Dr. Isaiah M. Blankson of NASA - Ghana's gift to the world

Ghana has produced distinguished scientists and engineers who are making an impact in the world of Science and Technology. One of these wonderful Ghanaians who has to be commended is the unassuming Dr. Isaiah M. Blankson, the first African Aerospace engineer, scientist, and inventor at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), whose latest invention is the High Voltage Water Purification method, a revolutionary water purification system.

He already holds four patents for his inventions. Among his inventions are the Exoskeletal Gas Turbine Engine and the Magneto-Hydrodynamic Power(MHD) Controlled Gas Turbine Engine.

A senior NASA technologist Dr. Blankson is renowned for his expertise in hypersonic and supersonic aerodynamics. In addition to his scientific excellence, he serves as United States National Delegate to the NATO Research and Technology Organization Working Group, the first Black man to hold such a position.

Over his thirty-three years career at NASA, he has also served as Program Manager for a $28 million per year Research program.

Born in Cape Coast on September 28, 1944, Dr. Blankson received his secondary education at Mfantsipim school and excelled in the 1964 GCE Advanced Level Examination scoring four A’s, the best in West Africa.

As a man with an exceptional academic record, he won a scholarship to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he earned his BSc, MSc, and Ph.D. degrees becoming the first African to receive a Doctorate degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1973, and winning the Luis de Florez Award for excellence in Engineering.

Dr. Isaiah Blankson has played a crucial role in America’s Space program, having been entrusted with the all-important assignment of calculating the speed of spaceships for over thirty years at NASA is very remarkable.

His expertise has earned him the name SPEED DEMON. Among his major responsibilities is his work on cruise missile and aircraft concepts, designed to travel four to eight times the speed of sound.

Dr. Blankson has received numerous awards including the National Emerald Honours Scientist of the year award in 2006, two Presidential awards, and the NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement medal.