Space Pioneer Enters Inventors Hall of Fame

Frank Cepollina at National Inventors Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Mr. Frank Cepollina, whose pioneering satellite servicing techniques corrected the Hubble Space Telescope's initially blurry vision, is among a select group of aviation and aerospace inventors inducted into the prestigious National Inventors Hall of Fame. These include Thomas Alva Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford, the Wright Brothers.

The National Inventors Hall of Fame is the nation's preeminent center for the recognition of American invention and creativity. Cepollina was inducted for his pioneering concept of on-orbit satellite servicing by astronauts. As "the Father of Satellite Servicing," he developed techniques for repairing and upgrading satellites in orbit, including the Hubble Space Telescope. Now Deputy Associate Director for the Hubble Space Telescope Development Project, his involvement with Hubble dates back to the mid-1970s. He contributed to the telescope's modular instrument design, which in 1993 would become crucial to correcting the telescope's vision on orbit.

"The Hubble Repair Mission sparked the true value of space servicing with awesome images and represented the most significant turnaround in spirit and 'can do' determination since the Apollo 13 mission," remarked Cepollina during his acceptance speech. Now manager of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Development Project, he leads the on-orbit missions that keep Hubble in peak condition and on the cutting edge of technology throughout its 20-year lifetime. The next service and upgrade call is currently scheduled for late 2004.

To learn more about the National Inventors Hall of Fame, go to: http://www.invent.org

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Centennial of Flight Activities Gain Momentum: NASA has a special connection with the Wright Brothers' 100th anniversary. In 1915, the United States Congress created the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, NASA's predecessor organization. During 2003, Inventing Flight offers an outstanding opportunity for NASA to reach the public and show pride in our part of aviation's evolution. Visit the NASA Glenn Centennial Website at: http://centennial.grc.nasa.gov for information about the Inventing Flight celebration. Volunteers are needed for most of the venues and participation is open to all NASA civil service employees, contractors and retirees with supervisory approval.

For more information on the Centennial of Flight celebration events, go to: http://www.centennialofflight.gov/