Paul Lutus (born May 16, 1945) is a computer programmer and former NASA designer. Before becoming a software author, Lutus designed electronics for the NASA Space Shuttle^[1] and created a mathematical model of the solar system that was used by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory during the Viking Mars mission. After working for NASA, Lutus started writing computer programs on his first personal computer, an Apple II. He would eventually program Apple Writer, an international best-seller for the Apple II in the 1980s.^[2]

In 1983, Lutus received Reed College's Vollum award for contributions to science and technology, and was named Scientist of the Year by the Oregon Academy of Science in 1986.^[3][4]

Between 1988 and 1991 Lutus sailed solo around the world in a 31-foot sailboat. His book about the sail, Confessions of a Long-Distance Sailor is free on his website.^[5]

One of Lutus's latest software projects is Arachnophilia, a Java Web development workshop available free on his website.^[6] The program is released under Lutus's own version of the Careware license.

[edit] References

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1. ^ http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?N=4294883288 NASA document archive: P. Lutus
2. ^ http://www.atariarchives.org/deli/cottage_computer_programming.php Apple Writer / personal history
3. ^ http://www.reed.edu/news_center/press_releases/2005-2006/082205LinuxCreator.html Reed College Vollum Award (see past recipients)
4. ^ http://www.oas.pdx.edu/awards Oregon Academy of Science "Outstanding Oregon Scientist" 1986
5. ^ http://arachnoid.com Personal website
6. ^ http://arachnoid.com/arachnophilia/index.php Arachnophilia (free Web page editor)