Literature / Science & invention
Geoffrey A. Landis
born 1955 · NASA scientist, science-fiction writer, poet
Detroit-born NASA engineer and Hugo and Nebula–winning hard science-fiction author who works on Mars rovers and solar power.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan
age 71- Birth name
- Geoffrey Alan Landis
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Landis was born in Detroit in 1955 but spent his childhood moving between Virginia, Maryland, Philadelphia and Illinois, so his tie to the city is his birth. Trained in physics at MIT and Brown, he has spent his career at NASA's Glenn Research Center working on solar cells, planetary exploration and interstellar propulsion, including roles on Mars rover missions, and holds several patents on photovoltaics. Alongside the lab work he writes precise, scientifically grounded fiction and poetry, winning a Nebula Award, two Hugo Awards and three Rhysling Awards for science-fiction poetry.
Highlights
- Nebula Award for the story Ripples in the Dirac Sea
- Two Hugo Awards for short fiction
- Three Rhysling Awards for science-fiction poetry
- NASA Glenn scientist; nine patents in solar-cell technology