The Luxembourg Government announced on Wednesday that Simon "Pete" Worden, Chairman of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, has joined the government's Advisory Board of the recently announced spaceresources.lu initiative.
The news followed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the State, the Société Nationale de Crédit et d'Investissement (SNCI) and Deep Space Industries (DSI) to explore and utilise space resources from Near Earth Objects (NEOs), such as asteroids.
Prior to joining the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, Dr. Worden held the postion of Director of NASA's Ames Research Center until he retired in March 2015. He has held several roles in the United Stated Air Force and was research professor of Astronomy, Optical Sciences and Planetary Sciences at the University of Arizona. A recognised expert on both civil and military space and science issues, Dr. Worden has been a leader in building partnerships between governments and the private sector.
"I am pleased and honoured to support this initative," Simon Worden stated. "As humanity explores the solar system and beyond, space resources will become increasingly important, and eventually essential. Luxembourg's vision in moving this endeavour forward is an important step."
Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy, Étienne Schneider, expressed his delight at the addition of Pete Worden to the team, commenting "His contribution and advice will have an important and positive impact on future activities in the frame of the spaceresources.lu initiative."
Dr. Worden will join Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) from 2003 to 2015, who is currently acting as a high-level advisor to the Luxembourg government in promoting the country as a European hub in the exploration and use of space resources.
Photo by MECO (L-R): Étienne Schneider; Simon Worden
