Edward Tsang Lu performed a card trick in orbit alongside magician James Randi, correctly identifying the seven of diamonds while millions of miles from Earth. This unconventional experiment marked one of many moments during his tenure as a physicist and NASA astronaut, a career that spanned multiple Space Shuttle missions and a six-month residency on the International Space Station.
Academic and Scientific Foundation
Born in 1963 in Springfield, Massachusetts, Lu graduated from R. L. Thomas High School before attending Cornell University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering. He pursued advanced studies at Stanford University, completing both a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in applied physics in 1989. His early career included postdoctoral positions at the High Altitude Observatory in Boulder, Colorado, and the Institute for Astronomy in Honolulu, Hawaii, focusing on solar physics.
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Selected for the NASA Astronaut Corps in 1994, Lu participated in STS-84 in 1997 and STS-106 in 2000. During the latter mission, he conducted a six-hour spacewalk to perform construction tasks on the International Space Station. In 2003, he served as flight engineer for Soyuz TMA-2 during ISS Expedition 7. During this extended stay, he engaged in public outreach, including playing an electronic piano and communicating with China’s first crewed space mission, Shenzhou 5.
Asteroid Defense and Private Enterprise
While employed by NASA, Lu co-founded the B612 Foundation with Rusty Schweickart, Clark Chapman, and Piet Hut to research asteroid deflection. After retiring from NASA in 2007, he transitioned to the private sector, holding roles at Google, Liquid Robotics, and Hover Inc. He eventually focused his efforts back on planetary defense, leading B612 in a project to identify potentially threatening asteroids using artificial intelligence and archived data.
Fast facts
- Born: 1963, Springfield, Massachusetts
- Education: Cornell University, Stanford University
- Space Shuttle missions: STS-84, STS-106
- Awards: NASA Space Flight Medal (1997)
- B612 Foundation role: Co-founder and executive director
- Professional background: Physicist, Astronaut
Questions readers ask
What was the purpose of the Sentinel project?
It was a proposed private mission to launch an infrared space telescope designed to track near-Earth objects; however, it was ended in 2016 in favor of supporting NASA's NEOcam mission.
Did Lu continue his scientific career after leaving NASA?
Yes, he worked for Google, Liquid Robotics, and Hover Inc., and continues to analyze data to identify potentially dangerous asteroids through the B612 Foundation.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at Stanford University, Cornell University and Cornell University College of Engineering
- Worked as physicist and astronaut
