Arthur C. Clarke died at home in Sri Lanka, after difficulty breathing, which may have caused a heart attack. Clarke, the eldest of four children, became interested in science and science fiction early, and was the author of such classics as Childhood's End and the short story which he helped develop into the movie 2001, later turning the movie into a novel in its own right. The New York Times says, "Mr. Clarke’s reputation as a prophet of the space age rests on more than a few accurate predictions. His visions helped bring about the future he longed to see. His contributions to the space program were lauded by Charles Kohlhase, who planned NASA’s Cassini mission to Saturn: 'When you dream what is possible, and add a knowledge of physics, you make it happen.'"