Jerome Pearson
Encyclopedia
Jerome Pearson is an American engineer and space scientist best known for his work on space elevators and lunar space elevator
. He is president of STAR, Inc., and has developed aircraft and spacecraft technology for the United States Air Force
, DARPA, and NASA
. He holds several patents and is the author of nearly 100 publications in aircraft, spacecraft, electrodynamic tethers, SETI, and global climate control.
Pearson received his bachelor’s degree in engineering from Washington University in St. Louis in 1961, and his master’s degree in geology from Wright State University
in Dayton, Ohio
, in 1977. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, he became an aerospace engineer for the NASA Langley and Ames research centers during the Apollo Program. He joined the Air Force Research Laboratory
(AFRL) in 1971, and developed vibration control for high-power lasers and a kinetic-kill vehicle concept for President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative
in the 1980s. As Chief of the AFRL Structural Dynamics Branch, he led the development of the high-temperature acoustics test facility at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio, which was used for high-speed missile testing and the National Aerospace Plane development. In the 1980s he consulted for Walt Disney World in Florida, and consulted on the CommuniCore
Pavilion. In 1998 he founded Star Technology and Research, Inc., a small business in Mount Pleasant, SC, for aerospace research and development, and currently serves as its president.
Pearson is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA, a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society
, and a Tau Beta Pi
“Eminent Engineer.” As President of STAR, Inc., he received the U.S. Small Business Administration National Tibbetts Award
in 2001. Sponsored by Sir Arthur Clarke, he was elected Member of the International Academy of Astronautics
in 2002.
Arthur Clarke then contacted Pearson for the technical background of his novel, “The Fountains of Paradise,” published in 1978, and acknowledged this contribution in the Afterward. Shortly thereafter, Pearson invented the lunar space elevator
, balanced about the Lagrangian points in the Moon-Earth system, and extended the concept on a contract with the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts
.
He then applied rotating tethers for mining asteroids, proposed a rotating space tether plus a rocket or gun for Earth-to-space launches, and tethers for orbit propellantless maneuvering space vehicles.
Pearson wrote invited articles on space elevators and tethers for Encyclopædia Britannica and New Scientist, was featured discussing space elevators in the Discovery Channel series “Science of the Impossible,” and proposed the rarity of Earth-like planets as an explanation for the lack of success of SETI.
Pearson developed a space-based solar shield to counteract global warming and control Earth’s climate, and multi-winglets for improved aircraft performance.
Pearson has also written about the origins of the concept of the space elevator, and how it has been mistakenly attributed to Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.
Lunar space elevator
A lunar space elevator is a proposed cable running from the surface of the Moon into space.It is similar in concept to the better known Earth space elevator idea...
. He is president of STAR, Inc., and has developed aircraft and spacecraft technology for the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, DARPA, and 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...
. He holds several patents and is the author of nearly 100 publications in aircraft, spacecraft, electrodynamic tethers, SETI, and global climate control.
Pearson received his bachelor’s degree in engineering from Washington University in St. Louis in 1961, and his master’s degree in geology from Wright State University
Wright State University
Wright State University is a comprehensive public university with strong doctoral, research, and undergraduate programs, rated among the 260 Best National Universities listed in the annual "America's Best Colleges" rankings by U.S. News and World Report. Wright State is located in Fairborn, Ohio,...
in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, in 1977. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, he became an aerospace engineer for the NASA Langley and Ames research centers during the Apollo Program. He joined the Air Force Research Laboratory
Air Force Research Laboratory
The Air Force Research Laboratory is a scientific research organization operated by the United States Air Force Materiel Command dedicated to leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable aerospace warfighting technologies; planning and executing the Air Force science and...
(AFRL) in 1971, and developed vibration control for high-power lasers and a kinetic-kill vehicle concept for President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative
Strategic Defense Initiative
The Strategic Defense Initiative was proposed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan on March 23, 1983 to use ground and space-based systems to protect the United States from attack by strategic nuclear ballistic missiles. The initiative focused on strategic defense rather than the prior strategic...
in the 1980s. As Chief of the AFRL Structural Dynamics Branch, he led the development of the high-temperature acoustics test facility at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio, which was used for high-speed missile testing and the National Aerospace Plane development. In the 1980s he consulted for Walt Disney World in Florida, and consulted on the CommuniCore
CommuniCore
CommuniCore was a pavilion dedicated to technological advance located at EPCOT Center in Walt Disney World, Florida. It occupied two semi-circular buildings behind Spaceship Earth at the center of Future World. The two buildings were known as CommuniCore East and West and housed rotating exhibits...
Pavilion. In 1998 he founded Star Technology and Research, Inc., a small business in Mount Pleasant, SC, for aerospace research and development, and currently serves as its president.
Pearson is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA, a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society
British Interplanetary Society
The British Interplanetary Society founded in 1933 by Philip E. Cleator, is the oldest space advocacy organisation in the world whose aim is exclusively to support and promote astronautics and space exploration.-Structure:...
, and a Tau Beta Pi
Tau Beta Pi
The Tau Beta Pi Association is the oldest engineering honor society in the United States and the second oldest collegiate honor society in America. It honors engineering students who have shown a history of academic achievement as well as a commitment to personal and professional integrity...
“Eminent Engineer.” As President of STAR, Inc., he received the U.S. Small Business Administration National Tibbetts Award
Tibbetts Award
Affectionately referred to as the "Tibbie", these national awards are made annually to those small firms, projects, organizations and individuals judged to exemplify the very best in SBIR achievement....
in 2001. Sponsored by Sir Arthur Clarke, he was elected Member of the International Academy of Astronautics
International Academy of Astronautics
The International Academy of Astronautics is an international community of experts committed to expanding the frontiers of space. It is a non-governmental organisation established in Stockholm on August 16, 1960....
in 2002.
Selected publications
Pearson was an early co-inventor of the space elevator. His publication in Acta Astronautica in 1975 introduced the concept to the world spaceflight community.Arthur Clarke then contacted Pearson for the technical background of his novel, “The Fountains of Paradise,” published in 1978, and acknowledged this contribution in the Afterward. Shortly thereafter, Pearson invented the lunar space elevator
Lunar space elevator
A lunar space elevator is a proposed cable running from the surface of the Moon into space.It is similar in concept to the better known Earth space elevator idea...
, balanced about the Lagrangian points in the Moon-Earth system, and extended the concept on a contract with the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts
NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts
right|200pxNASA Institute for Advanced Concepts was a NASA-funded program that was operated by the Universities Space Research Association for NASA from 1998 until its closure on 31 August 2007. NIAC sought proposals for revolutionary aeronautics and space concepts that could dramatically impact...
.
He then applied rotating tethers for mining asteroids, proposed a rotating space tether plus a rocket or gun for Earth-to-space launches, and tethers for orbit propellantless maneuvering space vehicles.
Pearson wrote invited articles on space elevators and tethers for Encyclopædia Britannica and New Scientist, was featured discussing space elevators in the Discovery Channel series “Science of the Impossible,” and proposed the rarity of Earth-like planets as an explanation for the lack of success of SETI.
Pearson developed a space-based solar shield to counteract global warming and control Earth’s climate, and multi-winglets for improved aircraft performance.
Pearson has also written about the origins of the concept of the space elevator, and how it has been mistakenly attributed to Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.