Space Foundation Announces BEI Technologies and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory as 2025 Space Technology Hall of Fame Inductees

Written by: Space Foundation Editorial Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Feb. 25, 2025 — Space Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 to advance the global space community, today announced that two leading-edge technologies developed for space will be inducted into the 2025 Space Technology Hall of Fame®. The induction ceremony will occur during the annual Space Symposium, to be held April 7–10, 2025, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.

The 2025 inductees are:

• GyroChip® – Quartz Rate Sensor
  • BEI Technologies
  • Asad M. Madni
• Ga-free Superlattice Infrared Detector
  • NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Founded in 1988 in partnership with NASA, the Space Technology Hall of Fame recognizes the life-changing technologies emerging from global space programs; honors the scientists, engineers and innovators responsible; and communicates to the public the importance of these technologies as a return on investment in space exploration.

Commenting on the newest inductees, Space Foundation CEO Heather Pringle said, “BEI Technologies and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory have developed solutions that not only advance space exploration but also enhance safety, efficiency and our quality of life. We are proud to recognize their contributions as part of the 2025 Space Technology Hall of Fame.”

2025 Space Technology Hall of Fame Inductees

GyroChip® – Quartz Rate Sensor

The GyroChip, a groundbreaking quartz rate sensor developed by BEI Technologies, revolutionized navigation, stabilization and guidance systems across aerospace, defense and automotive industries. Originally designed to enhance precision guidance for military and space applications, this compact quartz-based gyroscope was commercialized for widespread use, leading to its integration into over 90 aircraft models and 80 passenger vehicle designs. The automotive industry alone has incorporated more than 55 million GyroChips, enabling advanced stability control systems that enhance vehicle safety.

At the forefront of this innovation was Dr. Asad M. Madni, who led the development and commercialization of the GyroChip® As president, chief operating officer, and chief technology officer of BEI Technologies from 1992 until its $600 million acquisition by Schneider Electric in 2006, Dr. Madni played a pivotal role in transforming the technology from a high-cost aerospace instrument into an affordable, mass-produced solution. Under his leadership, BEI successfully adapted the GyroChip for commercial markets by streamlining manufacturing and reducing costs, making it the world’s leading stability control sensor for automobiles.

The GyroChip’s success reshaped multiple industries by making high-precision navigation and stability control widely available. Its legacy endures through its influence on contemporary inertial sensing technologies, ensuring safer and more efficient transportation and aerospace operations worldwide.

Ga-free Superlattice Infrared Detector

The gallium-free Strained Layer Superlattice (SLS) infrared detector technology, developed at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), has transformed infrared imaging and sensing across space exploration, defense and commercial industries. Designed to enhance performance while improving manufacturability and reducing cost and complexity, this breakthrough enables infrared detectors to operate at higher temperatures, thereby significantly lowering system size, weight and power consumption. The resulting advancements have made infrared imaging more accessible and efficient, paving the way for new applications in Earth observation, planetary science and industrial monitoring.

Initially developed at JPL with U.S. government funding, this infrared detector technology has since been widely adopted by industry leaders, government agencies, and academic institutions. Its innovations allow for smaller, more affordable infrared imaging systems, including the Hyperspectral Thermal Imager (HyTI) developed by the University of Hawaii, the compact Fire Infrared Radiance Spectral Tracker (c-FIRST) for wildland fire detection developed by JPL, and the compact thermal cameras used in the International Space Station’s Compact Thermal Imager (CTI) developed by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), which captured over 15 million Earth images. The technology also played a crucial role in defense applications, contributing to various defense systems with cost savings to the U.S. government exceeding several billion dollars.

Through partnerships with industry giants like L3-Harris, Teledyne-FLIR, RTX, Lockheed Martin, and others, Ga-free superlattice infrared detector technology has been successfully commercialized. Today, it powers a vast range of applications, including high-speed thermal imaging, security and surveillance, search and rescue, medical diagnostics, and environmental monitoring. The widespread adoption and continued evolution of Ga-free superlattice infrared detector technology stand as a testament to JPL’s pioneering contributions to infrared detection, enabling advancements that extend far beyond space exploration into critical global industries.

To view all Space Technology Hall of Fame inducted technologies, please visit www.spacefoundation.org/inducted-technologies/.

About Space Technology Hall of Fame 

Space Technology Hall of Fame, launched in 1988 by Space Foundation in partnership with NASA, honors individuals, organizations and companies that adapt technologies originally developed for space to improve the quality of life on Earth, as well as inspire future space innovators. Honorees are nominated by the space community and global space agency technology transfer offices, reviewed and selected by a space and technology expert panel, and inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame at Space Symposium. Visit Space Technology Hall of Fame to nominate a technology at  www.spacetechhalloffame.org.

About Space Foundation 

Space Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 as a gateway to advance the global space community. Space Foundation uniquely educates, collaborates, and informs the entire space workforce from early education through post-secondary (college, non-college, vocational), to the start of their careers as new professionals, and ultimately as leaders at the highest levels of government and commercial industry. As a charitable organization, Space Foundation raises support from corporate members, sponsors, individual giving, and grants. Visit Space Foundation at www.SpaceFoundation.org, and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

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Tags: Space Foundation, Space Symposium, Space Technology Hall of Fame, GyroChip®, Quartz Rate Sensor, Dr. Asad Madni, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Ga-free Superlattice Infrared Detector, space industry event, space technology, space innovation, space exploration

Media Contacts:

Rich Cooper
Vice President, Strategic Communications & Outreach
Space Foundation
(202) 596-0714
[email protected]

Dottie O’Rourke
TECHMarket Communications
(650) 344-1260
[email protected]

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