Space traveller

Gisborne-born aeronautic engineer Lester Waugh has been presented with a New Zealand flag which has traveled 216 times around the earth in the space shuttle Discovery. The gift from Nasa was a “rare honour”, given to recognise Waugh’s work for the organisation involving the placement of scientific instruments on the moon’s southern pole. This award is a career highlight for Waugh, who works with both the European Aeronautic and Defence Space Company in Britain and the Johnson Space Centre in the USA. Waugh is currently working on ExoMars Rover, a robot vehicle which will be sent to explore Mars.