Fred Whipple passes away

[peteb]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/science/2004-08-31-whipple_x.htm

 

[Leovinus]

I was thinking of the toilet paper guy when I saw your thread. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Leovinus]

<i>Dr. Fred Whipple, director of The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, at Cambridge, Mass., explains the flight of the small artificial moon launched by Russia, in this Oct. 5, 1957 file photo. Efforts to trace the satellite by the U.S. were centered at the observatory under direction of Dr. Whipple. Whipple, a pioneer in astronomy who proposed the 'dirty snowball' theory for the substance of comets, died Monday Aug. 30, 2004. He was 97.</i> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[thalion]

A great astronomer; he will be missed. <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" />

 

[CalliArcale]

Indeed. It's funny, because a lot of laypeople aren't aware of Whipple's technological influence. Not only did he figure out what comets were made of, but he also:<br /><br />* set up the first network to track and photograph satellites (one station of which was operational just in time for Sputnik!)<br /><br />* invented a protective shield for spacecraft called, appropriately enough, the Whipple Shield -- in 1946!<br /><br />* during WWII, invented a device to produce reflective chaff to confuse German radar <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Good innings - 97<br />Heres to you Fred!<br />cheers EBM <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

Another giant has left us. Pity he did not live a few more days to see the return of Stardust.<br /><br />in addition to his other achievements he correctly predicted the nature of the lunar surface long before the first space probes.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

It is Genesis that is returning this month. Stardust will not return until January of 2006. This is because it needs to encounter Earth at a velocity which will not completely vaporize the return capsule. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> (It had a lot further to go than Genesis.)<br /><br />Genesis, meanwhile, has only a week left to go before its sample cannister returns to Earth. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>