Todd B. Hawley (April 13, 1961 – July 11, 1995) was one of the four founders of the

International Space University The International Space University (ISU) is dedicated to the discovery, research, and development of outer space and its applications for peaceful purposes, through international and multidisciplinary education and research programs. ISU was f ...

(ISU) and a lifelong advocate of human space exploration. He was born on April 13, 1961, the day after the first flight of

Yuri Gagarin Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin; Gagarin's first name is sometimes transliterated as ''Yuriy'', ''Youri'', or ''Yury''. (9 March 1934 – 27 March 1968) was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who became the first human to journey into outer space. Tr ...

Career

Todd Hawley attended George Washington University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian Studies and Economics and his Master of Arts degree in Space Policy.The Founders' Flight - Todd B. Hawley, 1961 - 1995
While an undergraduate, Hawley started the local chapter of

Students for the Exploration and Development of Space Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) is a non-profit international student organization whose purpose is to drive space advocacy of space exploration and development through educational and engineering projects. Hist ...

(SEDS). In 1982, along with

Peter Diamandis Peter H. Diamandis (; born May 20, 1961) is a Greek-American engineer, physician, and entrepreneur best known for being founder and chairman of the X Prize Foundation, cofounder and executive chairman of Singularity University and coauthor of ...

and Robert D. Richards, he co-founded SEDS-USA as a national group,About SEDS
later serving as the Chairman from 1983 - 1985. The three would go on to found the Space Generation Foundation, with Hawley as its first executive director. Aug 2, 2012. Accessed Dec 1, 2015. Mr. Hawley conducted extensive research on solar power satellites. He received the 1989 Space Industrialization Fellowship Award, the 1988 Aviation Week and Space Technology Laurel, the 1993 Space Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award, and the 1995 K. E. Tsiolkovsky Medal.

International Space University

A founder of the International Space University (ISU), Todd Hawley served as the university's first chief executive officer and as a faculty member in the Space Humanities Department. He successfully managed ISU from a start-up organization to a global enterprise. ... He received the 1989 Space Industrialization Fellowship Award, the 1988 Aviation Week and Space Technology Laurel, the 1993 Space Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award, and the 1995 K. E. Tsiolkovsky Medal.

Personal life

In 1990, Hawley came out publicly as a

gay man ''Gay'' is a term that Terminology of homosexuality, primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While scant usage referring to Gay men, ...

, and spoke out against

homophobia Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who are identified or perceived as being lesbian, gay or bisexual. It has been defined as contempt, prejudice, aversion, hatred or antipathy ...

, stating that human bigotry was perhaps the one thing that could stand in the way of the work ISU was striving to accomplish. Aug 2, 2012. Accessed Dec 1, 2015.

Death

Hawley died on 11 July 1995 from complications from AIDS.Space, the final frontier for homosexuality
, Loretta Hildago Whitesides, ''

Wired ''Wired'' (stylized as ''WIRED'') is a monthly American magazine, published in print and online editions, that focuses on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics. Owned by Condé Nast, it is headquartered in San Fran ...

'', 31 January 2008. He is survived by his life partner, Yuri Hospodar, his family of origin, and his many colleagues and friends in the space communities. Aug 2, 2012. Accessed Dec 1, 2015. Aug 2, 2012. Accessed Dec 1, 2015. In a "Founders' Flight" dedicated to the "pioneers of the new era of space", Todd Hawley's ashes were shot into space along with the ashes of

Gene Roddenberry Eugene Wesley Roddenberry Sr. (August 19, 1921 – October 24, 1991) was an American television screenwriter, producer, and creator of ''Star Trek: The Original Series'', its sequel spin-off series '' Star Trek: The Animated Series,'' and '' S ...

Timothy Leary Timothy Francis Leary (October 22, 1920 – May 31, 1996) was an American psychologist and author known for his strong advocacy of psychedelic drugs. Evaluations of Leary are polarized, ranging from bold oracle to publicity hound. He was "a her ...

and 21 other founding thinkers and supporters of space exploration.The Founders' Flight
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Tributes

The

(ISU) alumni Todd Hawley Award is named in his honour,The Todd Hawley Award
at the

as is the Todd B. Hawley Award for Student Leadership at

(SEDS),SEDS Awards
and the ISU Todd B. Hawley Variable Gravity Research Facility. Aug 2, 2012. Accessed Dec 1, 2015.

References

External links

* - Documentary {{DEFAULTSORT:Hawley, Todd B 1961 births 1995 deaths AIDS-related deaths in California American gay men Columbian College of Arts and Sciences alumni Space advocates LGBT people from the San Francisco Bay Area