Olsen was the co-founder and chairman of Sensors Unlimited Inc., a company developing optoelectronic devices such as sensitive near-infrared (NIR) and shortwave-infrared (SWIR) cameras. One of Sensors Unlimited's major customers is NASA. Currently, Olsen is President of GHO Ventures, LLC, in Princeton, New Jersey, where he manages his angel investments, South African winery, Montana ranch, Manhattan and Miami real estate, and performs numerous speaking engagements to encourage children – especially minority and female children – to consider careers in science or engineering. He also is a physics professor at Rider University.
Olsen, born in Brooklyn, New York, was the son of an IBEW Local 3 electrician. His mother was a school teacher. He grew up in Bay Ridge and graduated from Ridgefield Park High School, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey in 1962. Olsen initially wanted to be a baseball player but realised from local little league how tough the standard was. Olsen was inspired by his father to become an electrician, always having the education at home to fix things in-house instead of calling a repairman.[1]
After being written off as a failure by teachers due to poor grades in high school, Olsen planned to join the United States Army until he was counseled to try college for several months. Through an IBEW Local 3 scholarship, Olsen attempted college, kept his grades high, and graduated magna cum laude with multiple degrees from Fairleigh Dickinson University.[2] He later graduated with a PhD in materials science from the University of Virginia. He has two daughters, Kimberly and Krista, and six grandchildren: Justin Dibsie, Carter Dibsie, Danielle Dibsie, Romina Lapadula, Athina Lapadula, and Oriana Lapadula.
Business careerEdit
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021)
Olsen admits to little business training and believes that for companies making less than 100 million (the smaller companies as he calls them) that success is based more on “intuition, instinct and hard work.” He does credit his success to his graduate science training. “Two of my start-up companies are from the fields I trained in. For instance, my first company EPITAXX (a supplier of optical detectors and receivers for fiber optic telecommunications and cable television networks) relied on my knowledge of physics and material science.” Olsen likes to put his money into high-risk start-ups.[3] Olsen founded EPITAXX, a fiberoptic detector manufacturer in 1984 together with Vladimir Ban. It was sold in 1990 for $12 million. He then founded Sensors Unlimited in 1992 with Dr. Marshall J. Cohen. Sensors was sold to Finisar Corp. for $600 million in 2000. It was then repurchased by the management team in 2002 for $6 million, and sold once more to Goodrich, Corp. in 2005 for $60 million.[4]
Spaceflight detailsEdit
Having flown to the International Space Station (ISS) with Soyuz TMA-7 (launched October 1, 2005, docked October 3) and landed with Soyuz TMA-6 (October 10), Olsen is the third self-funded space tourist to visit the ISS, following Dennis Tito (2001) and Mark Shuttleworth (2002) (all three space tourists flew through Space Adventures, Ltd.). As of 2013, Soyuz TMA-6 is on display at the Intrepid Museum’s Space Shuttle Pavilion. Olsen has made some comments indicating that he is unhappy with the "space tourist" designation. The following is from National Geographic's coverage "Space Launch – Along for the Ride (2007)": "Greg: The term space tourist implies that you'll write a check and you go for a joyride. And believe me that is not the case at all. Narrator: Greg worked hard to get this far, training for two years with the Russian Space Agency."
Olsen went in to great detail about his flight in an interview with Paul Stenning. He revealed he had to train for a year and a half before being ready to go into space. During a routine x-ray, a black spot was found on his lung. He had to have a monthly medical check to obtain permission to fly. It took 9 months for him to pass the medical.[5]
He conducted several experiments in remote sensing and astronomy while aboard the space station. Dr. Olsen is a licensed amateur radio operator holding FCC callsign KC2ONX and spoke to students via ham radio from space through the ARISS project. In an informal presentation at a New Jersey high school, Dr. Olsen estimated the price of his space excursion at US$20 million.
Awards and honorsEdit
Olsen was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2010 for research and commercialization of optical components for fiber communications and national defense.[6]
^Paul Stenning, Success – By Those Who’ve Made It. 2013, p.133.
