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Brunk, William Edward, 1928-
Oral History interview with William E. Brunk, 1983 July 21 and August 9.
This interview traces Brunk's career in engineering with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), Lewis Research Center (formerly Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory), NASA and NASA Headquarters. The discussion begins with an overview of his family background and his education at Case Institute of Technology, followed by his work in supersonic aerodynamics for NACA. The interview primarily examines Brunk's role in and perceptions of the development of planetary ground-based astronomy during his tenure at NASA Headquarters, as Program Chief of Planetary Astronomy. Topics discussed include: telescope innovations at different observatories; problems and techniques in ground-based observation; exploration of Mars; the Planetary Patrol program at Lowell Observatory; his membership to the American Astronomical Society; and general perceptions of NASA's role in ground-based astronomy. Other affiliations and contacts discussed include: Jason Nassau, Nancy Roman, Urner Liddel, and Gerard Kuiper.
William Edward Brunk (b.1928) attended the Case Institute of Technology, where he earned his B.S. in 1952, and his M.S. in Astronomy in 1954. He began his post-graduate career working from 1954-1958 as a research scientist and aeronaut in the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory. Brunk then transferred to the Lewis Research Center (NASA) as a aeropspace research engineer (1958-1964). In 1963, Brunk returned to Case to earn his Ph.D. in astronomy. Dr. Brunk then returned to Lewis to accept a postition of staff scientist for the Voyager mission (1964-1965), then acting Chief (1965), and finally Program Chief of Planetary Astronomy at NASA headquarters (1965-1982). He retired from NASA in 1985.
Brunk, William Edward, 1928-
Kuiper, Gerard P. (Gerard Peter), 1905-1973
Liddel, Urner, 1905-
Nassau, Jason John, 1893-1965
Roman, Nancy Grace, 1925-
American Astronomical Society.
Case Institute of Technology.
Lewis Research Center
Lowell Observatory.
United States. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Aerodynamics, Supersonic
Astronomy -- Study and teaching.
Astrophysics -- History.
Mars (Planet) -- Exploration.
Spectrum analysis.
Telescopes -- Technological innovations.
Interviews. aat
Oral histories. aat
Transcripts. aat
Tatarewicz, Joseph N. interviewer.
AIP-ICOS
American Institute of Physics. Niels Bohr Library & Archives. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
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