Physicist James Van Allen dies at 91

[htuttle]

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Physicist James A. Van Allen, a leader in space exploration who discovered the radiation belts surrounding the Earth that now bear his name, died Wednesday. He was 91.

(snip)

Though he was an early advocate of a concerted national space program, Van Allen was a strong critic of most manned space projects, once dismissing the U.S. proposal for a manned space station "speculative and ... poorly founded."

(snip)

In 2004, he spoke out again, arguing against Bush administration plans for a space station on the moon and a manned mission to Mars.

"I'm one of the most durable and fervent advocates of space exploration, but my take is that we could do it robotically at far less cost and far greater quantity and quality of results," he said.

(more at link)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4105288.html

[soothsayer]

1. I'll have a belt tonight in his honor. RIP

[bananas]

2. some of his students posted in LBN

at this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2446784

[Cobalt-60]

3. He was the man

And thank you, I think a belt would be appropriate.

[Mistwell]

4. Rest in peace

And here's to you, a night dreamer!