^Carroll, Kathleen. (May 4, 2006). "FDU renames engineering school after $5M gift". The Record. Retrieved May 13, 2023. About 200 people gathered at Fairleigh Dickinson University on Wednesday to celebrate the university's largest-ever gift and the renaming of one of its schools. Alumnus and trustee Gregory Olsen, the world's third civilian astronaut and the founder of two fiber-optics companies, was greeted with a standing ovation...
^Nagy, Kim; and Stocke, Joy "Reaching for the Stars: An Interview with Greg Olsen – Scientist, Entrepreneur, and Space Traveler", Wild River Review, November 2007. Accessed November 19, 2007.
Olsen's presentation at Hopewell Valley Regional High School, Pennington, New Jersey, United States on 26 April 2006.
Olsen's presentation at Montgomery Township High School, Skillman, New Jersey, United States on 20 May 2006
Olsen's presentation at Bear Tavern Elementary school Hopewell Valley Regional school, Titusville New Jersey, USA on 26 November 2008
External linksEdit
GHO Ventures, LLC
'Space tourist' blasts off to ISS – BBC, 1 October 2005
'Space tourist' arrives at Space Station – BBC, 3 October 2005
Trek to Space Station Is 'A Dream Come True'
Spacefacts biography of Gregory Olsen
Human Presence in Space International Forum 2019-12-14 at the Wayback Machine
August 25, 2023
gregory, olsen, other, people, with, same, name, greg, olsen, disambiguation, gregory, hammond, olsen, born, april, 1945, american, entrepreneur, engineer, scientist, october, 2005, became, third, private, citizen, make, self, funded, trip, international, spac. For other people with the same name see Greg Olsen disambiguation Gregory Hammond Olsen born April 20 1945 is an American entrepreneur engineer and scientist who in October 2005 became the third private citizen to make a self funded trip to the International Space Station with the company Space Adventures Gregory OlsenBorn 1945 04 20 April 20 1945 age 78 Brooklyn New York U S NationalityAmericanAlma materFairleigh Dickinson University B S B Eng M S University of Virginia Ph D OccupationEntrepreneurSpace careerSpace Adventures TouristTime in space9d 21h 15mMissionsSoyuz TMA 7 Soyuz TMA 6Scientific careerFieldsMaterial scienceThesisThe fcc bcc transformation in thin iron films 1970 Doctoral advisorWilliam A JesserOlsen was the co founder and chairman of Sensors Unlimited Inc a company developing optoelectronic devices such as sensitive near infrared NIR and shortwave infrared SWIR cameras One of Sensors Unlimited s major customers is NASA Currently Olsen is President of GHO Ventures LLC in Princeton New Jersey where he manages his angel investments South African winery Montana ranch Manhattan and Miami real estate and performs numerous speaking engagements to encourage children especially minority and female children to consider careers in science or engineering He also is a physics professor at Rider University Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Business career 3 Spaceflight details 4 Awards and honors 5 See also 6 References 7 Sources 8 External linksEarly life and education EditOlsen born in Brooklyn New York was the son of an IBEW Local 3 electrician His mother was a school teacher He grew up in Bay Ridge and graduated from Ridgefield Park High School Ridgefield Park New Jersey in 1962 Olsen initially wanted to be a baseball player but realised from local little league how tough the standard was Olsen was inspired by his father to become an electrician always having the education at home to fix things in house instead of calling a repairman 1 After being written off as a failure by teachers due to poor grades in high school Olsen planned to join the United States Army until he was counseled to try college for several months Through an IBEW Local 3 scholarship Olsen attempted college kept his grades high and graduated magna cum laude with multiple degrees from Fairleigh Dickinson University 2 He later graduated with a PhD in materials science from the University of Virginia He has two daughters Kimberly and Krista and six grandchildren Justin Dibsie Carter Dibsie Danielle Dibsie Romina Lapadula Athina Lapadula and Oriana Lapadula Business career EditThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it February 2021 Olsen admits to little business training and believes that for companies making less than 100 million the smaller companies as he calls them that success is based more on intuition instinct and hard work He does credit his success to his graduate science training Two