John Herbert Chapman
Encyclopedia
John Herbert Chapman from London, Ontario
, son of Lt. Col. Lloyd Chapman and Kathleen Chapman, was a Canadian
space researcher. Chapman started his career with his work on radio propagation
and the ionosphere
. He later received a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. in physics at McGill University
in Montreal, Quebec. After his studies at university Chapman got his first position in the government with the Defense Research Board (DRB). He was then promoted to the position of section leader of the ionospheric propagation unit at the Defense Research Telecommunications Establishment (DRTE) in 1951 at Shirley's Bay
, a Canadian military and civilian telecommunication research campus.He was also a superintendent.
While at Shirley's Bay he worked on a number of projects. One of the projects he directed was the ground-breaking Canadian satellite called Alouette
. The DRTE having no experience developing satellite
s had to work quite hard to think of and counter all the difficulties they would face in the harsh environment of space. Because of his work on Alouette he was promoted to chairman of government study group to study the upper atmosphere and space programs in Canada.
While chairman, he compiled his findings into "The Chapman Report" in which he argued that Canada needed to redirect its space program in order to continue its ongoing research more effectively and efficiently. "The Chapman Report" remains an important document in helping the Canadian Space Agency choose what they should work on when it comes to space programs.
Chapman was given awards for his work in aero-space technology. The first was given by the Royal Society of Canada
in 1966; he also received an Engineering medal from the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario and the Dillinger Gold Medal from the International Union of Radio Scientists the same year. In 1967 Chapman was awarded with The Chree Medal and Prize and the McCurdy award from the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institution.
Chapman was a member of the Royal Society of Canada
. He was also part of the National Research Council
(NRC) Associate committee on Space Research, a council of the top Canadian space scientists. He also served on the International Union of Radio Science
and the American Geophysical Union
.
After his death in the year 1979, the Canadian Space Agency was formed to organize and give Canada its own space agency to create a central place to meet and work on Canadian space projects. With this new organization Canada has been able to construct and launch new projects into orbit. One of the most important Canadian projects is Canadarm which has become used frequently on the International Space Station
(or ISS for short).
When the headquarters building of the Canadian Space Agency was completed in 1992, it was named the John H. Chapman Space Centre
, in his honour.
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, son of Lt. Col. Lloyd Chapman and Kathleen Chapman, was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
space researcher. Chapman started his career with his work on radio propagation
Radio propagation
Radio propagation is the behavior of radio waves when they are transmitted, or propagated from one point on the Earth to another, or into various parts of the atmosphere...
and the ionosphere
Ionosphere
The ionosphere is a part of the upper atmosphere, comprising portions of the mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere, distinguished because it is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an important part in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere...
. He later received a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. in physics at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal, Quebec. After his studies at university Chapman got his first position in the government with the Defense Research Board (DRB). He was then promoted to the position of section leader of the ionospheric propagation unit at the Defense Research Telecommunications Establishment (DRTE) in 1951 at Shirley's Bay
Shirley's Bay
Shirleys Bay is a bay of the Ottawa River, about ten miles from Ottawa in Ontario, Canada.It is also the name of a Canadian military and civilian telecommunication research campus which is located on the shore of the bay...
, a Canadian military and civilian telecommunication research campus.He was also a superintendent.
While at Shirley's Bay he worked on a number of projects. One of the projects he directed was the ground-breaking Canadian satellite called Alouette
Alouette 1
Alouette 1 was Canada's first satellite, and the first satellite constructed by a country other than the USSR or the United States. Occasionally, Alouette 1 is misrepresented as the third satellite successfully put in orbit, rather than being from the third country to have one of its own in space,...
. The DRTE having no experience developing satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
s had to work quite hard to think of and counter all the difficulties they would face in the harsh environment of space. Because of his work on Alouette he was promoted to chairman of government study group to study the upper atmosphere and space programs in Canada.
While chairman, he compiled his findings into "The Chapman Report" in which he argued that Canada needed to redirect its space program in order to continue its ongoing research more effectively and efficiently. "The Chapman Report" remains an important document in helping the Canadian Space Agency choose what they should work on when it comes to space programs.
Chapman was given awards for his work in aero-space technology. The first was given by the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
in 1966; he also received an Engineering medal from the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario and the Dillinger Gold Medal from the International Union of Radio Scientists the same year. In 1967 Chapman was awarded with The Chree Medal and Prize and the McCurdy award from the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institution.
Chapman was a member of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
. He was also part of the National Research Council
National Research Council of Canada
The National Research Council is an agency of the Government of Canada which conducts scientific research and development.- History :...
(NRC) Associate committee on Space Research, a council of the top Canadian space scientists. He also served on the International Union of Radio Science
International Union of Radio Science
The International Union of Radio Science is one of 26 international scientific unions affiliated to the International Council for Science.- History and objectives :...
and the American Geophysical Union
American Geophysical Union
The American Geophysical Union is a nonprofit organization of geophysicists, consisting of over 50,000 members from over 135 countries. AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international field of geophysics...
.
After his death in the year 1979, the Canadian Space Agency was formed to organize and give Canada its own space agency to create a central place to meet and work on Canadian space projects. With this new organization Canada has been able to construct and launch new projects into orbit. One of the most important Canadian projects is Canadarm which has become used frequently on the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
(or ISS for short).
When the headquarters building of the Canadian Space Agency was completed in 1992, it was named the John H. Chapman Space Centre
John H. Chapman Space Centre
The John H. Chapman Space Centre is the headquarters of the Canadian Space Agency. It is located in Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, in the borough of Saint-Hubert.-Location:...
, in his honour.