Jim Sahli							Jan. 18, 1996  
Goddard Space Flight Center  
Greenbelt, Md.  
(301) 286-0697  
  
GODDARD SCIENTIST CARL FICHTEL RECOGNIZED TOP   
HIGH-ENERGY ASTROPHYSICIST AT AAS MEETING   
       
RELEASE NO: 96-001

	The American Astronomy Society (AAS) has selected Dr.   
Carl E. Fichtel, principal investigator of the Energetic Gamma   
Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) at the Goddard Space   
Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., to receive the 1995 Bruno   
Rossi Prize for outstanding contributions in the field of high-  
energy astrophysics.   
  
	Fichtel was recognized for his "key role in the   
development of the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory   
mission, for his leadership of the EGRET instrument team,   
and for the discovery by EGRET of the new class of 'Gamma-  
ray Blazars' ."  Dr. Fichtel received this honor at the winter   
AAS meeting in San Antonio, Texas this week.  
  
	Fichtel joined the Goddard Center in 1959.  After many   
years of work on the EGRET telescope development, it was   
selected for the Compton Observatory.  The Compton Gamma-  
Ray Observatory, consisting of EGRET and three other   
experiments, was launched by the Space Shuttle Atlantis in   
April 1991.    
  
	The results from the EGRET experiment are well known   
and cover a wide range of subjects, including solar physics,   
neutron star pulsars, galactic diffuse radiation and galactic   
dynamics, the galactic nature of cosmic rays, the stability of   
Large and Small Magellanic Clouds and gamma ray bursts.  
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	"I am pleased and honored to receive the 1995 Rossi   
Prize from the American Astronomical Society.  I wish   
especially to commend the very many dedicated people whose   
contributions over a long period of time made possible the   
success of the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory in general   
and EGRET in particular," said Fichtel.    
  
	Fichtel has published approximately 195 technical   
papers and is quite often invited to speak about his expertise   
at astronomical meetings.  
  
	A 37-year veteran of gamma-ray astronomy, Fichtel   
serves as the Acting Head of the Gamma Ray Astrophysics   
Branch in the Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics at the   
Goddard Center.  He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in   
engineering physics from Washington University in St. Louis   
and then a doctorate of philosophy from Washington   
University in 1960.     
  
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