Neel Mehta
NASA has awarded Tom Krimigis, a Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory veteran scientist, the space agency’s highest service honor in a ceremony held at NASA Ames Research Center in California.
The NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal recognizes Krimigis’ work to support space exploration programs, John Hopkins APL said Friday.
“We are incredibly proud of Tom and this well-deserved recognition for his lifelong efforts to advance space exploration and science,” said Ralph Semmel, APL director.
“His contributions over more than four decades have significantly expanded our view of the solar system and knowledge of the universe.”
Krimigis was a principal investigator on five NASA projects, such as the Voyager missions and the Cassini Saturn Orbiter, and is noted by APL to be the only scientist worldwide who is involved in space physics projects on the nine classical planets.
He was the developer of the Low-Energy Charged Particle instrument on both Voyager spacecraft and was also instrumental in NASA’s New Frontiers Program and Discovery Program.
