[1] McDowell has a BA in Mathematics (1981) from Churchill College and a PhD in Astrophysics (1986) from the Institute of Astronomy, both at the University of Cambridge, England.

[3] He is co-director of an undergraduate summer research program whose alumni include Alicia M. Soderberg and Planet Hunters scientist Megan Schwamb.

This information, obtained from original sources including declassified Department of Defense documents and Russian-language publications, can also be found on McDowell's web site.

[5] In 1994, McDowell published a history of the North American X-15 spaceplane, in which he suggested that 80 kilometres (50 mi) should be adopted as the boundary of space.

In addition, McDowell has been interviewed on numerous television and radio programs[9] with regard to rocket launches or other celestial phenomena that generated interest amongst the general public.