Speaker
Dr
Buzzoni, Alberto
(INAF - Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio)
Description
We will briefly review the amazing story of Luigi G. Jacchia (Trieste, 1910 - Cambridge MA, 1996), an Italian astronomer who started his career at the Bologna Observatory in 1928 and found then his new life in the US, since 1939 by escaping, as a Jewish, the WWII's tragedy in Europe. With Fred Whipple, along his Harvard/SAO years, Jacchia joined the pioneering group of scientists that led to the NASA venture in the 50's.
Jacchia's seminal contribution to high-atmosphere modelling was crucial for a safe re-entry of Mercury's, Gemini's and Apollo's manned missions, and greatly helped paving the way to the successful American space race in the 60's, that led man to the Moon.
Primary author
Dr
Buzzoni, Alberto
(INAF - Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio)
Co-authors
Prof.
Bonoli, Fabrizio
(Alma Mater Università di Bologna)
Ms
Mandrino, Agnese
(INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera)
Dr
Pisana, Giuseppe
