DR. GEORGE CARRUTHERS
SCIENTIST
October 1, 1939 – December 26, 2020)
Inventor, physicist, engineer, and space scientist.
Carruthers perfected a compact and very powerful ultraviolet camera/spectrograph for NASA to use when it launched Apollo 16 in 1972. He designed it so astronauts could use it on the lunar surface, making all adjustments inside their bulky space suits. Upon instructions from Carruthers, they used the camera to record the Earth’s outermost atmosphere, noting its variations, and also mapped portions of the far-ultraviolet sky recording stars and galaxies, and the gaseous media between them. In 1970, sending his instruments aboard Aerobee sounding rockets, he demonstrated that molecular hydrogen exists in the interstellar medium. Among numerous citations and awards, in 2003, Carruthers was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, and he received an honorary doctorate for Engineering from Michigan Technological University. He also was awarded the 2011 National Medal for Technology and Invention by President Barack Obama, “For the invention of the Far UV Electrographic Camera, which significantly improved our understanding of space and earth science.”In 1986, one of Carruthers’ inventions captured an ultraviolet image of Halley’s Comet. Among other projects, in 1991, he developed a camera that was used in a Space Shuttle Mission.
George Carruthers was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on October 1, 1939 to George Sr. and Sophia Carruthers. He was the Eldest of the four siblings. His father was a civil engineer in the United States Army Corps; His mother was a homemaker at the time. George was very interested in Science from a small age and for his passion for the profession his George Sr. encouraged him. And his father built a telescope from a mail order at the age of 10. He was a nonfiction collector and was very interested in space and rockets from early age. At the age of 12 George Jr. father passed away that was a shock to the family. Sophia picked up the children and relocated to Chicago. In Chicago Sophia received employment from the United Postal Office as a clerk. During Englewood High School attendance George entered a Science contest and won all three. He won first prize for one which was for the Telescope he and his dad built together. He was a member of the Chicago Rocket Society and would spend his time doing constructive recreation to build his passion as going to the libraries joining other clubs that fit his passions as a visionary. Upon receiving his High School Diploma in 1957 George enrolled in the University of Illinois. He focused on aerospace and engineering and astronomy. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Physics; in 1961 he re entered the University and received his masters in nuclear engineering. In 1964 he earned his PHD in Aeronautical and Astronomical Engineering.
In 1964 he received his first job with the United States Naval research laboratory as a postdoctoral fellow with the National Science Foundation Postdoctoral program. George Jr. did two years in the program and upon completion he was employed as a full time Physicist at NRL as E.O Hurbart center for space research.
In 1969 on Nov 11th He was awarded a patent for his invention for the image converter for detecting electromagnetic radiation especially in short wave lengths. His invention in 1970 on august 21 during a rocket flight was the first detection of this invention was also used in 1972 proof that molecular hydrogen is evident in interstellar space.
In 1970 George Jr. received the Arthur Fleming Award for his work. In 1972 the invention was used during the mission of Apollo 16 mission. This invention enabled the first time for scientist to examine the earth atmosphere for concentration of pollutants and see UV images of more than 5550 stars nebulse and galaxies. He was awarded NASA’s Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal for his work on the project. In 1980’ his invention captured the image of Haley’s comet as the comet made its course. In 1991 he invented a camera that was used in the space shuttle mission.
George Jr. is co creator of the Science and Engineers Apprentice Program which gives high school student the opportunity to work at the naval research laboratory. In 1996-1997 He was an educator in Washington D.C. public schools science teachers where he taught Earth and Space science.
During the summers of 1996 and 1997 he taught a course in Earth and Space Science for D.C. Public Schools Science teachers. He also helped develop a series of videotapes on Earth and Space science for high-school students.
In 2002 George Jr. relocated to teach earth and science at Howard University. In 2003 he was inducted into the National Inventor Hal of Fame for his contributions to the Science and Engineering field
2002, retiring from NRL, Carruthers taught a two-semester course in Earth and Space Science at Howard University sponsored by a NASA Aerospace Workforce Development Grant.
On February 12, 2009, Carruthers was honored as a Distinguished Lecturer at the Office of Naval Research for his achievements in the field of space science.
On February 1, 2013, Dr. Carruthers was awarded the 2012 National Medal of Technology and Innovation by President Barack Obama at the White House
He was a member of the American Astronomical Society, the American Geophysical Union, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Society of Black Physicists. On February 1, 2013, Dr. Carruthers was awarded the 2012 National Medal of Technology and Innovation by President Barack Obama at the White House.[
Carruthers died of congestive heart failure on December 26, 2020, in Washington D.C.
Awards
Arthur S. Flemming Award (Washington Jaycees), 1970 Exceptional Achievement Scientific Award Medal NASA 1972 Black Engineer of the Year Award 1987[16] Warner Prize of the American Astronomical SocietyNational Science Foundation Fellow Honorary Doctor of Engineering, Michigan Technological University Inducted into the National Inventors’ Hall of Fame, 2003[17]National Medal of Technology and Innovation, 2011[3]