By Victor Omondi
George R. Carruthers, an astrophysicist and engineer, who designed a telescope used by astronauts on the moon as part of the Apollo 16 mission in 1972, is dead at 81 years. The mission was NASA’s attempt to examine Earth’s atmosphere and the composition of interstellar space.
Dr. Carruthers had developed an interest in space science from an early age and managed to build his first telescope at 10-years of age. Virtually, his entire career was spent at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington.
In 1969, NASA posted what was termed as “an announcement of opportunity” towards the start of designing experiments for Apollo space flights. It’s this year that he began his project on his Apollo telescope. He later received a patent for an-Image Converter for Detecting Electromagnetic Radiation Especially in Short Wave Lengths -in November of 1969.
Dr. Carruthers later joined forces with another scientist, Thornton Page, for the NASA project. Together, they designed a telescope that amplified images, converting photons to electrons and making it possible to record on film.
Dr. Carruther’s 1970 telescope was part of an unmanned rocket flight that discovered the first evidence of molecular hydrogen in interstellar space. He remained focused and continued to advance his designs. Eventually, Dr. Carruther’s telescope was used for observation on the moon, with far-reaching implications for astronomy, astrophysics and more.
Source: George R. Carruthers, Principal Designer of a Telescope That Went to The Moon, Dead At 81
