Tony McDonnell (professor)
Encyclopedia
Tony McDonnell is a Professor (Emeritus) of Planetary and Space Sciences.
Specialising in space science
and a recognised authority in cosmic dust
, he was
Professor of Space Sciences at the University of Kent
and Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences at the Open University
.
Observatory, providing the opportunity for space research, where innovative
satellite
-borne detectors were developed to measure the threat to survival in space environments. They were to be his career speciality.
Following a NASA
fellowship, he joined the University of Kent
in 1967 and, over 30 years, successfully developed the Unit for
Space Sciences and Astronomy. His research included analysis of moon rocks from NASA
Apollo Programme
and USSR Luna missions; hypervelocity impacts and
specialised facilities; experiments during Giotto’s flyby of Halleys Comet; and interplanetary explorations by the Ulysses and Galileo probes. Together with Peter Tsou
and Don Brownlee
, he was the first to demonstrate the intact capture of space particulates in aerogel
, the baseline technique used in the Stardust
Mission.
He has played a significant role in the UK framework and funding for the exploration of space, including the Rosetta
, Stardust
,
Cassini/Huygens missions and the International Space Station
facilities. In 1984, the International Astronomical Union
named asteroid 9159 McDonnell
after him. He is also author of Cosmic Dust, a milestone in Solar System Cosmic Dust Research.
In 2000, he and his team moved from the University of Kent
to form the UK’s largest space team at the Open University
and triggered the building of the Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute.
He is now retired and working on a barn renovation in Dordogne
, France
. A friend has helped.
Specialising in space science
Space science
The term space science may mean:* The study of issues specifically related to space travel and space exploration, including space medicine.* Science performed in outer space ....
and a recognised authority in cosmic dust
Cosmic dust
Cosmic dust is a type of dust composed of particles in space which are a few molecules to 0.1 µm in size. Cosmic dust can be further distinguished by its astronomical location; for example: intergalactic dust, interstellar dust, interplanetary dust and circumplanetary dust .In our own Solar...
, he was
Professor of Space Sciences at the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
and Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences at the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
.
Space Science
Tony McDonnell started his career at the Jodrell BankJodrell Bank
The Jodrell Bank Observatory is a British observatory that hosts a number of radio telescopes, and is part of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester...
Observatory, providing the opportunity for space research, where innovative
satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
-borne detectors were developed to measure the threat to survival in space environments. They were to be his career speciality.
Following a 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...
fellowship, he joined the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
in 1967 and, over 30 years, successfully developed the Unit for
Space Sciences and Astronomy. His research included analysis of moon rocks from 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...
Apollo Programme
Project Apollo
The Apollo program was the spaceflight effort carried out by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration , that landed the first humans on Earth's Moon. Conceived during the Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Apollo began in earnest after President John F...
and USSR Luna missions; hypervelocity impacts and
specialised facilities; experiments during Giotto’s flyby of Halleys Comet; and interplanetary explorations by the Ulysses and Galileo probes. Together with Peter Tsou
Peter Tsou
Peter Tsou is a principal science staff member at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology, where he has worked for the past 34 years.Dr. Tsou's area of focus is utilizing aerogel for space exploration.Dr...
and Don Brownlee
Donald E. Brownlee
Don Brownlee is a professor of astronomy at the University of Washington and the principal investigator for NASA's STARDUST mission. His primary research interests include astrobiology, comets, cosmic dust, and porsche evangelism....
, he was the first to demonstrate the intact capture of space particulates in aerogel
Aerogel
Aerogel is a synthetic porous material derived from a gel, in which the liquid component of the gel has been replaced with a gas. The result is a solid with extremely low density and thermal conductivity...
, the baseline technique used in the Stardust
Stardust (spacecraft)
Stardust is a 300-kilogram robotic space probe launched by NASA on February 7, 1999 to study the asteroid 5535 Annefrank and collect samples from the coma of comet Wild 2. The primary mission was completed January 15, 2006, when the sample return capsule returned to Earth...
Mission.
He has played a significant role in the UK framework and funding for the exploration of space, including the Rosetta
Rosetta (spacecraft)
Rosetta is a robotic spacecraft of the European Space Agency on a mission to study the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Rosetta consists of two main elements: the Rosetta space probe and the Philae lander. The spacecraft was launched on 2 March 2004 on an Ariane 5 rocket and will reach the comet by...
, Stardust
Stardust (spacecraft)
Stardust is a 300-kilogram robotic space probe launched by NASA on February 7, 1999 to study the asteroid 5535 Annefrank and collect samples from the coma of comet Wild 2. The primary mission was completed January 15, 2006, when the sample return capsule returned to Earth...
,
Cassini/Huygens missions and the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
facilities. In 1984, the International Astronomical Union
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
named asteroid 9159 McDonnell
9159 McDonnell
9159 McDonnell is a main-belt asteroid discovered on October 26, 1984 by E. Bowell at the Anderson Mesa Station of the Lowell Observatory.It is named for planetary science professor Tony McDonnell....
after him. He is also author of Cosmic Dust, a milestone in Solar System Cosmic Dust Research.
In 2000, he and his team moved from the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
to form the UK’s largest space team at the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
and triggered the building of the Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute.
He is now retired and working on a barn renovation in Dordogne
Dordogne
Dordogne is a départment in south-west France. The départment is located in the region of Aquitaine, between the Loire valley and the High Pyrénées named after the great river Dordogne that runs through it...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. A friend has helped.