Fernando de Mendonça
Encyclopedia
Fernando de Mendonça is a Brazilian
electronic engineer and researcher, founder and first director of Brazil's National Institute for Space Research
.
at the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA) in 1958. After, he received his PhD in Radio sciences from Stanford University
, in the USA.
During his period in the United States, Mendonça established contacts with NASA
in the name of the Brazilian government, contacts that played an important role in the later development of the Brazilian Space Program.
After his return to Brazil, he was nominated by President Jânio Quadros
to take part in the preliminary committee in charge of the studies for the deployment of the national space program. When the National Institute for Space Research
(INPE) was founded in 1971, Mendonça became its first Director.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
electronic engineer and researcher, founder and first director of Brazil's National Institute for Space Research
National Institute for Space Research
The National Institute for Space Research is a research unit of the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology, whose main goals are fostering scientific research and technological applications and qualifying personnel in the fields of space and atmospheric sciences, space engineering, and space...
.
Career
Mendonça graduated in Electronic EngineeringElectronic engineering
Electronics engineering, also referred to as electronic engineering, is an engineering discipline where non-linear and active electrical components such as electron tubes, and semiconductor devices, especially transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, are utilized to design electronic...
at the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA) in 1958. After, he received his PhD in Radio sciences from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, in the USA.
During his period in the United States, Mendonça established contacts with NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
in the name of the Brazilian government, contacts that played an important role in the later development of the Brazilian Space Program.
After his return to Brazil, he was nominated by President Jânio Quadros
Jânio Quadros
Jânio da Silva Quadros , , was a Brazilian politician who served as President of Brazil for only 7 months in 1961.-Career:...
to take part in the preliminary committee in charge of the studies for the deployment of the national space program. When the National Institute for Space Research
National Institute for Space Research
The National Institute for Space Research is a research unit of the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology, whose main goals are fostering scientific research and technological applications and qualifying personnel in the fields of space and atmospheric sciences, space engineering, and space...
(INPE) was founded in 1971, Mendonça became its first Director.