Microwaves Pioneers: Charles Elachi, “Dare Mighty Things”

This is the fifth article in our continuing series of biographical pieces with a technical lean (two vol. 1, issue and one each 1 2 3). The subject this paper noted microwave radar remote sensing pioneer National Aeronautics Space Administration Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA/JPL) Director, Dr. Charles Elachi. Without doubt, Elachi almost single-handedly pioneered field active from space. His early work on aircraft imaging deployment synthetic aperture techniques for ocean land surveying led to groundbreaking Shuttle missions opened up whole new fields research oceanographers, geologists, planetary scientists, geophysicists, even archeologists. Elachi's scientific engineering accomplishments quickly him long ladder within NASA/JPL community, eventually landing Director's chair. title reflects his mantra success, both personally institutions he played such large role in.