Dr Ronald A.
Parise, PhD, WA4SIR, passed away Friday May 9, 2008 after a
very long and courageous battle with cancer. He was 57.
Parise flew as a payload specialist on two space shuttle
missions:
STS-35
on
Columbia
in December 1990 and
STS-67
on the
Endeavour
in March 1995. These two missions, ASTRO-1 and ASTRO-2
respectively, carried out ultraviolet and x-ray astronomical
observations, logging more than 614 hours and 10.6 million
miles in space. Parise was one of the first astronomers to
operate a telescope from space, making hundreds of
observations during the mission. Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS)
Chairman Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO, said Parise's personal
contributions to these two missions provided scientists with
"an unprecedented view of our universe, expanding our
understanding of the birth, life and death of stars and
galaxies."
First licensed when he was 11, Parise
kept Amateur Radio at the forefront of everything he did,
including his operations from space. During his two shuttle
flights, he spoke with hundreds of hams on the ground. He
was instrumental in guiding the development of a simple ham
radio system that could be used in multiple configurations
on the space shuttle; as a result, his first flight on
Columbia ushered in what Bauer called the "frequent
flyer era" of the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX)
payload. He was the first ham in space to operate packet
radio. "His flight pioneered the telebridge ground station
concept to enable more schools to talk to shuttle crew
members despite time and orbit constraints," Bauer said. "In
his two shuttle flights, he inspired countless students to
seek technical careers and he created memories at the
schools and communities that will never be forgotten. Ron
was also the ultimate ham radio operator -- in space and on
the ground."
Bauer said that
Parise's love for Amateur Radio and his love of inspiring
students continued well beyond his two shuttle flights:
"During the formation of the ARISS program, Ron was a
tremendous resource to the newly forming international team.
I know of many instances where Ron's wisdom and sage advice
was instrumental in helping our international team resolve
issues when we reached critical technical or political
roadblocks. He was a key volunteer in the development of the
ham radio hardware systems that are now on-board ISS. The
ARISS team is deeply indebted to WA4SIR for his leadership,
technical advice and tremendous vision."
Parise worked
hand-in-hand with the students at the
US Naval Academy and
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
on the development of their student satellites. He helped
develop
Radio Jove,
a student educational project to listen to the radio signals
emanating from Jupiter. Parise spoke at numerous schools
over the years, inspiring students to pursue careers in
science, math and technology.
"Ron Parise
was--and continues to be--an inspiration to countless
students, ham radio operators, and friends the world over.
His accomplishments were many, including space explorer,
pioneer, astrophysicist, pilot, ham radio operator, avionics
and software expert, inspirational speaker and motivator,
student satellite mentor, husband, father and friend. While
he certainly did some truly extraordinary things in his
lifetime, Ron Parise is best known and cherished for keeping
family and friends first, and for this, we will miss him
most," Bauer said.
In an effort to
continue Parise's work to inspire the next generation, his
family has set up a scholarship fund in Parise's honor for
students pursuing technical degrees at Youngtown State
University, Parise's alma mater. In lieu of flowers, those
interested are welcome to send donations to the Dr Ronald A.
Parise Scholarship Fund, Youngstown State University, One
University Plaza, Youngstown, OH 44555. -- Information
provided by Goddard Amateur Radio Club, WA3NAN
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