Al Ender’s friendship with B612 co-founder Rusty Schweickart began in September 1952, when the two were assigned as roommates their freshman year in Burton House, a dormitory at MIT. They stayed close through sophomore year before their paths diverged: astronautical engineering for Rusty, electrical engineering for Al. Both served in MIT’s ROTC program, Rusty in the Air Force and Al in the Army, and each went on active duty after graduation.

While Rusty became an astronaut, Al built a career as a systems engineer on space launch vehicles, climbing the gantries at Cape Canaveral to certify rockets for flight. He watched Rusty launch aboard Apollo 9, then heard him describe the fragile beauty of Earth seen from space, a memory that stayed with him.

Learning in 2007 of the real danger posed by near-Earth asteroids convinced Al the threat demanded action, and he has supported B612 ever since, still Rusty’s lifelong friend.