of my start up companies are from the fields I trained in For instance my first company EPITAXX a supplier of optical detectors and receivers for fiber optic telecommunications and cable television networks relied on my knowledge of physics and material science Olsen likes to put his money into high risk start ups 3 Olsen founded EPITAXX a fiberoptic detector manufacturer in 1984 together with Vladimir Ban It was sold in 1990 for 12 million He then founded Sensors Unlimited in 1992 with Dr Marshall J Cohen Sensors was sold to Finisar Corp for 600 million in 2000 It was then repurchased by the management team in 2002 for 6 million and sold once more to Goodrich Corp in 2005 for 60 million 4 Spaceflight details EditHaving flown to the International Space Station ISS with Soyuz TMA 7 launched October 1 2005 docked October 3 and landed with Soyuz TMA 6 October 10 Olsen is the third self funded space tourist to visit the ISS following Dennis Tito 2001 and Mark Shuttleworth 2002 all three space tourists flew through Space Adventures Ltd As of 2013 Soyuz TMA 6 is on display at the Intrepid Museum s Space Shuttle Pavilion Olsen has made some comments indicating that he is unhappy with the space tourist designation The following is from National Geographic s coverage Space Launch Along for the Ride 2007 Greg The term space tourist implies that you ll write a check and you go for a joyride And believe me that is not the case at all Narrator Greg worked hard to get this far training for two years with the Russian Space Agency Olsen went in to great detail about his flight in an interview with Paul Stenning He revealed he had to train for a year and a half before being ready to go into space During a routine x ray a black spot was found on his lung He had to have a monthly medical check to obtain permission to fly It took 9 months for him to pass the medical 5 He conducted several experiments in remote sensing and astronomy while aboard the space station Dr Olsen is a licensed amateur radio operator holding FCC callsign KC2ONX and spoke to students via ham radio from space through the ARISS project In an informal presentation at a New Jersey high school Dr Olsen estimated the price of his space excursion at US 20 million Awards and honors EditOlsen was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2010 for research and commercialization of optical components for fiber communications and national defense 6 See also EditList of space travelers by nameReferences Edit Paul Stenning Success By Those Who ve Made It 2013 p 133 Carroll Kathleen May 4 2006 FDU renames engineering school after 5M gift The Record Retrieved May 13 2023 About 200 people gathered at Fairleigh Dickinson University on Wednesday to celebrate the university s largest ever gift and the renaming of one of its schools Alumnus and trustee Gregory Olsen the world s third civilian astronaut and the founder of two fiber optics companies was greeted with a standing ovation Nagy Kim and Stocke Joy Reaching for the Stars An Interview with Greg Olsen Scientist Entrepreneur and Space Traveler Wild River Review November 2007 Accessed November 19 2007 http www cuny edu research news events events mod Greg Olsen bio pdf dead link Paul Stenning Success By Those Who ve Made It 2013 p 135 Dr Gregory H Olsen NAE Website Retrieved 18 September 2022 Sources EditThis biography of a living person relies too much on references to primary sources Please help by adding secondary or tertiary sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately especially if potentially libelous or harmful Find sources Gregory Olsen news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Olsen s presentation at Hopewell Valley Regional High School Pennington New Jersey United States on 26 April 2006 Olsen s presentation at Montgomery Township High School Skillman New Jersey United States on 20 May 2006 Olsen s presentation at Bear Tavern Elementary school Hopewell Valley Regional school Titusville New Jersey USA on 26 November 2008External links EditGreg Olsen Official Web Site GHO Ventures LLC Space tourist blasts off to ISS BBC 1 October 2005 Space tourist arrives at Space Station BBC 3 October 2005 Trek to Space Station Is A Dream Come True Spacefacts biography of Gregory Olsen Pictures and narrative of the Soyuz TMA 7 launch Human Presence in Space International Forum Archived 2019 12 14 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gregory Olsen amp oldid 1159833165, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
