Three CU alumni inducted into Space Foundation hall of fame
Getting into the hall of fame 鈥� any hall of fame 鈥� requires a high level of excellence over a long period of time. So kudos to the first four honorees, three of whom are University of Colorado alumni, who are being inducted into the .
The Colorado Space Heroes Hall of Fame was created in 2016 by the Space Foundation, an international, nonprofit advocacy group for space-related activities from industry to education that is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The honorees include:
Alan Stern: Stern received his doctorate from CU Boulder in astrophysical and planetary sciences in 1989. He is being honored for leading NASA鈥檚 New Horizons mission that buzzed by Pluto in 2015 on its way to the Kuiper Belt, and his work as a planetary scientist, space program executive, aerospace consultant and author. He was named by TIME in 2007 and again in 2016 for being among the 100 most influential people in the world.
Stern has been involved in 26 space missions, beginning with suborbital rocket payloads during his CU Boulder days. He currently is associate vice president of the Space Science and Engineering Division of the Southwest Research Institute鈥檚 Boulder facility.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an incredible honor to be recognized this way,鈥� says Stern, who also was awarded NASA鈥檚 Distinguished Public Service Medal last month, the highest honor that the space agency can bestow on a civilian.
Ronald M. Sega: Sega, who was conferred his doctorate in electrical engineering at CU Boulder in 1982, was honored by the Space Foundation for his work as a NASA astronaut. He also was cited for his roles as professor and director of systems engineering programs at Colorado State University; director of defense research and engineering at the United State Department of Defense; and his leadership in the U.S. Air Force Reserve (retired Major General).
Sega, one of 20 CU astronaut-affiliates, flew on two NASA space shuttle missions 鈥� one aboard Discovery in 1984, which was the first joint American/Russian space shuttle mission. He also flew on Atlantis in 1996, the third docking mission of a NASA space shuttle to the Russian space station, Mir.
Peter B. Teets: Teets was honored for his work on space programs at Martin Marietta; for his leadership as president of Martin Marietta Denver Aerospace, and president of Martin Marietta Space Group; his global industry leadership as president and chief operating officer of Lockheed Martin Corp.; and his service as 13th director of the National Reconnaissance Office and undersecretary of the U.S. Air Force.
Teets received his bachelor of science degree in 1963 from CU Boulder鈥檚 applied mathematics department. He received his master鈥檚 degree in applied mathematics in 1965 from CU Denver and was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree from the university in 1990.
General James V. Hartinger, USAF (Ret.): Hartinger was honored for his work as commander in chief, North American Air Defense Command; commander in chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command; and as the first commander of U.S. Air Force Space Command.
According to the Space Foundation, Colorado ranks first in the United States in the number of aerospace employees, has the nation鈥檚 third largest state aerospace economy and serves as the U.S. center for military space.
The inaugural class of the Colorado Space Heroes Hall of Fame will be honored in Denver at an event on Oct. 7 hosted by the Space Foundation.听Attendees will include academic and industrial partners of CU Boulder鈥檚 .
ASV听brings together researchers, students, industry leaders, government partners听and entrepreneurs to envision and create the future for space and Earth systems, driving the discovery and innovation that will shape the 21st century economy.
For more information on the Space Heroes Hall of Fame visit . For more information on ASV visit . For more information on the Space Foundation visit .
