Peter Tsou

Dr. Tsou earned B.S. (1965) and M.S. (1966) in Electrical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He received his PhD in Large Scale Engineering Systems from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1972.[3]

Since 1974, Dr. Tsou has worked at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, located in Pasadena, CA. He is currently the Deputy Principal Investigator (PI) of STARDUST (1994–present). Dr. Tsou was a Principal Investigator for the MIR Sample Return Experiment (1994–1997), Spacehab II Sample Return Experiment, Get Away Special Sample Return Experiment (1989–Present). He also was the STARDUST proposal manager (1992-1994), instrument definition manager (1984-1990), spacecraft system engineer (1982-1990), task manager for the Low Cost Solar Array program (1975-1980), and a system engineer (1974-1975).[3]

Prior to his work at JPL, Dr. Tsou worked at University of California, Los Angeles, as a project manager on the Climate Impact Assessment Program of the Supersonic Transport (1970–1974), and at TRW as a technical staff member (1966–1968).

His research interests for the past two decades have concentrated on achieving a sample return of cometary coma material. He invented the technique of intact capture of hypervelocity particles for just such a mission as Stardust. Along with scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, he help create a lighter aerogel that was more suitable for catching comet particles.[4] He helped introduced the use of aerogel as one of the capture media and flight qualified variable density aerogel for space flight.

Dr. Tsou was responsible for inventing an integrated aerogel thermal-structural design for the Mars Pathfinder Sojourner rover, another breakthrough for space thermal insulation.[5]

His other research interests include exobiological implications of extraterrestrial bodies and methods to sample extraterrestrial materials.

Dr. Tsou has authored and co-authored more than 60 technical papers. Some selected publications:

• Tsou, P., F. Giovane, J-C. Liou, R. Corsaro. "Large Area Dust Collection – on the International Space Station", 2007.
• Tsou, P., D. E. Brownlee, R. Glesias, C. P. Grigoropoulos, M. Weschler, "Cutting Silica Aerogel for Particle Extraction", 36th LPSC, 2307, 2005.
• Tsou, P., "Cosmic Dust Intact Capture Experiment", STAIF-99, 1999.
• Tsou, P., "Hypervelocity Capture of Meteoroids in Aerogel", ASPCS Vol 104, 237–242, 1996.
• Tsou, P., Albee A. L., "Comet Flyby Sample Return", AIAA-85-0465, 1985.

• 2000 NASA Patent: Large Field of View 3-D Hologram Display System
• 2000 NASA Group Achievement Award - STARDUST Project Team
• 1997 NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal
• 1996 JPL Inaugural Award for Excellence - Exceptional Technical Excellence
• 1985 NASA Group Achievement Award - Low Cost Solar Array Project