Space Technology Hall of Fame Inductees for 2021 Announced
Space Foundation, a nonprofit advocate organization founded in 1983 for the global space ecosystem, today announced that its 36th Space Symposium will celebrate the induction into the Space Technology Hall of Fame of two innovations developed for space that now improve life on Earth.
"Both produce products that had their beginnings in space exploration and that are now found in homes, businesses and communities around the world. Congratulations to these visionary leaders who had the foresight to develop and market these tools so we can utilize them here on Earth.”
Space Foundation CEO Tom Zelibor.
Founded in 1988, the Space Technology Hall of Fame recognizes the life-changing technologies emerging from global space programs, honors the scientists, engineers and innovators responsible, and communicates to the public the importance of these technologies as a return on investment in space exploration.
To date, more than 80 technologies have been inducted, and hundreds of organizations and individuals have been honored for adapting space technologies into commercial products that improve our quality of life on Earth. Inductees are chosen through a rigorous selection process administered by panels of judges that include preeminent scientists, researchers, astronauts, civil and commercial leaders, as well as individuals from across the space, technology and global business communities.
"This year’s inductees truly represent the spirit of the Space Technology Hall of Fame," said Space Foundation CEO Tom Zelibor. "Both produce products that had their beginnings in space exploration and that are now found in homes, businesses and communities around the world. Congratulations to these visionary leaders who had the foresight to develop and market these tools so we can utilize them here on Earth.”
Emisshield Inc. manufactures and sells a wide variety of high-emissivity coatings for use in commercial and industrial applications. The technology behind the coating was invented at NASA’s Ames Research Center in the early 1990s as a protective coating for use on spacecraft and was originally licensed to Emisshield Inc. in 1996. A license granting Emisshield exclusive use of the technology was later granted in 2001. The first commercial application it was developed for was to coat building materials for firewall applications. Since then, the company has created nearly 40 different formulations developed for a wide variety of applications — from clothing and race car parts to heavy industrial applications in iron and steel plants, refractories, ceramic fibers, and power generation machinery.
The Fisher Space Pen was initially developed for U.S. astronauts for use in spaceflight. The pen was conceived and designed by Paul Fisher in the mid-1960s, as he wanted to create a pen that specifically addressed the unique atmospheric challenges of microgravity. In November 1966, he secured his first patent for the “anti-gravity pen” and put his prototypes through a rigorous testing process to simulate the challenges of spaceflight. NASA placed an order for 400 pens in 1967, and they made their debut aboard the Apollo 7 mission in October 1968. According to the company, Fisher Space Pens have flown on every crewed spaceflight since.
The Space Technology Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will be part of the 36th Space Symposium, to be held Aug. 23-26, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.
(Source: Space Foundation news release)