Bill > HJR0851

This resolution honors Dr. Gary Arnold Flandro, a distinguished aerospace engineer and professor emeritus at the University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI), for his pivotal role in the development of NASA's Voyager program. The resolution highlights Dr. Flandro's discovery in 1964 of a rare planetary alignment, known as the "Grand Tour," which occurs only once every 175 years. This discovery enabled the concept of using gravity-assist maneuvers to visit multiple outer planets in a single mission, laying the foundation for the historic Voyager program. Despite initial skepticism, Dr. Flandro's persistence and scientific contributions led to one of history's most successful space exploration initiatives, earning him prestigious awards like the British Interplanetary Society's M. N. Golovine Award and the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal. The resolution also acknowledges his significant academic career at UTSI and his current role as Vice President and Chief Engineer of Gloyer-Taylor Laboratories, recognizing his lifetime of scientific innovation and commitment to education that has brought honor to the State of Tennessee.