011. 
• ^ Travis S. Taylor (8 May 2006). "Bio | Travis S. Taylor". Doctravis.com. Retrieved 8 October 2011. 
• "Planetary Defense & the The Philadelphia Experiment _ PSI Saturday". No Lies Radio. 24 September 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011. 
• "Rocket City Rednecks really do hold all those degrees" (op-ed by Travis Taylor), The Huntsville Times, http://blog.al.com/times-views/2011/10/rocket_city_rednecks_really_do.html. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
• ^ University of Alabama in Huntsville Library Catalog, http://librarycatalog.uah.edu/. Retrieved 29 April 2007.
• Baen Books Warp Speed by Travis S. Taylor, About the Author. (Published 12/1/2004), http://www.baenebooks.com/p-457-warp-speed.aspx. Retrieved 23 September 2012.

Taylor first appeared in episodes of The Universe for The History Channel in 2010, after his name came up in a search regarding space warfare. Taylor had been featured prominently on National Geographic Channel's When Aliens Attack in 2011. In the summer of 2011, the National Geographic Channel announced a new series called Rocket City Rednecks which features Taylor. The first episode showed in September 2011. A self-proclaimed 'redneck rocket scientist', Taylor focuses on 'hillbilly ingenuity' for the show's backyard science experiments, aided by his family and best friend whom are all machinists and inventors. This was picked up for a second season which started 29 Nov 2012.