Edward J. Weiler
Encyclopedia
Dr. Edward J. Weiler is the current Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He received his PhD
in astrophysics
from Northwestern University
in 1976. He has published numerous papers in the scientific journals.
He was named associate administrator of the Science Missions Directorate on May 7, 2008, by Administrator Michael D. Griffin
. He had been appointed as interim chief of the directorate on March 26 from his position of Center Director of Goddard Space Flight Center
. Previously, he had served as the associate administrator for the agency's Space Science Enterprise from 1998 to 2004.
Dr. Edward J. Weiler took over leadership of the Goddard Space Flight Center on August 1, 2004. Prior that, he served as the Associate Administrator for NASA's Space Science Enterprise since 1998. Under his leadership, the Enterprise had numerous successes, including the Chandra
, NEAR
, MAP
, FUSE
, Spitzer Space Telescope
, Mars Odyssey, and Mars Exploration Rover
missions.
Before his 1998 appointment as Associate Administrator, Dr. Weiler served as the Director of the Astronomical Search for Origins Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He also served as the Chief Scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope
from 1979 until 1998. Dr. Weiler joined NASA Headquarters in 1978 as a staff scientist and was promoted to the Chief of the Ultraviolet/Visible and Gravitational Astrophysics Division in 1979.
Prior to joining NASA, Dr. Weiler was a member of the Princeton University
research staff. He joined Princeton in 1976 and was based at the Goddard Space Flight Center as the director of science operations of the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory-3 (COPERNICUS).
Science Mission Directorate
The Science Mission Directorate of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration engages the United States’ science community, sponsors scientific research, and develops and deploys satellites and probes in collaboration with NASA’s partners around the world to answer fundamental questions...
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He received his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in astrophysics
Astrophysics
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...
from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in 1976. He has published numerous papers in the scientific journals.
He was named associate administrator of the Science Missions Directorate on May 7, 2008, by Administrator Michael D. Griffin
Michael D. Griffin
Michael Douglas Griffin is an American physicist and aerospace engineer. From April 13, 2005 to January 20, 2009 he served as Administrator of NASA, the space agency of the United States...
. He had been appointed as interim chief of the directorate on March 26 from his position of Center Director of Goddard Space Flight Center
Goddard Space Flight Center
The Goddard Space Flight Center is a major NASA space research laboratory established on May 1, 1959 as NASA's first space flight center. GSFC employs approximately 10,000 civil servants and contractors, and is located approximately northeast of Washington, D.C. in Greenbelt, Maryland, USA. GSFC,...
. Previously, he had served as the associate administrator for the agency's Space Science Enterprise from 1998 to 2004.
Dr. Edward J. Weiler took over leadership of the Goddard Space Flight Center on August 1, 2004. Prior that, he served as the Associate Administrator for NASA's Space Science Enterprise since 1998. Under his leadership, the Enterprise had numerous successes, including the Chandra
Chandra X-ray Observatory
The Chandra X-ray Observatory is a satellite launched on STS-93 by NASA on July 23, 1999. It was named in honor of Indian-American physicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar who is known for determining the maximum mass for white dwarfs. "Chandra" also means "moon" or "luminous" in Sanskrit.Chandra...
, NEAR
Near
- Science, mathematics, technology, biology, and medicine :* Nicking Enzyme Amplification Reaction, a method for in vitro DNA amplification* Near-Earth object, an object in the Solar System whose orbit brings it close to the Earth** Near-Earth asteroid...
, MAP
Map
A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
, FUSE
Fuse
The word fuse has several meanings:* Fuse , a device used in electrical systems to protect against excessive current....
, Spitzer Space Telescope
Spitzer Space Telescope
The Spitzer Space Telescope , formerly the Space Infrared Telescope Facility is an infrared space observatory launched in 2003...
, Mars Odyssey, and Mars Exploration Rover
Mars Exploration Rover
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Mission is an ongoing robotic space mission involving two rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, exploring the planet Mars...
missions.
Before his 1998 appointment as Associate Administrator, Dr. Weiler served as the Director of the Astronomical Search for Origins Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He also served as the Chief Scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared...
from 1979 until 1998. Dr. Weiler joined NASA Headquarters in 1978 as a staff scientist and was promoted to the Chief of the Ultraviolet/Visible and Gravitational Astrophysics Division in 1979.
Prior to joining NASA, Dr. Weiler was a member of the Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
research staff. He joined Princeton in 1976 and was based at the Goddard Space Flight Center as the director of science operations of the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory-3 (COPERNICUS).