Background
WHIPPLE, Fred was born on November 5, 1906 in Red Oak, Iowa, United States. Son of Harry Lawrence Whipple and Celestia (MacFarland) Whipple.
WHIPPLE, Fred was born on November 5, 1906 in Red Oak, Iowa, United States. Son of Harry Lawrence Whipple and Celestia (MacFarland) Whipple.
Student, Occidental College, 1924. AB, University of California at Los Angeles, 1927. Doctor of Philosophy, University California, 1931.
AM (honorary), Harvard, 1945. Doctor of Science, American International College, 1958. Doctor of Letters (honorary), Northeastern University, 1961.
Doctor of Science (honorary), Temple University, 1961. Doctor of Science (honorary), University Arizona, 1979. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Commonwealth Post College, Long Island University, 1962.
Teaching fellow, University of California at Berkeley, 1927-1929;
Lick Observatory fellow, University of California at Berkeley, 1930-1931;
instructor, Stanford University, summer 1929;
instructor, University of California, summer 1931;
staff member, Harvard Observatory, 1931-1977;
instructor, Harvard University, 1932-1938;
lecturer, Harvard University, 1938-1945;
research associate, Radio Research Laboratory, 1942-1945;
associate professor astronomy, Radio Research Laboratory, 1945-1950;
professor astronomy, Radio Research Laboratory, 1950-1977;
department chairman, Radio Research Laboratory, 1949-1956;
Phillips professor astronomy, Radio Research Laboratory, 1968-1977. Director Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, 1955-1973, senior scientist, since 1973. Mem.Rocket Research Panel United States, 1946-1957.
United States subcommittee National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1946-1952, United States Research and Development Board Panel, 1947-1952. Chairman Technology Panel on Rocketry. Member Technology Panel on Earth Satellite Program, 1955-1959.
Other committees International Geophysical Year, 1955-1959. Member, past officer International Astronomical Union. Consultant missions to United Kingdom and Mediterranean Theatre of Operations, 1944.
Delegate Inter-American Astrophysical Congress, Mexico, 1942. Active leader project on Upper-Atmospheric Research via Meteor Photographic sponsored by Bureau Ordnance, United States Navy, 1946-1951;b. Bureau Ordnance, United States Navy (Office Naval Research), 1951-1957, United States Air Force, 1948-1962.
Member committee meteorology, space science board, commission on atmospheric science National Academy Sciences-National Research Council, 1958-1965. Advisor Science Advisory Board, United States Air Force, 1963-1967. Special consultant committee Science and Astronautics United States House Representatives, 1960-1973.
Chairman Gordon Research Confs., 1963. Director Optical Satellite Tracking Project, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1958-1973. Project director Orbiting Astronomical Observatory, 1958-1972.
Director Meteorite Photography and Recovery Program, 1962-1973, consultant planetary atmospheres, 1962-1969. Member space science working group on Orbiting Astron.Observatories, 1959-1970. Chairman science county geodetic uses artificial satellites Committee Space Research, 1965-1970.
Fellow American Astronomical Society (vice president 1962-1964, 1987 Russell lecturer), American Rocket Society, American Geophysical Union (Fred L. Whipple yearly lecturer estab. in honor planetary division 1990), Royal Astronomical Society (associate). Member American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Academy of Sciences, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Astronautics (aerospace technical panel space physics 1960-1963), Astronautical Society Pacific, Solar Associates, International Science Radio Union (United States of America national committee 1949-1961), American Meteoritical Society, American Standards Association, American Academy Arts and Sciences, American Philosophical Society (councillor section astronomy and earth science 1966-1970), Royal Society Sciences Belgium (correspondent), International Academy Astronautics (science advisory committee 1962-1965), International Astronautical Federation, American Meteorological Society, Royal Astronomical Society (associate), Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, Pi Mu Epsilon. Clubs: Examiner (Boston).
Cosmos (Washington).
Married Dorothy Woods, 1928 (divorced 1935). 1 son, Earle Raymond. Married Babette F. Samelson, August 20, 1946.
Children: Dorothy Sandra, Laura.