Peter Tsou facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Tsou
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Peter Tsou with a sample of aerogel
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| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley (BS, MS) University of California, Los Angeles (PhD) |
| Known for | Stardust mission |
| Awards | NASA Group Achievement Award NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
Peter Tsou is a scientist who works at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). This is a special research center run by NASA and the California Institute of Technology. Peter Tsou's main work is about using a special material called aerogel to help with space exploration.
He has led many important projects for space missions. These include missions on the Space Shuttle and the Mir space station. During these missions, he invented a way to safely catch very fast-moving tiny bits of space dust. He is famous for helping to collect particles from a comet during NASA's Stardust mission. He was the second-in-command for that mission.
Learning and Degrees
Peter Tsou went to the University of California, Berkeley. He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1965. The next year, in 1966, he got his master's degree in the same field. Later, in 1972, he earned his highest degree, a Ph.D.. He got this degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. His studies focused on large engineering systems.
Career at NASA
Since 1974, Peter Tsou has worked at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). JPL is located in Pasadena, California.
From 1994, he has been the Deputy Principal Investigator for the STARDUST mission. This means he was the second main scientist in charge of the project. He also led other projects, like the MIR Sample Return Experiment. This project brought samples back from the Mir space station.
Peter Tsou has held many different jobs at JPL. He helped manage the STARDUST proposal and worked on designing instruments for spacecraft. He also worked as a system engineer for spacecraft.
Around 2020, Peter Tsou was researching astrobiology. This is the study of life in space. He looked into ice planets and places in space that might have a lot of water.
Amazing Discoveries and Research
Dr. Tsou's main research has been about collecting samples from comets. He created a special way to catch very fast-moving particles without breaking them. This method was very important for missions like Stardust.
He worked with other scientists to create a lighter type of aerogel. This new aerogel was perfect for catching tiny comet particles. He also helped make aerogel a material that could be used safely in space missions. It became a way to capture things in space.
Dr. Tsou also helped improve space thermal insulation. He invented a special design using aerogel for the Mars Pathfinder Sojourner rover. This design helped protect the rover from extreme temperatures on Mars.
His research also looks into how things from space might affect life on Earth. He explores ways to bring back samples from other planets.
Awards and Honors
- 2000: NASA Patent for a 3-D Hologram Display System.
- 2000: NASA Group Achievement Award for the STARDUST Project Team.
- 1997: NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal.
- 1996: JPL Inaugural Award for Excellence for his amazing technical work.
- 1985: NASA Group Achievement Award for the Low-Cost Solar Array Project.
