Harold Masursky

Harold (Hal) Masursky /məˈzɜːrski/ (December 23, 1922 – August 24, 1990) was an American astrogeologist.[1]

"Masursky" redirects here. For other uses, see Masursky (disambiguation).
Harold Masursky
Masursky at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab; National Geographic Magazine, Voyager and Jupiter Cover Story (Jan 1980)
Born1922
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Died1990
Flagstaff, Arizona
NationalityAmerican
EducationYale University B.S., M.S.
Known forPlanetary Science
Awards4 NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medals (1972, 1973, 1977 & 1980)
Distinguished Service Award, Dept. of Interior (1985)
Smithsonian Air & Space Museum Trophy for Lifetime Achievements (1988)
G. K. Gilbert Award (1990)
Scientific career
FieldsGeology, Astrogeology
InstitutionsNASA, United States Geological Survey

He started his career working as a planetary geologist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center of the U.S. Geological Survey, in Flagstaff, Arizona.[2] Later, Masursky joined NASA as a senior science member, where he worked in the areas of economic, structural and planetary geology.

He was responsible for the investigation of planetary and lunar surfaces, being interested in finding scientifically valuable landing places. This included the Apollo, where, in the 1960's, he played a major role in choosing landing sites. In the 1970s, he headed the team that mapped the surface of Mars and was once again involved in choosing landing sites, this time for the Viking missions. In the 1980s, he worked with the Voyager program to explore the surfaces of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Masursky worked on numerous space missions and programs including Ranger, Surveyor, Lunar Orbiter, Mariner 9, Pioneer Venus, as well as on the Galileo and Magellan spacecraft.[2]

A key role was his work as the president of the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union.[3]

In 1985 Masursky was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award Gold Medal, which is the highest honorary recognition an employee can receive within the Department of the Interior. Quoting from the award, the 1985 USGS Yearbook states: “Harold Masursky, Geologist, for his imaginative leadership in the field of astrogeology which has influenced almost every facet of lunar and planetary exploration since the beginning of the nation's space program.”[4] [5]

A crater on Mars and the asteroid 2685 Masursky were named in his honor. The Masursky Award[6] and the Masursky Lecture[3][7] are named after him as well.

Awards

Legacy

Selected Publications


References
  1. Joan Cook (25 August 1990). "Harold Masursky, 66, a Leader In Mapping of Moon and Planets". Obituaries. The Times. London. p. 1029.
  2. "2685 Masursky (1981 JN)". Minor Planet Center. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  3. "Harold Masursky Lectures" (PDF). hou.usra.edu. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-09-02. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
  4. Unitred States Geological Survey Yearbook 1985 (PDF). Department of the Interior. 1986. p. 39. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  5. "Distinguished Service Award Recipients" (PDF). Orders and Medals Society of America. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  6. "Harold Masursky Award for Meritorious Service to Planetary Science". www.aas.org. Division for Planetary Sciences, American Astronomical Society. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  7. "Commander Dave Scott's Masursky Lecture from LPSC 2014". The Planetary Society. Archived from the original on 2020-09-02. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
  8. "Agency Awards Historical" (PDF). NASA. Nasa. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  9. "Harold Masursky". Current Biography. H. W. Wilson Company. August 1986. p. 34.
  10. "Michael Collins Trophy". Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Smithsonian. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  11. "G.K. GILBERT AWARD". rock.geosociety.org. Geological Society of America. Archived from the original on 3 August 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  12. Copied content from Masursky Award;see that page history for attribution
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