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IN MEMORIUM: Sir William Pickering, a great New Zealander |
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Dr Pickering, the New Zealand-born giant of rocket science and space
exploration, including the Mariner probes to Venus, has died at his California home, aged 93.
This is a tribute to Sir William from Pete Hodgson, Minister for Research, Science and Technology.
Sir William Pickering
"Sir William Pickering was one of the outstanding scientific talents New
Zealand has produced, Research Science and Technology Minister Pete Hodgson
said today. "He stood alongside our Nobel Prize winners as an example of
brilliance and achievement in the pursuit of knowledge. I extend my sympathy
to Sir William's family, friends and scientific colleagues for their loss,"
Mr Hodgson said. "His life was inspirational and his place in scientific history
is assured."
William Pickering was born in Wellington in 1910. He was educated at
Havelock Primary, in the Marlborough Sounds, Wellington College and
Canterbury College, now the University of Canterbury, before moving to the
United States in 1929 to study at the California Institute of Technology
(Cal Tech), where he gained his PhD in physics in 1936.
Dr Pickering became Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena
and led the development of US unmanned space exploration, including the
first US satellite, Explorer 1, the first successful American
around-the-moon probe, Pioneer IV, the Mariner flights to Venus and Mars in
the 1960s, the Ranger photographic missions to the moon and the Surveyor
lunar landings of 1966-67. He became known as "Mr JPL".
"In 1941 Dr Pickering became an American citizen, but he never forgot New
Zealand," Mr Hodgson said. "In a deliberate move to give something back to
his country of birth, he established the WH Pickering Fellowship for New
Zealand graduates to study engineering or science at Cal Tech."
Dr Pickering returned to Canterbury University last year to be awarded an
Honorary Doctorate of Engineering. More than 1500 people came to hear him
speak, and gave him a standing ovation.
Last year the Royal Society of New Zealand established the Pickering Medal
to recognise excellence and innovation in the practical applications of
technology. The Medal is to be awarded annually to a person who through
design, development or invention has performed innovative work in New
Zealand with results of national and international significance or
significant commercial success. The first nominations are currently being
sought.
For further information:
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2004/mar/HQ_04094_pickering.html
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/releases/2004/86.cfm
http://www.nexusresearchgroup.com/space_expl/pickering.htm
http://www.comsdev.canterbury.ac.nz/news/2003/03031902.shtml
http://www.rsnz.govt.nz/awards/pickering/index.php
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