Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope - GLAST Renamed Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

GLAST Renamed Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

Fermi gained its new name in 2008: On 26 Aug 2008, GLAST was renamed the “Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope” in honor of Enrico Fermi, a pioneer in high-energy physics.

NASA’s Alan Stern, associate administrator for Science at NASA Headquarters, launched a public competition 7 Feb 2008, closing 31 Mar 2008, to rename GLAST in a way that would “capture the excitement of GLAST’s mission and call attention to gamma-ray and high-energy astronomy... something memorable to commemorate this spectacular new astronomy mission... a name that is catchy, easy to say and will help make the satellite and its mission a topic of dinner table and classroom discussion”.

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