Nov 27, 2007 - Claremont, Calif. - Space Shuttle astronaut Gordon Fullerton will present Harvey Mudd College (HMC) student Samuel Eisenberg '08 with a $10,000 scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) during a public presentation and ceremony, Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 4:15-5:30 p.m. in Galileo-Edwards Hall on the HMC campus.

The award presentation will coincide with a free lecture by Fullerton that is open to the public. Fullerton will discuss the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), an airborne observatory being flight tested at NASA Dryden. He will cover the basic aircraft testing currently underway and the plans for the astrophysics science observations to be done when it becomes operational.

This prestigious award is one of 19 made available each year through the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. The scholarships are awarded to college students who exhibit exceptional performance, initiative and creativity in the science or engineering field of their major. While scholarship recipients must display intellectual daring, the committee also looks for well-rounded students who are involved in campus and community activities.

“These scholarships are a way for me and my fellow astronauts to give back to a country that provided us with an extraordinary opportunity,” said Fullerton. “Samuel will be one of the many leaders who will keep the United States at the edge of breakthrough technology and I consider it an honor to be presenting him with this check.”

The award will be applied to Eisenberg’s continuing education at HMC, where he is completing a degree in physics. This is the second year he was awarded the ASF scholarship, due to continuing his outstanding work in the field of magnetic materials. His research has concentrated on a spintronics project and learning techniques of fabricating thin film magnetic and superconducting devices. Both projects are exploring new concepts in controlling electrical devices using magnetic fields as the control agent.

Eisenberg recently co-founded the Mudders Organizing for Sustainability Solutions, which focuses on environmental studies on the HMC campus. The group is working on an energy and water usage and recycling awareness program, and developing monitoring systems for meters. He continues to be a physics tutor, and holds concept sessions for various classes.

NASA selected Fullerton for its astronaut corps in 1969, where he served on support crews for Apollo missions before assignment to the Space Shuttle. Fullerton piloted the third Space Shuttle test mission STS-3. During the flight the astronauts subjected the orbiter to extremes in thermal stress, conducted the first loaded tests of the robot arm and performed the first shuttle science experiments. On his second flight, STS-51F, the shuttle was 5 minutes 45 seconds off the launch pad on when one of its three main engines suddenly shut down. Fullerton and pilot Roy Bridges supervised the burning of the two working engines and settled into orbit. He was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2005 and is a proud supporter of ASF.

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1984 by the six surviving members of America's original Mercury astronauts. Its goal is to aid the United States in retaining its world leadership in science and technology by providing scholarships for college students who exhibit motivation, imagination and exceptional performance in the science or engineering field of their major. ASF funds 19 $10,000 scholarships annually and has awarded nearly $2.5 million to 226 students nationwide. On the web: http://www.astronautscholarship.org/.

Media Note: Astronaut interviews are available upon request with advanced arrangements.