Fred Whipple, of the "dirty iceball" comet theory, passed away Monday
(2004.08.30) at age 97. Whipple was also the the inventor the space
debris protection system known as the Whipple Shield. He also is
given credit for radar chaff.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=624&ncid=753&e=1&u=/ap/20040831/ap_on_sc/obit_whipple

or

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3614064.stm

/dps