National Air and Space Museum. Space History Division Search this
Extent:
1 cu. ft. (1 record storage box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Date:
1957-1962, 1981-1995, 2001
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of records documenting the John A. Simpson Papers Project in which curators at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) assisted. Simpson, a
physicist and space scientist, was the Director of the Enrico Fermi Institute at the University of Chicago. He also served as the Martin Marietta Chair in Space History at
the National Air and Space Museum from October 1987 through September 1988. The bulk of this material consists of records created and maintained by Allan A. Needell, Curator
in the Space History Division. Some records document Simpson's life-long work as well as his activities at NASM. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, notes, publications,
and related materials. Prior to 1987, the unit was known as the Department of Space Science and Exploration and, between 1987 and 1997, the unit was called the Department
of Space History.
These papers consist primarily of correspondence and include photographs, clippings, research files and biographical information on John A. Wood.
Historical Note:
John A. Wood is a world leader in meteoritics and planetary science. Wood served as Geologist, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), 1957-1963; Research Associate,
Harvard University, 1957-1963; Research Associate, Enrico Fermi Institute for Nuclear Studies, University of Chicago, 1962-1965; Research Associate, Harvard College Observatory,
1965-2004; Geologist, SAO, 1965-2004; Lecturer in Geology, Harvard University, 1973-1976; Professor of the Practice of Geology, Harvard University, 1976-1994; and Associate
Director, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 1981-1986.
Wood's primary research has been the petrological study of chondritic meteorites as a source of information about the origin of the solar system. Wood worked extensively
in lunar sample studies (during the Apollo program), and constructed global models of lunar formation and internal evolution. Wood was a member of the RADIG team that interpreted
the radar data collected by the Magellan mission to Venus. Wood has served on NASA advisory committees concerned with allocation of lunar samples to laboratory investigators,
mission planning, and peer review of grant proposals, and has chaired the Committee on Planetary and Lunar Exploration (COMPLEX), under the Space Studies Board of the National
Research Council.
