Wednesday, June 25, 2008

NASA astronauts that own patents

One of the misison specialists on the last Space Shuttle mission was Karen Nyberg, a mechnical engineer selected by NASA in 2000. According to press accounts, she is an inventor for a patent on robotic arms. A Canadian astronaut holds some patents - Bjarni Tryggvason: http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/astronauts/biotryggvason.asp and David A. Wolf (BSEE, M.D.) who is a member of the Aerospace Medical Association; the Experimental Aircraft Association; the International Aerobatic Club; and the Air National Guard (retired). He is also a Recipient of the NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal (1990); NASA Inventor of the Year, 1992. Dr. Wolf graduated "with distinction" from the honors curriculum in electrical engineering at Purdue University and received an Academic Achievement Award upon graduation from medical school. He received the Carl R. Ruddell scholarship award for research in medical ultrasonic signal and image processing. He is a member of Eta Kappa Knu and Phi Eta Sigma honorary societies. Dr. Wolf has received 15 U.S. Patents and over 20 Space Act Awards primarily for 3-dimensional tissue engineering technologies, earning the Texas State Bar Patent of the Year in 1994. He has published over 40 technical papers.

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