James L. Green (scientist)
Encyclopedia
James Lauer Green is an American
space physicist born in Burlington, Iowa
. After receiving a Ph.D. in Physics
from the University of Iowa
, Green began his professional career working in the Magnetospheric Physics Branch at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
(MSFC). He developed and managed the Space Physics Analysis Network (SPAN) that provided international scientists with rapid access to data and colleagues. He also served as the safety diver in the Neutral Buoyancy Tank making over 150 dives before he left MFSC in 1985.
From 1985 to 1992, Green was the Director of the National Space Science Data Center
(NSSDC) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
(GSFC). In 1992, he became the Chief of the Space Science Data Operations Office until 2005, when he became the Chief of the Science Proposal Support Office. Green also served as the co-investigator and Deputy Project Scientist on the Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE
) mission.
In August 2006, Green was appointed the Director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA's Science Mission Directorate
. Along with Deputy Director of Planetary Science W. James Adams
, he is responsible for Solar System exploration at NASA including astrobiology research. He has published over 100 scientific papers on the magnetosphere
of Earth
and Jupiter
. He has also contributed over 50 technical articles on various aspects of data systems and networks.
Green's knowledge of aeronautics
and his study of the American Civil War
come together in his personal interest in Civil War ballooning. During the war, balloons played an important role in map-making, artillery-spotting, and the observation and reporting of troop movement. Green, a Civil War Trust member, has studied this subject for over 30 years and is a Civil War ballooning authority. He has written about Civil War ballooning and has spoken at a number of events including the 150th anniversary of the first tether balloon ascension.
Green was featured in the October 2011 issue of the Iowa Alumni Magazine and appears in the PBS NOVA special Finding Life Beyond Earth.
in 1988. In 1996 he received Kotani Prize from Japan in recognition for his international efforts in science data management. As executive producer of the video "Blackout! Solar Storms and Their Effects on Planet Earth," Green and team won two Crystal Communicator Awards in 1999 in the Education and Animation/Special Effects category and two Telly Awards
in 2000 in the Education and Animation categories. "Blackout!" is part of the "Event Based Science" series developed by NASA.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
space physicist born in Burlington, Iowa
Burlington, Iowa
Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa and Middletown, Iowa and...
. After receiving a Ph.D. 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 Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, Green began his professional career working in the Magnetospheric Physics Branch at NASA's 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...
(MSFC). He developed and managed the Space Physics Analysis Network (SPAN) that provided international scientists with rapid access to data and colleagues. He also served as the safety diver in the Neutral Buoyancy Tank making over 150 dives before he left MFSC in 1985.
From 1985 to 1992, Green was the Director of the National Space Science Data Center
National Space Science Data Center
The National Space Science Data Center serves as the permanent archive for NASA space science mission data. "Space science" pertains to astronomy and astrophysics, solar and space plasma physics, and planetary and lunar science...
(NSSDC) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Goddard Space Flight Center
The Goddard Space Flight Center is a major NASA space research laboratory established on May 1, 1959 as NASA's first space flight center. GSFC employs approximately 10,000 civil servants and contractors, and is located approximately northeast of Washington, D.C. in Greenbelt, Maryland, USA. GSFC,...
(GSFC). In 1992, he became the Chief of the Space Science Data Operations Office until 2005, when he became the Chief of the Science Proposal Support Office. Green also served as the co-investigator and Deputy Project Scientist on the Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE
IMAGE
IMAGE , or Explorer 78, was a NASA MIDEX mission that studied the global response of the Earth's magnetosphere to changes in the solar wind...
) mission.
In August 2006, Green was appointed the Director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA's Science Mission Directorate
Science Mission Directorate
The Science Mission Directorate of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration engages the United States’ science community, sponsors scientific research, and develops and deploys satellites and probes in collaboration with NASA’s partners around the world to answer fundamental questions...
. Along with Deputy Director of Planetary Science W. James Adams
W. James Adams
W. James Adams is the Deputy Director of the Planetary Science Division in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. In this capacity, he oversees the Discovery, New Frontiers, Lunar Science and Mars programs and is responsible for the development of several key technologies including Ion Propulsion,...
, he is responsible for Solar System exploration at NASA including astrobiology research. He has published over 100 scientific papers on the magnetosphere
Magnetosphere
A magnetosphere is formed when a stream of charged particles, such as the solar wind, interacts with and is deflected by the intrinsic magnetic field of a planet or similar body. Earth is surrounded by a magnetosphere, as are the other planets with intrinsic magnetic fields: Mercury, Jupiter,...
of Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
and Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
. He has also contributed over 50 technical articles on various aspects of data systems and networks.
Green's knowledge of aeronautics
Aeronautics
Aeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of airflight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft and rocketry within the atmosphere...
and his study of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
come together in his personal interest in Civil War ballooning. During the war, balloons played an important role in map-making, artillery-spotting, and the observation and reporting of troop movement. Green, a Civil War Trust member, has studied this subject for over 30 years and is a Civil War ballooning authority. He has written about Civil War ballooning and has spoken at a number of events including the 150th anniversary of the first tether balloon ascension.
Green was featured in the October 2011 issue of the Iowa Alumni Magazine and appears in the PBS NOVA special Finding Life Beyond Earth.
Awards
Throughout his career Green has received numerous awards including the Arthur S. Flemming AwardArthur S. Flemming Award
The Arthur S. Flemming Award was established in 1948 to honor outstanding federal employees. Recognized by the President of the United States, agency heads, and the private sector, the winners are selected from all areas of the federal service. More than 500 individuals have received the award to...
in 1988. In 1996 he received Kotani Prize from Japan in recognition for his international efforts in science data management. As executive producer of the video "Blackout! Solar Storms and Their Effects on Planet Earth," Green and team won two Crystal Communicator Awards in 1999 in the Education and Animation/Special Effects category and two Telly Awards
Telly Awards
The Telly Award is an award presented by the namesake, New York City-based organization. The stated purpose of the award is to "honor the very best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the Web." The...
in 2000 in the Education and Animation categories. "Blackout!" is part of the "Event Based Science" series developed by NASA.
External links
- http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/docs/JLG%20Short%20Bio%20Apr%202010%20for%20web.pdf Dr. Green's Official NASA Bio. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
- http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/docs/JLG%20Resume%20Apr%202010%20for%20web%20rev.pdf Dr. Green's resume. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
- http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/NWND.cfm Columnist: Dr. James Green, Solar System Exploration. Retrieved 10/26/2010.
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/5081039241/in/set-72157625039181083/ 50 Years of Exobiology and Astrobiology at NASA. Retrieved 10/26/2010.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfyBTHcXTl8 Jim Green - Seven Wonders of the Solar System. Retrieved 11/24/2010.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8EbZEXvMVQ Jim Green - NASA 360 New Worlds New Discoveries. Retrieved 6/30/2011.
- http://www.archive.org/details/DrJamesGreenVascPresentation Dr. James Green - Virginia Air and Space Center Presentation. Retrieved 8/16/2011.
- http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/curiosity-james-green-what-is-curiosity.html Curiosity: James Green: What is Curiosity?. Retrieved 10/20/2011.
- http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/curiosity-what-can-asteroids-teach-us-about-the-formation-of-our-solar-system.html Curiosity: What Can Asteroids Teach Us About the Formation of the Solar System. Retrieved 10/20/2011.
- http://www.livestream.com/marsrover/video?clipId=pla_18674fac-c951-410e-8153-fd5eca8bd83e&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb Mars Science Laboratory. Retrieved 11/29/2011.