James L. Green

James L. Green
Born	Burlington, Iowa
Nationality	USA
Fields	Astronomy Physics
Institutions	National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Science Mission Directorate - Planetary Science Division
Alma mater	University of Iowa
Doctoral advisor	Don Gurnett
Other academic advisors	James Van Allen
Known for	Developed and managed the Space Physics Analysis Network; Director of the National Space Science Data Center; Director, Planetary Science Division, NASA
Notable awards	Arthur S. Flemming Award (1988); Japan's Kotani Prize (1996)

James Lauer Green is an American space physicist born in Burlington, Iowa. After receiving a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Iowa, Green began his professional career working in the Magnetospheric Physics Branch at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). He developed and managed the Space Physics Analysis Network (SPAN) that provided international scientists with rapid access to data and colleagues.^[1][2] He also served as the safety diver in the Neutral Buoyancy Tank making over 150 dives before he left MFSC in 1985.

From 1985 to 1992, Green was the Director of the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). In 1992, he became the Chief of the Space Science Data Operations Office until 2005, when he became the Chief of the Science Proposal Support Office. Green also served as the co-investigator and Deputy Project Scientist on the Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) mission.^[3]

In August 2006, Green was appointed the Director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA's Science Mission Directorate.^[4] Along with Deputy Director of Planetary Science W. James Adams, he is responsible for Solar System exploration at NASA including astrobiology research.^[5] Under his leadership, a number of recent planetary science mission events have been successfully completed, including the MESSENGER orbit insertion at Mercury, the launch of Juno to Jupiter, the launch of GRAIL A and B to the Moon and subsequent orbit insertion, Dawn's encounter with Vesta, and the landing of the Mars Science Laboratory and Curiosity rover on Mars. He has published over 100 scientific papers on the magnetosphere of Earth and Jupiter. He has also contributed over 50 technical articles on various aspects of data systems and networks.^[6]

Green's knowledge of aeronautics and his study of the American Civil War come together in his personal interest in Civil War ballooning. During the war, balloons played an important role in map-making, artillery-spotting, and the observation and reporting of troop movement. Green, a Civil War Trust member, has studied this subject for over 30 years and is a Civil War ballooning authority. He has written about Civil War ballooning^[7] and has spoken at a number of events including the 150th anniversary of the first tether balloon ascension^[8] and the Lincoln Group of District of Columbia's February 2012 meeting.^[9] He served as an advisor on the Intrepid project, an initiative to construct and fly the world's first replica of a Civil War manned balloon, and presented a talk for its official first lift-off at the Genesee Country Village & Museum celebration in Mumford, New York on July 4, 2012.^[10]

Green was featured in the October 2011 issue of the Iowa Alumni Magazine^[11] and appears in the PBS NOVA special Finding Life Beyond Earth.^[12] He writes the online column New Worlds, New Discoveries.^[13] During the Solar System @ 50 Symposium ^[14] in October 2012, Dr. Green was the lunch keynote speaker giving an overview of planetary science exploration during the last fifty years.^[15] During the IAA Planetary Defense Conference in April 2013, Dr. Green gave a special video presentation ^[16] about Near Earth Objects, the importance of monitoring these objects, and their threat to our planet. In celebration of the first anniversary of the Mars Curiosity Rover landing on Mars in August 2013, Green explained the rover's accomplishments and future mission plans to Uma Pemmaraju on the Fox New program, 21st Century and Beyond.^[17]

Awards

Throughout his career Green has received numerous awards including the Arthur S. Flemming Award in 1988.^[18] In 1996 he received Kotani Prize from Japan in recognition for his international efforts in science data management. As executive producer of the video "Blackout! Solar Storms and Their Effects on Planet Earth," Green and team won two Crystal Communicator Awards in 1999 in the Education and Animation/Special Effects category and two Telly Awards in 2000 in the Education and Animation categories. "Blackout!" is part of the "Event Based Science" series developed by NASA.^[19] In June 2012, the American Astronomical Society presented him with the distinguished 2012 Popular Writing Award for his contribution to the article "The Perfect Solar Superstorm" in the February 2011 issue of Sky & Telescope.

References

External links

• Dr. Green's Official NASA Bio. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
• Dr. Green's resume. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
• Columnist: Dr. James Green, Solar System Exploration. Retrieved 10/26/2010.
• 50 Years of Exobiology and Astrobiology at NASA. Retrieved 10/26/2010.
• Jim Green - Seven Wonders of the Solar System. Retrieved 11/24/2010.
• Jim Green - NASA 360 New Worlds New Discoveries. Retrieved 6/30/2011.
• Dr. James Green - Virginia Air and Space Center Presentation. Retrieved 8/16/2011.
• Curiosity: James Green: What is Curiosity?. Retrieved 10/20/2011.
• Curiosity: What Can Asteroids Teach Us About the Formation of the Solar System. Retrieved 10/20/2011.
• Mars Science Laboratory. Retrieved 11/29/2011.
• James Green with replica of the Mars Curiosity Rover which participated in the 2013 Presidential inaugural parade. Retrieved 1/22/2013.