All this brings to mind Carl Sagan's 'Cosmos'.
His book/tv series must have been the most influential of it genre, spawning dozens like it since it was shown on UK tv in the 70s.
Sagan was considered an exceptional visionary and equally if not more influential than A C Clark. Sagan was convinced the universe is full of life and I have no doubt his spirit is with them all right now.
Cheers,
JaX
