John S. Lewis (born June 27, 1941) is a Professor Emeritus of planetary science at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. His interests in the chemistry and formation of the Solar System and the economic development of space have made him a leading proponent of turning potentially hazardous near-Earth objects into attractive space resources. Career The son of John Simpson Lewis, a YMCA professional, and Elsie Dinsmore Vandenbergh, a school teacher. Lewis received his B.S. in chemistry from Princeton University in 1962 as a National Merit Scholar. He then continued his education at Dartmouth College receiving his M.A. in inorganic chemistry in 1964. He received his Ph.D in geochemistry and cosmochemistry from University of California, San Diego in 1968, where he studied under Harold Urey. Prior to joining the University of Arizona, Lewis taught space sciences and cosmochemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. An expert on the composition and chemistry of asteroids and comets, Lewis has written such popular science books as Rain of Iron and Ice and Mining the Sky: Untold Riches from the Asteroids, Comets, and Planets. Lewis is a frequent commentator on the Chinese network CCTV when China broadcasts its major missions live. He was a member of the Board of Directors of American Rocket Company and is currently Chief Scientist at Deep Space Industries. Raised a Presbyterian, Lewis became a Mormon, in 1980. In February 2013, Lewis assumed the role of Chief Scientist for the firm Deep Space Industries. Lewis focuses on strategic planning, mission development and processing concepts for Deep Space. Publications See also Marshall Savage - author of The Millennial Project: Colonizing the Galaxy in Eight Easy Steps Gerard O'Neill - author of The High Frontier: Human Colonies in Space James Benson - founder of the SpaceDev company The Case for Mars: The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must by Robert Zubrin Engines of Creation by K. Eric Drexler Asteroid 3554 Amun References External links John Lewis's web page at the University of Arizona. Personal blog The Extraterrestrial Commodities Market airspacemag.com 1941 births Living people American astronomers Planetary scientists Princeton University alumni Dartmouth College alumni University of California, San Diego alumni Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Science faculty Space colonization University of Arizona faculty