Today, our cofounder Dr. Ed Lu was inducted into the prestigious International Astronautical Federation (IAF) Hall of Fame. This honor places him among a distinguished group of individuals and organizations, including Elon Musk, the Apollo 11 crew, and the James Webb Space Telescope team, who have made lasting contributions to space science and its benefits to humanity.

Dr. Lu’s induction recognizes his outstanding achievements across a wide range of fields—from advancing our understanding of solar flares to protecting Earth from asteroid impacts. His pioneering work, particularly his co-invention of the Gravity Tractor, a practical and controllable method of deflecting asteroids, has made him a key figure in planetary defense. As Romanian Cosmonaut Dr. Dimitri-Dorin Prunariu, who nominated Dr. Lu for this honor, stated, “Dr. Lu is known for developing several new theoretical advances, pioneering a basic understanding of the underlying physics of solar flares. He is also known as the co-inventor of the Gravity Tractor.”

In his career spanning more than two decades, Dr. Lu has flown aboard the Space Shuttle, the Soyuz, and the International Space Station, where he served as commander of Expedition 7. His achievements have earned him NASA’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Medal, as well as numerous other accolades from NASA, the Russian Space Agency, and the international aerospace community.

Dr. Jean-François Clervoy, who also nominated Dr. Lu, wrote, “Ed is not only an accomplished astronaut — with two space shuttle missions and one ISS mission under his belt — but also an accomplished entrepreneur, physicist, and engineer whose passion for space science and exploration has left an indelible mark on the space community and beyond.”

Beyond his career as an astronaut, Dr. Lu has remained at the forefront of space innovation. His deep commitment to protecting Earth from space hazards led him to cofound the B612 Foundation in 2002, alongside Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart and other leaders in planetary science. Today, Dr. Lu continues his mission as Executive Director of B612’s Asteroid Institute, where he leads research aimed at detecting and deflecting near-Earth objects (NEOs) that pose a threat to our planet.

In 2016, Dr. Lu cofounded LeoLabs, the world’s leading commercial provider of space safety, sustainability, and security services for low Earth orbit (LEO). Today he serves as the Chief Technology Officer. In this role, he leads the development of innovative technologies to find, track, and monitor objects in LEO, including satellites and debris.

LeoLabs CEO Dan Ceperley, another of Dr. Lu’s nominators, emphasized, “Given Ed’s immense dedication and seminal impact, he is undoubtedly deserving of this recognition.”

Dr. Lu’s induction into the IAF Hall of Fame is a testament to his relentless pursuit of knowledge, innovation, and the protection of our planet.