Jocelyn Gill

Jocelyn Gill
Born 1916
Died April 1984
Nationality American
Institutions NASA

Jocelyn Gill (1916–April 1984) was an American astronomer who worked for NASA.

Biography

Jocelyn Gill worked at Mount Holyoke College as a laboratory assistant and instructor of astronomy, before being hired at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and receiving her PhD at Yale University in 1959.[1][2][3] Gill joined NASA in 1961 where she worked on the manned space program, carried out research, held the position of chief of in-flight science from 1963 to 1966, and worked on Project Gemini.[2] She participated in a solar eclipse flight in July 1963 on which she observed the sun's corona and aimed to teach the astronauts travelling with her about astronomy; a field they were not otherwise required to be knowledgeable in.[1]

Gill was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and received the Federal Women's Award in 1966.[2] Gill was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and in 1966 received an award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for being their woman of the year.[4] She died of the disease in April 1984 at the age of 67.[5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Vern Haughland (July 1, 1963). "Jocelyn Gill -- She's Set Her Sights On The Stars". St. Petersburg Times. p. 40. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Marilyn Ogilvie, Joy Harvey (2000). Biographical Dictionary of Women in Science. Routledge. p. 1019. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  3. ↑ Tiffany K. Wayne (2011). American Women of Science Since 1900 1. ABC-CLIO. p. 433. ISBN 1598841580. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  4. ↑ "Woman Space Scientist Honored". The Kansas City Times. 16 June 1966. p. 12. Retrieved 5 August 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Death of Dr. Jocelyn Gill, Nasa Chief". CWSP Gazette: A Newsletter of the Committee on the Status of Women in Physics of the American Physical Society 4 (4). November–December 1984. Retrieved 29 March 2014.