Marcia Neugebauer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marcia Neugebauer
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Circa 1961
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| Born | September 27, 1932 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Cornell University |
| Known for | Space Physics |
| Awards | Arctowski Medal NASA Distinguished Service Medal |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | NASA |
Marcia Neugebauer, born on September 27, 1932, is an amazing American scientist. She is a geophysicist, which means she studies the Earth and space using physics. Marcia helped us understand space better, especially the solar wind. Her work was super important because it gave us the first direct measurements of this wind. She also showed how the solar wind affects comets.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Marcia Neugebauer was born in New York City. When she was younger, she went to Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, Vermont. There, she enjoyed playing basketball and learned how to ski.
College Studies
Marcia loved science and went on to study physics. She earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), from Cornell University in 1954. A couple of years later, in 1956, she received her Master of Science (M.S.) degree in physics from the University of Illinois. Later, in 1998, the University of New Hampshire honored her with a special Doctorate of Physics degree.
Family Life
Marcia Neugebauer was married to another brilliant scientist, Gerry Neugebauer. He was an astrophysicist, someone who studies stars and galaxies.
Discoveries in Space
Marcia Neugebauer is famous for her work on the solar wind. This is a stream of charged particles that flows out from the Sun. Her research helped us understand what the solar wind is made of and how it behaves.
Mariner 2 Mission
Marcia was a key scientist for the Mariner 2 mission. This spacecraft was launched by NASA in 1962. It was the first successful mission to another planet, Venus. On its way, Mariner 2 carried a special tool called a plasma analyzer. This tool made the very first detailed measurements of the solar wind. Marcia's work with this data helped scientists truly discover the solar wind and learn its properties.
Other Space Instruments
Marcia also helped create other scientific tools for space. Some of these instruments orbited Earth, collecting important data. Others were even set up on the Moon by astronauts during the Apollo program. She also worked on instruments that flew past Halley's Comet on a European mission called Giotto. These tools helped us learn more about comets.
Leadership and Contributions
Throughout her long career at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Marcia Neugebauer held many important leadership roles. She was a study scientist for several space missions.
Management Roles
Marcia managed different sections at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She was in charge of the Physics and Space Physics sections. She also led the team for the Mariner Mark II study. In addition, she was the project scientist for early missions like Ranger 1 and Ranger 2. She also worked on the Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby mission.
Scientific Community Leadership
Marcia Neugebauer was also a leader in the wider scientific community. From 1994 to 1996, she served as the president of the American Geophysical Union. This is a big organization for Earth and space scientists. She was also the editor-in-chief for their scientific journal, Reviews of Geophysics. Marcia also chaired a committee for the United States National Academy of Sciences. This committee focused on solar and space physics.
Awards and Recognition
Marcia Neugebauer has received many awards for her amazing contributions to science.
Top Honors
In 1967, the Museum of Science and Industry named her "California Woman Scientist of the Year." She also received many awards directly from NASA. These include the Exceptional Scientific Achievement Award and the Outstanding Leadership Medal. Her highest honor from NASA was the NASA Distinguished Service Medal.
In 1997, Marcia was recognized in the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame. In 2004, she received the William Kaula Award.
Major Scientific Medals
In 2010, Marcia Neugebauer was awarded the Arctowski Medal from the National Academy of Sciences. She received this award for "definitively establishing the existence of the solar wind." This was a critical step in understanding the space around our Sun. The award also recognized her for explaining many of the solar wind's key properties.
Also in 2010, she received the George Ellery Hale Prize. This prize is given by the Solar Physics Division of the American Astronomical Society. She earned it for her important work in discovering the solar wind. The prize also recognized her ongoing contributions to understanding the Sun and the space influenced by it.
See also
In Spanish: Marcia Neugebauer para niños
