Interview with Chi-Chao Wu

Segment Synopsis: Chi-Chao Wu (CCW) developed an interest in Space Sciences during his junior year of undergraduate studies at the University of Tulsa. He was selected to participate in a summer coursework program at Columbia University and then decided to pursue studies to work at NASA.

Keywords: NASA; University of Tulsa

Segment Synopsis: Chi-Chao Wu accepted a graduate offer to study Astronomy at UW-Madison. He received his PhD in 1972 and was offered a job by Professor Coe to work with NASA on the OAO-2. CCW was “plugged in directly to NASA” after graduation and helped wrap up the OAO-2 at the Goddard Space Institute.

Keywords: Astronomy Department; OAO-2

Segment Synopsis: CCW was offered a job in the Netherlands in 1973 under scientist Dr. Paul Vesalius to work on another satellite (ANS Satellite) based on OAO-2. He worked the mission until 1976, when the mission was shut down.

Keywords: ANS Satellite; Netherlands

Segment Synopsis: CCW requested a job at Goddard from Don West to work on the International UV Explorer. CCW became a resident astronomer and was promoted several times from 1976-1982.

Keywords: Goddard; NASA

Segment Synopsis: Arthur D. Coe became the director of the Space Telescope Science Institute. In 1982, CCW began to work full-time at the Space Telescope Science Institute. Dr. Coe had left by that time, and CCW began to work on data processing, moving up in the CSC corporate ladder until his retirement in 2010.

Keywords: Hubbel Telescope; Space Telescope Science Institute

Segment Synopsis: CCW thanked UW-Madison and the OAO-2 project for helping launch his “very satisfying career” in Space Sciences. CCW expressed gratitude towards Dr. Coe for helping him discover his passion for space sciences and astronomy.

Keywords: Astronomy; Space Science

Partial Transcript: That's wonderful! It's great to hear about...

Segment Synopsis: CCW discussed student radicalism and the Sterling Hall bombing of 1970. CCW’s office was destroyed by the bombing, and he believed that he would have been injured or killed if he had not been visiting his girlfriend during the evening of the bombing. CCW described seeing his destroyed office and Astronomy library after the bombing.

Keywords: Graduate Studies; Sterling Hall

Partial Transcript: One year I was doing... I was maybe the only student using...

Segment Synopsis: CCW also described spending a year researching at the Pine Bluff observatory while writing his thesis on OAO2. He described thesis writing as part of a “good life.” CCW described the smell of dairy farms on campus during that time.

Keywords: Data Collection; Pine Bluff

Segment Synopsis: CCW expressed gratitude for his professors and described a time in which Dr. Coe contacted congressmen in order to help CCW obtain an extension for his US visa. CCW was then given a permanent residence permit in the US.

Keywords: Arthur Coe; International Student

Partial Transcript: That's wonderful to hear...

Segment Synopsis: CCW discussed raising a family in Wisconsin, and how grateful to the UW Astronomy Department/OAO2 team he was. For CCW, “all the smart guys should come here to Wisconsin.”

Keywords: Astronomy Department