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 September 27, 1932) is a famous American scientist. She is a geophysicist who made big discoveries in space physics. Her research was among the first to directly measure the solar wind. This is a stream of tiny particles that comes from the Sun. She also helped us understand how the solar wind works and how it interacts with comets.
About Her Life
Marcia Neugebauer was born in New York City on September 27, 1932. When she was young, she went to Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, Vermont. There, she enjoyed playing basketball and learning to ski.
She studied physics at Cornell University and earned her first degree in 1954. Later, she received a master's degree in physics from the University of Illinois in 1956. In 1998, she was given an honorary Doctorate of Physics.
Marcia Neugebauer was married to another scientist, Gerry Neugebauer, who was an astrophysicist.
Her Amazing Work
Marcia Neugebauer was a key scientist for the Mariner 2 space probe. This probe carried a special tool called a plasma analyzer. Using this tool, she made the first detailed measurements of the solar wind. This helped scientists learn many new things about its properties.
She also created other scientific instruments. Some of these instruments orbited Earth. Others were set up on the Moon by astronauts during the Apollo program. She even designed tools that flew past Halley's comet on a European mission called Giotto mission.
During her long career at NASA, Neugebauer worked on many space missions. She held important leadership roles at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For example, she managed the Physics and Space Physics sections. She was also a project scientist for missions like Rangers 1 and 2.
Marcia Neugebauer was also a leader in the scientific community. She was the president of the American Geophysical Union from 1994 to 1996. She also led a committee for the United States National Academy of Sciences that focused on solar and space physics.
Awards and Honors
Marcia Neugebauer has received many important awards for her scientific work.
- In 1967, the Museum of Science and Industry named her "California Woman Scientist of the Year."
- NASA gave her several high honors, including the Exceptional Scientific Achievement Award and the Outstanding Leadership Medal. She also received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, which is the highest award NASA gives.
- In 1997, she was added to the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame.
- In 2004, she received the William Kaula Award.
- In 2010, she was given the Arctowski Medal by the National Academy of Sciences. She earned this award for proving that the solar wind exists. Her work was very important for understanding the space around the Sun.
- Also in 2010, she received the George Ellery Hale Prize. This award recognized her major contributions to discovering the solar wind and her ongoing work in solar physics.
See also
In Spanish: Marcia Neugebauer para niños
