The Space Foundation inducted three individuals and three organizations into the Space Technology Hall of Fame® last month for their roles in developing two technologies that originated with space exploration and have now had a positive impact on life on Earth. In addition, six individuals and three organizations received commendations from the Hall of Fame.
The honors were bestowed at the April 2 Space Technology Hall of Fame dinner, which capped off the 25th National Space Symposium held March 30-April 2 at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The recognized technologies were: aerodynamic vehicle design developed for spaceflight and modified to improve vehicle fuel efficiency and handling; and microalgae studied for use as a food supply, oxygen source and waste disposal catalyst on long-duration interplanetary space missions that became the basis for a life-saving food supplement.
The individual Space Technology Hall of Fame Inductees include:
- Dr. David J. Kyle, former co-founder and executive vice president – research & development for Martek Biosciences Corp., for Microalgae Nutritional Supplements
- Henry (Pete) Linsert, Jr., former chairman and chief executive officer for Martek Biosciences Corp., for Microalgae Nutritional Supplements
- Edwin Saltzman, retired NASA Dryden Flight Research Center engineer, for Aerodynamic Vehicle Design
- Martek Biosciences Corporation for Microalgae Nutritional Supplements
- NASA Ames Research Center for Microalgae Nutritional Supplements
- NASA Dryden Flight Research Center for Aerodynamic Vehicle Design
Individual Commendations went to:
- Dr. Paul W. Behrens, director of physiology and co-founder of Martek Biosciences Corp., for Microalgae Nutritional Supplements
- Ray Gladue, fermentation pilot plant manager, Martek Biosciences Corp., for Microalgae Nutritional Supplements
- Robert Meyer, program director of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) at Dryden Flight Research Center, for Aerodynamic Vehicle Design
- Lawrence Montoya, retired NASA Dryden Flight Research Center engineer, for Aerodynamic Vehicle Design
- Vincent Muirhead, retired NASA Dryden Flight Research Center engineer and professor emeritus of aerospace engineering at the University of Kansas, for Aerodynamic Vehicle Design
- Louis Steers, retired NASA Dryden Flight Research Center engineer, for Aerodynamic Vehicle Design
Organizational Commendations went to:
- Aeroserve Technologies/Airtab, for Aerodynamic Vehicle Design
- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics – Journal of Energy, for Aerodynamic Vehicle Design
- Department of Transportation – National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, for Aerodynamic Vehicle Design
The Space Technology Hall of Fame® was created in 1988 by the Space Foundation, in cooperation with NASA, to increase public awareness of the benefits resulting from space exploration programs and to encourage further innovation. To date, the Space Foundation has inducted 61 technologies as well as honoring the organizations and individuals who transformed space technology into commercial products that improve the quality of life for all humanity.
The two technologies honored this year were selected by a prestigious panel of judges representing the National Security Space Office, NASA, the state of Colorado, and former Space Technology Hall of Fame inductees.
