Giuseppe Colombo: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Italian physicist and mathematician (1920–1984)}} | {{Short description|Italian physicist and mathematician (1920–1984)}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} | ||
'''Giuseppe "Bepi" Colombo''' (2 October 1920 in [[Padua]] – 20 February 1984 in Padua) was an [[Italians|Italian]] [[scientist]], [[mathematician]] and [[engineer]] at the [[University of Padua]], Italy. | '''Giuseppe''' "'''Bepi'''" '''Colombo''' (2 October 1920 in [[Padua]] – 20 February 1984 in Padua) was an [[Italians|Italian]] [[scientist]], [[mathematician]] and [[engineer]] at the [[University of Padua]], Italy. | ||
== Mercury == | == Mercury == | ||
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* Colombo invented the concept of [[Space tether|tethers for tying satellites together]]. | * Colombo invented the concept of [[Space tether|tethers for tying satellites together]]. | ||
* Colombo participated in the planning of ''[[Giotto mission|Giotto]]'', the [[European Space Agency]]'s mission to [[Comet Halley|Halley's Comet]], but died before the spacecraft was launched. He produced the HAPPEN proposal involving using parts for a planned Geos-3 satellite to first examine the | * Colombo participated in the planning of ''[[Giotto mission|Giotto]]'', the [[European Space Agency]]'s mission to [[Comet Halley|Halley's Comet]], but died before the spacecraft was launched. He produced the HAPPEN proposal involving using parts for a planned Geos-3 satellite to first examine the Earth's [[Magnetosphere#Magnetotail|Magnetotail]] before flying through the tail of Halley’s comet in March 1986.<ref name=calder31 /> This was rejected by the Solar System working group for not offering to return enough information on Halley.<ref name=calder31>{{cite book |last=Calder |first=Nigel |title=Giotto to the comets |publisher=Presswork |publication-place=London |date=1992 |isbn=0-9520115-0-6 |pages=31-32}}</ref> | ||
== Legacy == | == Legacy == | ||
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* [[ESA]] awards a 'Colombo fellowship' each year to a European scientist working in the field of astronautics | * [[ESA]] awards a 'Colombo fellowship' each year to a European scientist working in the field of astronautics | ||
Several [[astronomical objects]] and spaceships are named | Several [[astronomical objects]] and spaceships are named to honour him: | ||
* The ESA-[[JAXA]] mission to Mercury, which launched at 1:45:28 UTC on 20 October 2018, is named ''[[BepiColombo]]''.<ref>[http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/Pr_40_1999_p_EN.html ESA Press Release: ESA's Mercury mission named ''BepiColombo'' in honour of a space pioneer]</ref> | * The ESA-[[JAXA]] mission to Mercury, which launched at 1:45:28 UTC on 20 October 2018, is named ''[[BepiColombo]]''.<ref>[http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/Pr_40_1999_p_EN.html ESA Press Release: ESA's Mercury mission named ''BepiColombo'' in honour of a space pioneer]</ref> | ||
* The [[Rings of Saturn#Colombo Gap and Titan Ringlet|Colombo Gap]] in [[Rings of Saturn|Saturn's rings]]. | * The [[Rings of Saturn#Colombo Gap and Titan Ringlet|Colombo Gap]] in [[Rings of Saturn|Saturn's rings]]. | ||
Latest revision as of 10:38, 1 November 2025
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Giuseppe "Bepi" Colombo (2 October 1920 in Padua – 20 February 1984 in Padua) was an Italian scientist, mathematician and engineer at the University of Padua, Italy.
Mercury
Colombo studied the planet Mercury, and it was his calculations which showed how to get a spacecraft into a solar orbit which would encounter Mercury multiple times, using a gravity assist manoeuvre with Venus. Due to this idea, NASA was able to have the Mariner 10 accomplish three fly-bys of Mercury instead of one.[1] Mariner 10 was the first [2] spacecraft to use gravity assist. Since then, the technique has become common.
Colombo also explained the spin-orbit resonance in Mercury's orbit, showing that it rotates three times for every two orbits around the Sun.
Saturn's rings
Colombo also made significant contributions to the study of Saturn's rings, mostly using ground-based observations in the era before space exploration reached the outer Solar System.
Other contributions
- Colombo invented the concept of tethers for tying satellites together.
- Colombo participated in the planning of Giotto, the European Space Agency's mission to Halley's Comet, but died before the spacecraft was launched. He produced the HAPPEN proposal involving using parts for a planned Geos-3 satellite to first examine the Earth's Magnetotail before flying through the tail of Halley’s comet in March 1986.[3] This was rejected by the Solar System working group for not offering to return enough information on Halley.[3]
Legacy
- The Giuseppe Colombo Centre for Space Geodesy in Matera, Italy.
- ESA awards a 'Colombo fellowship' each year to a European scientist working in the field of astronautics
Several astronomical objects and spaceships are named to honour him:
- The ESA-JAXA mission to Mercury, which launched at 1:45:28 UTC on 20 October 2018, is named BepiColombo.[4]
- The Colombo Gap in Saturn's rings.
- The asteroid 10387 Bepicolombo
References
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