NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Bill Kinard was set on a career path that involved selling tractors, and then an obligation with the Air Force came along. Kinard reported to Langley Field, then to Langley Research Center, a National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics facility next door.

That was 53 years ago.

Kinard retired on July 3 after those 53 years, some spent on pioneering pilotless aircraft, some on becoming an expert on meteorites, some on inventing and finally some on the Materials International Space Station Experiment, on which he was chief scientist.

"You can do a lot of things with a good engineering degree," said Kinard, who got his from Clemson College, now university.

Among the things he has done was be principle investigator for the Interplanetary Micrometeoroid Experiments on the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft; be principle investigator for the Meteroid Technology Satellite that proved the effectiveness of the "Meteor Bumper Shield" now used on all large spacecraft, including the International Space Station; an be chief scientist for the Long Duration Exposure Facility, now regarded as the benchmark for environmental effects on spacecraft in low Earth orbit.

His awards include the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement and an honorary doctorate from the school where it all started: Clemson.



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By: Jim Hodges
The Researcher News
Langley Research Center
Managing Editor: Jim Hodges
Responsible NASA Official: H. Keith Henry
Editor and Curator: Denise Adams