LeoLabs is proud to share that the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) inducted our Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder Dr. Edward Lu into its Hall of Fame today at the Federation’s 75th International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy. In receiving this honor, Ed joins the likes of former NASA Administrator Charles Bolden as well as the Apollo 11 crew and the team that developed the James Webb Space Telescope.
As a physicist, engineer, pilot, former NASA astronaut, inventor, educator, and serial co-founder, Ed has dedicated his career to mapping and tracking the unknown and the unseen to prevent disasters both in space and on Earth.
At LeoLabs, he leads the development of innovative technologies that identify, track, and monitor objects and activity in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), including potentially disastrous on-orbit collisions. His technical expertise has been instrumental to operators all over the world as they seek to navigate space safely and securely.
In addition to his leadership role at LeoLabs, Ed founded the B612 Foundation, which develops tools and technologies to protect Earth from asteroid impacts.
“Ed is such a visionary that he has founded two leading space organizations that are making significant contributions to help ensure safety both in space and on Earth,” said LeoLabs Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder Dan Ceperley. “I’ve seen Ed inspire rooms of students. He is amazing at turning his experiences as an astronaut and entrepreneur into relatable stories that empower the next generation.”
Ed’s passion for space safety and security are informed by his career at NASA, which spanned 12 years and several flights aboard the Space Shuttle, Soyuz spacecraft, and the International Space Station (ISS).
In 2003, following the tragic loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia, NASA called upon Ed to launch to the ISS to maintain operations with a two-person skeleton crew. He completed the Russian Soyuz training in just nine weeks and became the first American to launch as the Flight Engineer aboard a Soyuz spacecraft. Ed and Cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko spent six months aboard the ISS, conducting scientific research and demonstrating that it could be maintained with only two people.
By the end of his time at NASA, Ed logged more than 206 days in space and completed a spacewalk totaling more than six hours. He also earned NASA’s highest honor: the Distinguished Service Medal.
Ed’s vision and leadership, demonstrated throughout his career, are critical to our efforts to foster the growth of the global economy and preserve the U.S. and Allied advantage in space.
While he’s well-known for his impressive achievements, Ed is also known by his colleagues and friends for his humor, honesty, and collaborative spirit—and we’re proud to have him on our team.
Congratulations, Ed!
