RELEASE: H00-186

NASA ASTROBIOLOGY ARCHITECT, DR. GERALD SOFFEN, DIES

NASA Scientist Dr. Gerald Soffen, who led the Viking  science team that performed the first experiments on the  surface of the planet Mars and a guiding force in NASA's  effort to search for life in the Universe, died Nov. 22 at  George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC. He  was 74.

A close advisor to NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin,  Soffen helped shape NASA's Astrobiology program, the study of  life in the Universe. Soffen also was instrumental in the  establishment of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, a virtual  organization comprising NASA Centers, universities and  research organizations dedicated to studying the origin,  evolution, distribution and destiny of life in the universe.

"Dr. Soffen brought a vision and passion to space exploration  that was remarkable," said Goldin. "His pioneering work on  the Viking Missions paved the way for the creation of our  astrobiology effort. Gerry's lasting legacy to us is he  helped usher in a new era of discovery that will bring a new  understanding of fundamental life processes on Earth and  throughout our Universe."

Soffen served as project scientist of the Viking Mars Project  while at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA.  Viking 1 landed on Mars on July 20, 1976, with Viking 2  following less than two months later.

Soffen joined NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in 1983  where he helped to establish the Mission to Planet Earth  program and served as the Project Scientist for the Earth  Observing system at its beginning. Soffen formed the  University Programs Office at Goddard in 1990, and for the  past 10 years he directed activities and programs designed to  maintain and broaden the Center's interaction with the  university community. 

"Science and students were his loves," said Goddard Space  Flight Center Director Al Diaz. "He was one of the finest  scientists I had had the pleasure to work with. He was a  brilliant researcher, but what made Gerry really special was  his lifelong passion for sharing his extraordinary knowledge  with young people. The Agency and the nation will continue to  benefit enormously from the talented young people he has  brought into the scientific community."

In 1993, Soffen created the NASA Academy, a unique summer  institute of higher learning whose goal is to help guide  future leaders of the space program. Introduced at Goddard,  the NASA Academy is also active at the Ames Research Center,  CA, and the Dryden Flight Research Center, CA. 

Soffen was planning the 25th anniversary celebration of the  Viking landings in the last few months of his life, said A.G.  Price, a former NASA Langley employee who worked with Soffen  on the Mars mission and has remained in contact over the  years.

"But even then his emphasis was not on the past but on doing  something to inspire and excite the youth and the next  generation of young leaders and scientists to carry on his  dream," Price said. "He cared immensely about others and  never tired of pursuing his passion, the search for  extraterrestrial life and the understanding of our universe."

"Gerry was a good personal friend and a scientist who had a  profound dedication to Astrobiology and space science in  general, said Dr. Ed Weiler, Associate Administrator for the  Office of Space Science. "He has provided distinguished  service to the Office of Space Science, to NASA and to the  public. Gerry spent a lot of time working with young students  and I know he enjoyed that enormously. We will all miss Gerry  a great deal."

Soffen worked for NASA for over 30 years. He began his NASA  career at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory where he managed  biological instrument development at the Pasadena-based  facility. He also was the Principal Investigator for the  proposed Mars Microscope.

He joined NASA's Langley Research Center as the Project  Scientist for the Viking Missions. Twin robot landers  launched in 1975, arrived at the Red Planet a year later and  made successful touchdowns on the planet's surface marking  the first successful missions to perform unmanned experiments  on the surface of the planet. Dr. Soffen was responsible for  all of the scientific investigations, directing the  activities of more than 70 scientists through the United  States.

Later at Langley, Soffen served as the Chief Environmental  Scientist, developing theoretical models, laboratory  experiments, ground-based measurements and remote sensing by  satellite. 

In 1978 he was named the Director of Life Sciences at NASA  Headquarters where he directed programs to ensure the medical  and biological well being of Space Shuttle astronauts, as  well as overseeing the Agency's biomedical, space biology and  exobiology programs.

At Goddard, Soffen helped to establish the Mission to Planet  Earth program, an unprecedented effort to understand the  total Earth system and the effects of natural and human- induced changes on the global environment. He was the first  Project Scientist for the Earth Observing System, the  centerpiece of the Earth Science program, which has begun to  provide a long-term data set of key parameters needed to  understand global climate change.

Soffen was born in Cleveland, Ohio on Feb. 7, 1926. He  received his Ph.D. in Biology in 1961 from Princeton  University. He earned his master's of science degree from the  University of Southern California and bachelor's degree from  the University of California, Los Angeles.

He is survived by his wife, Kazuko, and a sister, Nancy Guy,  who lives in California.

Soffen will be buried in Hampton, VA. A grave-side ceremony  will be held Sunday, Nov. 26 at 1:00 p.m. at the Park Lawn  Memorial Park in Hampton. Immediately after the service, a  reception will be held at the Virginia Air and Space Center  located at Settler's Landing Road in Hampton.