When the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) inducts new members on Oct. 3 in Amsterdam, two veteran JPL employees will be among those welcomed to the organization.
Dr. Charles Elachi and Gael Squibb were elected to the academy in recognition of their work in astronautics. Elachi was chosen for his work in basic sciences, while Squibb was selected for his work in engineering sciences.
The academy's goals include fostering development of astronautics for peaceful purposes and recognizing individuals who have distinguished themselves in a related branch of science or technology. Its roster includes 1,100 members and corresponding members from 60 countries.
Elachi, a senior research scientist at JPL, is director for space and Earth science programs. He is responsible for defining and developing flight missions for solar system exploration, NASA's Origins program, Earth observation and astrophysics. His varied accomplishments over the past 28 years at JPL include leading the development of the field of spaceborne imaging radar.
A native of Lebanon, Elachi received undergraduate engineering degrees from the University of Grenoble and the Polytechnic Institute, Grenoble, France. He earned his master's degree and Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena, in 1971. He lives in Altadena.
Squibb, the director for telecommunications and mission operations at JPL, is responsible for scientific return from the Cassini, Galileo, Voyager, Ulysses, and Space Very Long Baseline Interferometer missions. Squibb is also responsible for NASA's Deep Space Network and such mission control services as navigation, sequencing and telemetry. Squibb has worked at JPL for 35 years, except between 1991 and 1993 when he managed the Advanced X-ray Astrophysical Facility (since renamed Chandra) for the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, MA. His accomplishments span the areas of mission operations (Surveyor, Mars Venus Mercury '73 and the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), science processing (IRAS and the Infrared Space Observatory), and space data standards.
Squibb received his Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA, in 1961, and his master's degree in systems management from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He is a longtime resident of Pasadena.
JPL is operated for NASA by Caltech.
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