Gerald J. Fishman
Encyclopedia
Gerald Jay Fishman (10 Feb. 1943) is a research astrophysicist, specializing in gamma-ray astronomy
. His research interests also include space and nuclear instrumentation and radiation in space. A native of St. Louis, Missouri
, Fishman obtained a B.S. with Honors degree in Physics
from the University of Missouri
in 1965, followed by M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Space Science
from Rice University
in 1968 and 1970, respectively.
, Fishman served as a Research Assistant/Research Associate in the Space Science Department. He was involved in balloon-borne observations of high-energy radiation from space, and the research group was the first to detect gamma-rays originating from the Crab Nebula
. Further observations showed that a large fraction of this radiation was from the pulsar
in this nebula.
In 1969, Fishman began his professional career as a Senior Scientist working on aerospace projects at the Research Laboratories of Teledyne Brown Engineering in Huntsville, Alabama
. This research operation had been instigated by Milton K. Cummings
, for whom the Cummings Research Park
, the second largest in America, was named.
Fishman joined NASA
at the Marshall Space Flight Center
in Huntsville as a Research Scientist in 1974. From the start, he worked in high-energy astrophysics, and his interest soon centered on gamma-ray astronomy
. Gamma-rays are generated by celestial event
s including supernova
explosions, creation of black holes, destruction of positron
s, and radioactive decay
of the atomic nucleus
of matter
in space. Therefore, the detection and analysis of gamma-rays provide an insight on the fundamental nature of the universe.
During 1978-79, Fishman took an assignment with NASA Headquarters as a Staff Scientist in the Astrophysics Division of the Office of Space Science. Upon returning to MSFC, he continued his work in gamma-ray astronomy. He was the Principal Investigator of the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory
(CGRO). This observatory was the second (after Hubble) of NASA’s four Great Observatories in space. After14 years in development, CGRO was launched by the Space Shuttle Atlantis
in April 1991 (STS-37). When one of the gyroscope
s on CGRO failed, NASA decided that a controlled crash into the Pacific Ocean
was preferable to letting the craft come down on its own at random; it was then intentionally de-orbited in June 2000.
The primary objective of the BATSE experiment was the study of gamma-ray bursts. The BATSE experiment also serendipitously discovered terrestrial gamma-ray flashes above thunderstorms. The Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Team at the National Space Science and Technology Center
in Huntsville continues to examine date from BATSE. Fishman is currently a Co-Investigator of the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) on the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, launched in 2008. The 2011 Shaw Prize
– commonly called the Asian Nobel Prize – was shared by Fishman and Italian astronomer Enrico Costa for their gamma-ray research.
Gamma-ray astronomy
Gamma-ray astronomy is the astronomical study of the cosmos with gamma rays. Gamma-rays are the most energetic form of "light" that travel across the universe, and gamma-rays thus have the smallest wavelength of any wave in the electromagnetic spectrum.Gamma-rays are created by celestial events...
. His research interests also include space and nuclear instrumentation and radiation in space. A native of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Fishman obtained a B.S. with Honors degree in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in 1965, followed by M.S. and Ph.D. degrees 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 ....
from Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
in 1968 and 1970, respectively.
Career
While in graduate school at Rice University in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, Fishman served as a Research Assistant/Research Associate in the Space Science Department. He was involved in balloon-borne observations of high-energy radiation from space, and the research group was the first to detect gamma-rays originating from the Crab Nebula
Crab Nebula
The Crab Nebula is a supernova remnant and pulsar wind nebula in the constellation of Taurus...
. Further observations showed that a large fraction of this radiation was from the pulsar
Pulsar
A pulsar is a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation. The radiation can only be observed when the beam of emission is pointing towards the Earth. This is called the lighthouse effect and gives rise to the pulsed nature that gives pulsars their name...
in this nebula.
In 1969, Fishman began his professional career as a Senior Scientist working on aerospace projects at the Research Laboratories of Teledyne Brown Engineering in Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
. This research operation had been instigated by Milton K. Cummings
Milton K. Cummings
Milton Kyser Cummings had a noteworthy career in two highly diverse fields: cotton broker and space-defense industry executive...
, for whom the Cummings Research Park
Cummings Research Park
Cummings Research Park, located primarily in the city of Huntsville, Alabama is the second largest research park in the United States, and the fourth largest in the world. The Research Triangle Park in North Carolina is the only research park in the United States that is larger. Cummings Research...
, the second largest in America, was named.
Fishman joined 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...
at the Marshall Space Flight Center
Marshall Space Flight Center
The George C. Marshall Space Flight Center is the U.S. government's civilian rocketry and spacecraft propulsion research center. The largest center of NASA, MSFC's first mission was developing the Saturn launch vehicles for the Apollo moon program...
in Huntsville as a Research Scientist in 1974. From the start, he worked in high-energy astrophysics, and his interest soon centered on gamma-ray astronomy
Gamma-ray astronomy
Gamma-ray astronomy is the astronomical study of the cosmos with gamma rays. Gamma-rays are the most energetic form of "light" that travel across the universe, and gamma-rays thus have the smallest wavelength of any wave in the electromagnetic spectrum.Gamma-rays are created by celestial events...
