Gregory Olsen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gregory Olsen
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| Born | April 20, 1945 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Fairleigh Dickinson University (B.S., B.Eng, M.S.) University of Virginia (Ph.D.) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Space career | |
| Space Adventures Tourist | |
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Time in space
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9d 21h 15m |
| Missions | Soyuz TMA-7 / Soyuz TMA-6 |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Material science |
| Thesis | The fcc-bcc transformation in thin iron films. (1970) |
| Doctoral advisor | William A. Jesser |
Gregory Hammond Olsen (born April 20, 1945) is an American entrepreneur, engineer, and scientist. In October 2005, he became the third private citizen to pay for his own trip to the International Space Station (ISS). He traveled with a company called Space Adventures.
Olsen helped start a company called Sensors Unlimited Inc. This company made special cameras that could see in near-infrared and shortwave-infrared light. These cameras were used by customers like NASA. Today, Olsen runs GHO Ventures, LLC. From there, he manages his investments and gives many talks. He especially encourages young people, including girls and minorities, to think about careers in science or engineering. He also teaches physics at Rider University.
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Early Life and Education
Olsen was born in Brooklyn, New York. His father was an electrician, and his mother was a teacher. He grew up in Bay Ridge and finished high school in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, in 1962. Greg first wanted to be a baseball player, but he soon realized how tough the competition was. His father inspired him to learn how to fix things around the house, which led him to consider becoming an electrician.
Teachers initially thought Olsen wouldn't do well because of his poor high school grades. He even planned to join the United States Army. However, he was advised to try college first. With a scholarship, Olsen went to Fairleigh Dickinson University. He worked hard, got good grades, and earned several degrees with high honors. Later, he earned his PhD in materials science from the University of Virginia. He has two daughters, Kimberly and Krista, and six grandchildren.
Building Businesses
Olsen admits he didn't have much business training. He believes that for smaller companies, success comes from "intuition, instinct, and hard work." He says his science training helped him a lot. For example, his first company, EPITAXX, used his knowledge of physics and material science. Olsen likes to invest his money in new, risky companies.
In 1984, Olsen co-founded EPITAXX, which made parts for fiber optic communication. It was sold in 1990. Then, in 1992, he started Sensors Unlimited. This company was sold for a large sum in 2000. Later, Olsen's team bought it back in 2002 and sold it again in 2005.
Journey to Space
Olsen flew to the International Space Station (ISS) on October 1, 2005, aboard the Soyuz TMA-7 spacecraft. He returned to Earth on October 10 with Soyuz TMA-6. He was the third person to pay for his own trip to the ISS. The others were Dennis Tito (2001) and Mark Shuttleworth (2002). All three traveled through Space Adventures.
Olsen doesn't like being called a "space tourist." He says it sounds like he just wrote a check and went for a fun ride. But he trained for a year and a half with the Russian Space Agency. He had to work very hard to prepare for his flight. During a medical check, doctors found a spot on his lung. He needed monthly checks for nine months before he was cleared to fly.
While on the space station, Olsen did several experiments. These included studying remote sensing (looking at Earth from space) and astronomy (studying stars and planets). Dr. Olsen is also an amateur radio operator. He used a ham radio to talk to students on Earth from space through the ARISS project. He once said his space trip cost about US$20 million.
Awards and Recognition
In 2010, Olsen was chosen to be a member of the National Academy of Engineering. This was for his work in developing optical parts for fiber communication and national defense.
Olsen was also elected to the Board of Trustees at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
See also
In Spanish: Gregory Olsen para niños
- List of space travelers by name
