Marcia Neugebauer
Encyclopedia
Marcia Neugebauer is a prominent American
geophysicist who made important contributions to space physics
. Neugebauer's pioneering research yielded the first direct measurements of the solar wind
and shed light on its physics and interaction with comet
s.
Neugebauer was a primary investigator of the Mariner 2
plasma
analyzer that made the first extensive measurements of the solar wind and discovery of its properties. She also developed analytical instruments that orbited Earth, some set up on the moon by the Apollo astronauts, and others that flew by Halley's comet on the European Giotto mission
.
Neugebauer was Study Scientist for many space missions during her long career with NASA
, and held several management positions at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
, including Manager of the Physics and Space Physics sections, Manager of the Mariner Mark II
study team, and Project Scientist for Rangers 1
and 2
and the Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby
mission.
In 1967 the Museum of Science and Industry
named Neugebauer "California Woman Scientist of the Year." She received many awards from NASA, including the Exceptional Scientific Achievement Award, the Outstanding Leadership Medal, and the Distinguished Service Medal (the highest award given by NASA).
Neugebauer served as president of the American Geophysical Union
and was Editor-in-Chief of its journal Reviews of Geophysics
. She also chaired the National Academy of Sciences
' Committee on Solar and Space Physics.
Neugebauer was born in New York City
. She received a B.A. in physics
from Cornell University
in 1954, followed by an M.S. in physics from the University of Illinois
in Urbana
in 1956. She was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Physics in 1998 by the University of New Hampshire
. In 2010 Neugebauer was awarded the Arctowski Medal
from the National Academy of Sciences.
She is married to Gerry Neugebauer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
geophysicist who made important contributions to space physics
Space physics
Space physics, also known as space plasma physics, is the study of plasmas as they occur naturally in the universe. As such, it encompasses a far-ranging number of topics, including the sun, solar wind, planetary magnetospheres and ionospheres, auroras, cosmic rays, and synchrotron radiation...
. Neugebauer's pioneering research yielded the first direct measurements of the solar wind
Solar wind
The solar wind is a stream of charged particles ejected from the upper atmosphere of the Sun. It mostly consists of electrons and protons with energies usually between 1.5 and 10 keV. The stream of particles varies in temperature and speed over time...
and shed light on its physics and interaction with comet
Comet
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
s.
Neugebauer was a primary investigator of the Mariner 2
Mariner 2
Mariner 2 , an American space probe to Venus, was the first space probe to conduct a successful planetary encounter . The first successful spacecraft in the NASA Mariner program, it was a simplified version of the Block I spacecraft of the Ranger program and an exact copy of Mariner 1...
plasma
Plasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
analyzer that made the first extensive measurements of the solar wind and discovery of its properties. She also developed analytical instruments that orbited Earth, some set up on the moon by the Apollo astronauts, and others that flew by Halley's comet on the European Giotto mission
Giotto mission
Giotto was a European robotic spacecraft mission from the European Space Agency, intended to fly by and study Halley's Comet. On 13 March 1986, the mission succeeded in approaching Halley's nucleus at a distance of 596 kilometers....
.
Neugebauer was Study Scientist for many space missions during her long career with NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, and held several management positions at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The facility is headquartered in the city of Pasadena on the border of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena...
, including Manager of the Physics and Space Physics sections, Manager of the Mariner Mark II
Mariner Mark II
Mariner Mark II was NASA's planned family of unmanned spacecraft for the exploration of the outer solar system that were to be developed and operated by JPL between 1990 through the year 2010....
study team, and Project Scientist for Rangers 1
Ranger 1
Ranger 1 was a spacecraft in the Ranger program of unmanned space missions. Its primary mission was to test the performance of those functions and parts necessary for carrying out subsequent lunar and planetary missions; a secondary objective was to study the nature of particles and fields in...
and 2
Ranger 2
Ranger 2 was a flight test of the Ranger spacecraft system of the NASA Ranger program designed for future lunar and interplanetary missions. Ranger 2 was designed to test various systems for future exploration and to conduct scientific observations of cosmic rays, magnetic fields, radiation, dust...
and the Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby
Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby
The Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby was a cancelled plan for a NASA led exploratory mission designed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory during the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s, that planned to send a spacecraft to encounter an asteroid, and then to rendezvous with a comet and fly alongside it...
mission.
In 1967 the Museum of Science and Industry
California Science Center
The California Science Center is a state agency and museum located in Exposition Park, Los Angeles. Billed as the West Coast's largest hands-on science center, the California ScienCenter is a public-private partnership between the State and the California Science Center Foundation...
named Neugebauer "California Woman Scientist of the Year." She received many awards from NASA, including the Exceptional Scientific Achievement Award, the Outstanding Leadership Medal, and the Distinguished Service Medal (the highest award given by NASA).
Neugebauer served as president of the American Geophysical Union
American Geophysical Union
The American Geophysical Union is a nonprofit organization of geophysicists, consisting of over 50,000 members from over 135 countries. AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international field of geophysics...
and was Editor-in-Chief of its journal Reviews of Geophysics
Reviews of Geophysics
Reviews of Geophysics is a quarterly peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Geophysical Union. The current editor-in-chief is Mark B. Moldwin . Although it has a continuous publishing history, it had a different title between 1970 and 1984 .-History:Reviews of Geophysics was...
. She also chaired the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
' Committee on Solar and Space Physics.
Neugebauer was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She received a B.A. in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1954, followed by an M.S. in physics from the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
in Urbana
Urbana
Urbana can refer to:In geography:United States*Urbana, Illinois**Urbana , a Christian convention formerly held in Urbana, Illinois*Urbana, Indiana*Urbana, Iowa*Urbana, Maryland*Urbana, Missouri*Urbana, New York*Urbana, Ohio...
in 1956. She was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Physics in 1998 by the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
. In 2010 Neugebauer was awarded the Arctowski Medal
Arctowski Medal
The Arctowski Medal is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences "for studies in solar physics and solar-terrestrial relationships." Named in honor of Henryk Arctowski, it was first awarded in 1969.- List of Arctowski Medal winners :...
from the National Academy of Sciences.
She is married to Gerry Neugebauer.
External links
- Pioneers of space physics: A career in the solar wind - Marcia Neugebauer (J. of Geophysical Research)
- Contributions Of 20th Century Women To Physics - Marcia Neugebauer (UCLA Archive)
- WITI Hall of Fame - Marcia Neugebauer
- American Geophysical Union, Past President Biographies: 1980-2000
- Interview at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, January 18, 1999
- Neugebauer Receives 2004 Kaula Award