Dr. Bob Chapman is the AlliedSignal Technical Services Corporation (ATSC) Program
Manager for the HST MOSES and FS&S Programs, both of which are with Lockheed-Martin as
prime and the EDOS Program with TRW as prime.
Prior to coming to work at ATSC, I worked in three different types of jobs: I was at
UCLA, I was a civil servant working for NASA, and I have worked for two different
corporations. At UCLA, I taught astronomy classes and did research on the Sun and stars.
At NASA I was a research scientist, continuing my studies of the Sun and other stars, and
also managed groups of increasing size. I also worked in the White House, Office of
Science and Technology Policy for almost two years during President Reagan's
administration, helping define the Nation's space science policy.
I am the author of over 80 research papers and articles, and have written four books
on astronomy. I am most proud of a pamplet I wrote in 1974 about comet Kohoutek, which
won a prize as the best writing by a scientist for the general public.
I became interested in astronomy as a kid, and spent many evenings looking at the sky
with my small telescope. I lived in Erie, Pennsylvania, where the skies were cloudy a
lot, but still was able to do some observing. I wanted to major in astronomy in college,
but went to Penn State, which did not have an astronomy department at the time. I majored
in physics there, then went to Harvard and earned a doctorate in astronomy. I am glad I
did this, because a physics degree is good preparation for any technical career.
When I went to work for industry as a manager, I gave up my astronomy research. I miss
it sometimes. I still read everything I can on astronomy, and am writing another book on
comets.