 |
| Thomas Zurbuchen. - Photo : NASA |
[Cape Canaveral, Florida, December 10, 2017,
rke]
– Les p’tits suisses et les aficionados du
domaine spatial connaissent la nouvelle :
un Bernois est l’un des nouveaux directeurs de la NASA. Et Thomas Zurbuchen en est en effet devenu le
chef de tous les projets scientifiques de la célèbre agence spatiale. Ce
binational Américano-Suisse gère un budget de 5 milliards de dollars et est
responsable de tous les engins de la NASA qui tentent de percer les secrets des
planètes, du soleil ou de l’univers.
Docteur en physique de l’Université de Berne,
ce scientifique de haut rang est un enfant d’Heiligenschwendi, près de Thoune.
Il s’est spécialisé dans le domaine des phénomènes solaires et héliosphèriques
et a été impliqué sur plusieurs missions scientifiques de la NASA : Ulysses,
la sonde Messenger vers Mercure, Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) – ainsi
que sur d’autres engins spatiaux.
Évidemment, en tant qu’Helvète sur place, j’en
suis fier. Et aussi en tant que Jurassien. Même si Thomas Zurbuchen vient de l’Oberland
bernois, je ne peux que le féliciter, encore, de cette nomination. Depuis Cape
Canaveral, je lui envoie donc un grand salut patriotique, espérant pouvoir,
durant mon séjour, le rencontrer à ses bureaux de Washington. Parce que, entre
Bernois et Jurassiens, je m’entends bien !
A Swiss
Is One of the New Directors of NASA
 |
| Thomas Zurbuchen during a speech at the end of the Cassini mission. - Photo : NASA |
« Little Swiss people » and space
aficionados know the news: a Swiss is one of the new directors of NASA. Indeed,
Thomas Zurbuchen comes from central Switzerland, in the canton
of Bern. And I come from the canton
of Jura, in the North of Switzerland. I am therefore Jurassian.
So, Thomas Zurbuchen has become the head of
all scientific projects of NASA. This binational US-Switzerland manages a
budget of $ 5 billion and is responsible for all NASA gear that try to unlock
the secrets of the planets, the sun or the universe.
Ph.D. in physics from the University of Bern,
this high-ranking scientist is a child of Heiligenschwendi (near Thun). His
honors include receiving the National Science and Technology Council
Presidential Early Career for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) Award in 2004,
a NASA Group Achievement Award for the agency’s Ulysses mission in 2006, and
the Swiss National Science Foundation’s Young Researcher Award in 1996-1997.
During his career, Zurbuchen has authored or
coauthored more than 200 articles in refereed journals on solar and
heliospheric phenomena. Although he has never worked for NASA, Zurbuchen has
connections to the agency. He has been involved with several NASA science
missions -- Ulysses, the MESSENGER spacecraft to Mercury, and the Advanced
Composition Explorer (ACE). He has also been part of two National Academies
standing committees, as well as various science and technology definition teams
for new NASA missions.
Obviously, as a Swiss here (and Jurassian) in
Cape Canaveral, I'm proud of that appointment.. Although Thomas Zurbuchen is
from the « Bernese Oberland », I can only congratulate him on this
nomination. And I sent him a great patriotic salute, hoping that during my stay
I could meet him at his Washington office.