. Gamma-rays are generated by celestial event
Celestial event
A celestial event is an astronomical phenomenon of interest that involves one or more celestial bodies. Examples of celestial events include the various phases of the Moon, meteor showers, comets, solar and lunar eclipses, planetary oppositions, conjunctions, and occultations....
s including supernova
Supernova
A supernova is a stellar explosion that is more energetic than a nova. It is pronounced with the plural supernovae or supernovas. Supernovae are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months...
explosions, creation of black holes, destruction of positron
Positron
The positron or antielectron is the antiparticle or the antimatter counterpart of the electron. The positron has an electric charge of +1e, a spin of ½, and has the same mass as an electron...
s, and radioactive decay
Radioactive decay
Radioactive decay is the process by which an atomic nucleus of an unstable atom loses energy by emitting ionizing particles . The emission is spontaneous, in that the atom decays without any physical interaction with another particle from outside the atom...
of the atomic nucleus
Atomic nucleus
The nucleus is the very dense region consisting of protons and neutrons at the center of an atom. It was discovered in 1911, as a result of Ernest Rutherford's interpretation of the famous 1909 Rutherford experiment performed by Hans Geiger and Ernest Marsden, under the direction of Rutherford. The...
of matter
Matter
Matter is a general term for the substance of which all physical objects consist. Typically, matter includes atoms and other particles which have mass. A common way of defining matter is as anything that has mass and occupies volume...
in space. Therefore, the detection and analysis of gamma-rays provide an insight on the fundamental nature of the universe.
During 1978-79, Fishman took an assignment with NASA Headquarters as a Staff Scientist in the Astrophysics Division of the Office of Space Science. Upon returning to MSFC, he continued his work in gamma-ray astronomy. He was the Principal Investigator of the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory
Compton Gamma Ray Observatory
The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory was a space observatory detecting light from 20 KeV to 30 GeV in Earth orbit from 1991 to 2000. It featured four main telescopes in one spacecraft covering x-rays and gamma-rays, including various specialized sub-instruments and detectors...
(CGRO). This observatory was the second (after Hubble) of NASA’s four Great Observatories in space. After14 years in development, CGRO was launched by the Space Shuttle Atlantis
Space Shuttle Atlantis
The Space Shuttle Atlantis is a retired Space Shuttle orbiter in the Space Shuttle fleet belonging to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration , the spaceflight and space exploration agency of the United States...
in April 1991 (STS-37). When one of the gyroscope
Gyroscope
A gyroscope is a device for measuring or maintaining orientation, based on the principles of angular momentum. In essence, a mechanical gyroscope is a spinning wheel or disk whose axle is free to take any orientation...
s on CGRO failed, NASA decided that a controlled crash into the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
was preferable to letting the craft come down on its own at random; it was then intentionally de-orbited in June 2000.
The primary objective of the BATSE experiment was the study of gamma-ray bursts. The BATSE experiment also serendipitously discovered terrestrial gamma-ray flashes above thunderstorms. The Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Team at the National Space Science and Technology Center
National Space Science and Technology Center
The National Space Science and Technology Center is a joint research venture between NASA and the seven research universities of the state of Alabama, represented by the Space Science and Technology Alliance. The aim of the NSSTC is to foster collaboration in research between government,...
in Huntsville continues to examine date from BATSE. Fishman is currently a Co-Investigator of the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) on the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, launched in 2008. The 2011 Shaw Prize
Shaw Prize
The Shaw Prize is an annual award first presented by the Shaw Prize Foundation in 2004. Established in 2002 in Hong Kong, it honours living "individuals, regardless of race, nationality and religious belief, who have achieved significant breakthrough in academic and scientific research or...
– commonly called the Asian Nobel Prize – was shared by Fishman and Italian astronomer Enrico Costa for their gamma-ray research.
Recognitions and awards
- NASA Medal for Outstanding Scientific Achievement – 1982, 1991, 1992
- Alan Berman Research Publications Award – Naval Research Laboratory - 1992
- Sigma XiSigma XiSigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society is a non-profit honor society which was founded in 1886 at Cornell University by a junior faculty member and a handful of graduate students. Members elect others on the basis of their research achievements or potential...
Research Scientist of the Year, Huntsville – 1993 - Distinguished Alumnus Award, Univ. of Missouri – 1994
- Bruno Rossi PrizeBruno Rossi PrizeThe Bruno Rossi Prize is awarded annually by the High Energy Astrophysics division of the American Astronomical Society "for a significant contribution to High Energy Astrophysics, with particular emphasis on recent, original work". Named after astrophysicist Bruno Rossi, the prize is awarded with...
, High Energy Astrophysics Division, AAS - 1994 - Fellow - American Physical Society – 1995
- Institute for Scientific Information, Highly Cited Scientist (top 1%) – 2001
- NASA Exceptional Service Medal – 2011
- The Shaw PrizeShaw PrizeThe Shaw Prize is an annual award first presented by the Shaw Prize Foundation in 2004. Established in 2002 in Hong Kong, it honours living "individuals, regardless of race, nationality and religious belief, who have achieved significant breakthrough in academic and scientific research or...
in Astronomy – 2011